Chapter 3: Four Hundred Million
The glass doors burst open.
Victor rushed inside.
Not walked.
Rushed.
His expensive shoes struck the marble floor as he crossed the store.
His tie was loose.
His face was pale.
Two men in dark suits followed behind him.
Camille stared.
“Dad?””
Victor didn't look at her.
His eyes locked onto Adrian.
“Stop!””
The security guards froze.
Victor raised both hands.
“Don't touch him.””
Camille slowly turned toward her father.
“What is happening?””
Victor ignored her.
He approached Adrian.
One step.
Then another.
Adrian didn't move.
The store seemed to shrink around them.
Victor stopped several feet away.
His breathing was heavy.
Adrian looked at him.
“Victor.””
Victor swallowed.
“Adrian.””
Camille looked from one man to the other.
“You know him?””
Victor finally turned toward her.
“Of course I know him.””
“Then who is he?””
Victor opened his mouth.
No words came.
Camille stepped closer.
“Dad, who is he?””
Victor looked at the folder in Adrian’s hand.
His eyes dropped to the logo.
Then to the signature page.
“You brought it here.””
Adrian nodded.
“You told me to.””
Victor shook his head.
“I told you to bring the revised agreement.””
“This is the original.””
Victor’s face tightened.
“I know.””
Camille looked confused.
“What original?””
Neither man answered.
She snatched the folder from Adrian’s hand.
This time, he let her.
Camille opened it.
Page after page.
Corporate schedules.
Ownership percentages.
Acquisition clauses.
Then she found a section marked in red.
*CONTROL TRANSFER CONDITIONS.*
She read the first paragraph.
Her eyebrows drew together.
“Dad…”
Victor closed his eyes.
Camille continued reading.
“If the controlling shareholder fails to disclose material liabilities before final execution…”
She stopped.
Her voice became quieter.
“…the purchaser may terminate the acquisition and assume voting control.””
She looked up.
“What liabilities?””
Victor said nothing.
Camille turned another page.
“There are liabilities here.””
“Yes,” Victor said.
“How much?””
Victor looked away.
“Dad.””
“Camille—”
“How much?””
Adrian answered.
“Two hundred and sixteen million dollars.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
Camille stared at him.
“That’s not possible.””
“It is.””
“My father told the board the company was debt-free.””
Victor's jaw tightened.
“I never said debt-free.””
“You said we had no exposure.””
“We had no immediate exposure.””
Adrian looked at him.
“That's not what the auditors found.””
Victor's eyes hardened.
“Careful.””
Adrian's voice remained calm.
“You should have been careful six years ago.””
Camille looked between them.
“Six years ago?””
Victor didn't respond.
Adrian picked up the folder.
“Ask him about the warehouse acquisition.””
Victor's expression changed.
Camille noticed.
“What warehouse acquisition?””
“Nothing,” Victor said.
Adrian looked at him.
“Tell her.””
Victor shook his head.
“Not here.””
Adrian glanced around the bright luxury store.
“Why not?””
“This is my daughter.””
“And the company is hers too, isn't it?””
Camille stiffened.
Victor looked at her.
“Camille, go upstairs.””
“No.””
“Now.””
“No.””
She stepped toward him.
“You've spent my entire life telling me I would inherit this company.””
Victor's eyes softened.
“Camille…”
“You put me on the board.””
“I know.””
“You gave me executive authority.””
“I know.””
“You let me sign contracts.””
“I know.””
She pointed at Adrian.
“So why does he have more authority than I do?””
Victor's silence answered her.
Camille's breathing became shallow.
Adrian watched her carefully.
Victor finally said, “Because he isn't here as an investor.””
Camille turned toward Adrian.
“Then what are you?””
Victor looked at Adrian.
Adrian gave him a slight nod.
“Tell her.””
Victor's lips parted.
The guards stood motionless.
Monica looked like she had forgotten how to breathe.
Victor took one step toward Camille.
“He's…”
His voice broke.
He looked at Adrian again.
Adrian's face remained unreadable.
Victor lowered his voice.
“He's the man who…”
A phone rang.
Everyone jumped.
It was Adrian's.
He looked at the screen.
One incoming call.
No name.
Just a number.
Adrian answered.
“Speak.””
A woman's frightened voice came through the speaker.
“Mr. Adrian, we've confirmed the final ownership records.””
Adrian's eyes stayed on Victor.
“Read them.””
The woman hesitated.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
She took a breath.
“The controlling interest is registered under your legal name.””
Camille stared at Adrian.
Victor closed his eyes.
The woman continued.
“And there is one additional beneficiary listed on the original agreement.””
Adrian's expression changed.
“What name?””
The woman began to answer.
“Your—”
The call suddenly cut off.
Adrian lowered the phone.
Camille stared at him.
“Your what?””
Adrian looked at Victor.
Victor's face had gone completely white.
Then Adrian slowly opened the folder to a page Camille had never seen.
At the bottom was a handwritten signature.
A signature dated twenty-four years earlier.
Camille leaned closer.
And when she saw the name beneath it, her entire face changed.
“Dad…”
May you like
Victor whispered one word.
“Please.””
