Chapter 10: The Protector’s Betrayal
Malcolm Reed stared into the darkness of the abandoned factory.
For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
The person standing beside Adrian Cross was not a stranger.
Not an enemy.
Not someone he had been searching for.
It was someone who had been beside him through every crisis.
Someone who had protected him.
Someone who had saved his company more times than he could count.
Daniel Whitmore.
The store manager who first recognized him.
The man who brought him the security footage.
The man who helped uncover Elliot.
The man who claimed he wanted the truth.
Malcolm’s face hardened.
“Daniel.””
Daniel looked away.
That small movement hurt more than any confession.
Because Malcolm knew.
A person who had nothing to hide looked him in the eyes.
“What are you doing here?”” Malcolm asked.
Daniel didn’t answer.
Adrian smiled.
“Still trusting the wrong people, Malcolm?””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Stay out of this.””
Adrian laughed.
“You still don’t understand.””
Nathan stood nearby, silent.
Malcolm noticed.
“Did he know?””
Adrian smiled.
“Of course he knew.””
Malcolm turned toward his brother.
“Nathan.””
His brother looked uncomfortable.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew enough.””
Nathan didn’t respond.
The factory suddenly felt smaller.
The walls seemed closer.
The same place where Malcolm’s father had built his first company now held the people who had spent years tearing apart everything he created.
Daniel finally spoke.
“I never wanted it to come this far.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“That’s what everyone says after they get caught.””
Daniel flinched.
“You think I wanted to hurt you?””
“I don’t know what you wanted.””
Malcolm stepped closer.
“I don’t know who you are anymore.””
Daniel looked down.
That reaction told Malcolm more than words could.
Adrian walked around them slowly.
“This is the part I always found fascinating about you.””
Malcolm ignored him.
“You were always surrounded by people.””
Adrian continued.
“But you never really saw them.””
Malcolm’s eyes stayed on Daniel.
“What did he offer you?””
Daniel remained silent.
“What did he promise?””
Adrian answered for him.
“Recognition.””
Malcolm looked at Adrian.
“You think everyone can be bought.””
“No.””
Adrian smiled.
“I think everyone has a price.””
“That’s why you failed.””
Adrian’s expression changed slightly.
“Excuse me?””
“You confuse weakness with humanity.””
Malcolm looked around the factory.
“You found people who were hurt. Angry. Afraid.””
He looked at Nathan.
“And instead of helping them, you used them.””
Nathan looked away.
Adrian’s smile disappeared.
“You always did love speeches.””
“And you always did hate hearing the truth.””
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel sighed.
“I should explain.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Yes.””
Daniel swallowed.
“Years ago, before I became manager, I worked at Reed Manufacturing.””
Malcolm frowned.
“That was before my time.””
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You were there.””
Malcolm searched his memory.
A young man.
An employee.
Someone from the factory floor.
“I don’t remember.””
Daniel nodded sadly.
“That’s exactly the problem.””
The words hit harder than expected.
“You don’t remember me because I was nobody.””
Malcolm shook his head.
“That’s not true.””
“It felt true.””
Daniel looked around the old building.
“My father worked here. Twenty-five years.””
Malcolm listened.
“When the company expanded, hundreds of workers lost their jobs.””
Malcolm’s expression changed.
“We offered compensation.””
“Yes.””
Daniel nodded.
“You did.””
A pause.
“But my father didn’t need money.””
“What did he need?””
“To feel like he mattered.””
The silence grew.
Daniel continued.
“He died believing people like him were forgotten.””
Malcolm looked down.
He remembered the expansion.
The difficult decisions.
The meetings.
The numbers.
But not every face affected by them.
“I’m sorry.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“That’s the thing.””
“What?””
“You always say that after.””
Malcolm felt the words.
Because they were true.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“He found me when I was angry.””
Adrian smiled.
“And I gave him a purpose.””
“No.””
Malcolm looked at Adrian.
“You gave him revenge.””
Adrian shrugged.
“Sometimes they look the same.””
Nathan finally spoke.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at him.
Nathan’s face was conflicted.
“You said this would expose him.””
Adrian glanced at him.
“And it will.””
“This isn’t what we discussed.””
Adrian smiled.
“You’re getting emotional.””
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
That sentence seemed familiar.
Malcolm noticed.
Adrian used the same weapon against everyone.
He convinced people they were powerless.
Then he gave them someone to blame.
“You never cared about any of them,” Malcolm said.
Adrian looked amused.
“Really?””
“Yes.””
Malcolm pointed around the room.
“Daniel wanted to be seen. Nathan wanted to matter. Emily wanted to protect her family.””
His voice hardened.
“You didn’t help them.””
“You exploited them.””
For the first time, Adrian looked angry.
“Be careful.””
“Why?””
Malcolm stepped forward.
“Because I’m telling the truth?””
Adrian’s face became cold.
“You think truth wins?””
“No.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“I think people eventually realize when they’ve been used.””
Daniel looked at Adrian.
Just briefly.
But Malcolm saw it.
A crack.
A moment of doubt.
Adrian noticed too.
And his expression changed.
“Daniel.””
The warning in his voice was clear.
Daniel looked away.
Malcolm understood.
The alliance was already breaking.
Then Adrian pulled out a folder.
“I suppose there’s no point hiding anymore.””
He tossed it toward Malcolm.
Malcolm caught it.
“What is this?””
“Your company’s future.””
Malcolm opened the folder.
Inside were acquisition documents.
Stock agreements.
Legal transfers.
His stomach tightened.
Adrian smiled.
“Tomorrow morning, the board votes.””
Malcolm looked up.
“For what?””
“For removing you.””
The words echoed through the factory.
Nathan looked at Adrian.
“You said you wouldn’t destroy him.””
Adrian ignored him.
“You built everything, Malcolm.””
He stepped closer.
“Now you get to watch someone else own it.””
Malcolm closed the folder.
“You’re confident.””
“I am.””
“Why?””
Adrian smiled.
“Because the person who controls the board is someone you trust.””
Malcolm stared.
“What does that mean?””
Adrian walked away.
“Ask your family.””
Before Malcolm could respond, his phone buzzed.
A message.
From Claire.
One sentence.
Dad, I found something about the board vote.
Malcolm opened it.
His face changed.
Because the vote wasn’t tomorrow.
May you like
It was happening tonight.
And someone had already started signing the documents.
