Chapter 6: The Betrayal Inside the Company
The name on the document felt impossible.
Malcolm read it again.
Then again.
Thomas Vale.
Chief Operating Officer.
His right hand for almost fifteen years.
The man who had stood beside him during expansions.
The man who helped negotiate acquisitions.
The man Malcolm trusted with the future of the company.
Daniel watched silently.
“Say something,” he finally said.
Malcolm placed the paper down.
“When did this happen?””
“Three years ago.””
The same year Claire tried to warn him.
Malcolm looked at the document.
Three years.
Everything connected.
“Thomas approved the complaint filtering system?””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“We’re still investigating.””
Malcolm stood.
“Find out.””
Daniel hesitated.
“Immediately?””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Daniel.””
“Yes?””
“If someone steals money from this company, we investigate.””
“Yes.””
“If someone damages the reputation of this company, we investigate.””
“Yes.””
Malcolm picked up the document.
“So why would we treat this differently?””
Daniel nodded.
“I’ll handle it.””
“No.””
Daniel stopped.
“I’ll talk to Thomas myself.””
The next morning, Thomas Vale walked into Malcolm’s office without concern.
He was older than Malcolm by several years.
Gray hair.
Calm voice.
The kind of person people naturally trusted.
“Malcolm.””
“Thomas.””
Thomas noticed the atmosphere immediately.
“You look serious.””
“I am.””
Thomas sat down.
“What’s wrong?””
Malcolm placed the document on the desk.
Thomas looked at it.
His expression changed.
Only briefly.
But Malcolm saw it.
“You know what this is?””
Thomas leaned back.
“Yes.””
“And?””
Thomas sighed.
“I was hoping we wouldn’t have to discuss this.””
Malcolm stared.
“You were hoping?””
“Malcolm, business decisions are complicated.””
“Customer complaints disappearing isn’t complicated.””
Thomas looked frustrated.
“You don’t understand the pressure we were under.””
“The pressure to do what?””
“To protect the brand.””
Malcolm laughed quietly.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Protect the brand.””
“Yes.””
“By hiding complaints?””
Thomas leaned forward.
“By preventing unnecessary damage.””
Malcolm’s expression hardened.
“No.””
Thomas looked at him.
“No?””
“You prevented me from seeing reality.””
Silence.
Thomas looked away.
That told Malcolm everything.
“Why?””
Thomas rubbed his face.
“Because I knew you would react like this.””
“Like what?””
“Emotionally.””
Malcolm stood.
“Caring about people is not emotional weakness.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You always were like your father.””
The sentence stopped him.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Thomas looked toward the window.
“Richard Reed was a great man. But he was too idealistic.””
Malcolm stared.
“You’re saying he was wrong?””
“I’m saying the world changed.””
“No.””
Malcolm walked closer.
“The world didn’t change.””
His voice lowered.
“We did.””
Thomas said nothing.
For the first time, Malcolm saw him differently.
Not as a partner.
Not as a friend.
As someone who had slowly moved away from the values they built the company on.
“I want your resignation.””
Thomas looked up.
“You’re firing me?””
“I’m asking for your resignation.””
Thomas stood.
“You’ll regret this.””
Malcolm’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
Thomas grabbed his jacket.
“It’s advice.””
Before leaving, he stopped.
“You think Elliot was the problem?””
Malcolm watched him carefully.
Thomas smiled slightly.
“You haven’t looked deep enough.””
The door closed.
For several seconds, Malcolm didn’t move.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel.
Attached was a new file.
Malcolm opened it.
Inside were financial records.
Payments.
Transfers.
Approvals.
Then he saw something that made his stomach tighten.
Thomas hadn’t just hidden complaints.
He had been working with someone outside the company.
Someone who had been quietly buying shares in Whitmore & Reed.
Someone who would benefit if Malcolm lost control.
A name appeared on the final page.
Malcolm stared at it.
Because it was a name from his past.
A person he thought he would never have to face again.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
“Hello, Malcolm.””
His blood ran cold.
Because after all these years…
The person who wanted to destroy everything he built had finally returned.
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And this time, they weren’t coming for his company.
They were coming for his family.
