Chapter 7: The Enemy From the Past
“Hello, Malcolm.””
The voice on the other end of the phone was one he hadn’t heard in seventeen years.
But he recognized it instantly.
Some voices never leave you.
They stay buried beneath memories, beneath success, beneath years of pretending something never happened.
Malcolm stood frozen in his office.
The city moved outside his window.
Cars passed.
People walked.
The world continued as if nothing had changed.
But inside that room, Malcolm Reed was no longer the chairman of a global luxury empire.
He was the young man who had watched his first company nearly collapse.
The young man who had trusted the wrong person.
“Adrian,” Malcolm said.
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“So you remember.””
Malcolm tightened his grip.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to.””
“Still dramatic.””
“No.””
Malcolm’s voice became colder.
“Still disappointed.””
The person on the other end laughed again.
Adrian Cross.
Once Malcolm’s closest business partner.
Once the person he believed would stand beside him forever.
Until he didn’t.
“Tell me something, Malcolm,” Adrian said.
“Do you ever wonder why some people deserve success and others don’t?””
Malcolm said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“You always believed hard work was enough.””
“It is.””
“That’s where you were wrong.””
Malcolm walked toward his desk.
“You’re behind this.””
A pause.
Then:
“Behind what?””
“Thomas. Elliot. The complaints.””
Adrian laughed softly.
“You’re finally putting things together.””
Malcolm’s expression hardened.
“How long?””
“How long what?””
“How long have you been trying to get inside my company?””
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
That silence was worse than any confession.
“Longer than you think.””
Malcolm looked at the financial records on his desk.
The hidden investments.
The anonymous purchases.
The manipulation.
“You used people who worked for me.””
“No.””
Adrian corrected him.
“I used people who already wanted something.””
Malcolm felt anger rise.
“You corrupted them.””
“No, Malcolm. I showed them what they already were.””
The words disturbed him because Adrian had always been good at that.
Making terrible things sound reasonable.
“You think this is going to work?”” Malcolm asked.
“I think you’re weaker than you used to be.””
Malcolm frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“You care too much.””
The sentence landed differently.
Because it sounded exactly like what Thomas had said.
“You built an empire,” Adrian continued.
“But you built it on emotion. Loyalty. Trust.””
A pause.
“Those are beautiful things.””
His voice became colder.
“But they’re also weaknesses.””
Malcolm looked at the family photo on his desk.
Claire stood beside him in the picture, laughing.
She had been sixteen.
Before business became more complicated.
Before he started missing dinners because of meetings.
Before he convinced himself he was protecting his family by working harder.
“You don’t know anything about my family,” Malcolm said.
Adrian’s silence lasted only a second.
But it was enough.
Malcolm felt something change.
“What?””
“I know more than you think.””
The room suddenly felt colder.
“What did you do?””
“Nothing.””
“Adrian.””
“You should ask yourself a better question.””
Malcolm waited.
“Who inside your company has been protecting you?””
The call ended.
Malcolm stared at the phone.
For the first time in years, he felt something he hated.
Uncertainty.
Claire arrived at the office thirty minutes later.
She knew something was wrong the moment she saw him.
Her father was usually controlled.
Even during disasters.
Especially during disasters.
But now he looked distracted.
“Dad?””
Malcolm looked up.
“You came quickly.””
“You said it was urgent.””
He nodded.
Claire sat down.
“Who called?””
Malcolm studied her.
“Why do you think someone called?””
“Because you only look like that when something happened.””
He almost smiled.
Almost.
“You always notice everything.””
“Someone has to.””
The words were gentle.
But they carried weight.
Malcolm leaned back.
“Adrian Cross contacted me.””
Claire’s expression changed.
“Adrian?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“He’s involved.””
“Involved how?””
Malcolm didn’t answer immediately.
Claire understood.
“He’s trying to take the company.””
“Yes.””
“And Thomas helped him.””
“Yes.””
She looked down.
“Does Thomas know about me?””
Malcolm frowned.
“Why would you ask that?””
“Because I recorded that video.””
A silence followed.
Then Malcolm understood.
Claire wasn’t afraid for herself.
She was afraid she had become the reason someone might target the family.
“Claire.””
“I should have told you earlier.””
“No.””
“I should have pushed harder.””
“No.””
His voice became firm.
“You did what you could.””
She looked at him.
“And what did you do?””
The question was quiet.
But honest.
Malcolm looked away.
“I missed it.””
Claire didn’t respond.
“I built systems,” he said.
“I built protections. I built layers.””
He looked at her.
“But I forgot layers can also block the truth.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Claire said:
“Dad.””
“Yes?””
“Don’t let them make you doubt who you are.””
Malcolm smiled faintly.
“You sound like your grandfather.””
“I’ll take that as a compliment.””
“It is.””
The moment was interrupted by Daniel entering the office.
His face was serious.
“Mr. Reed.””
Malcolm turned.
“What happened?””
Daniel placed a tablet on the desk.
“We traced more of the money transfers.””
“And?””
Daniel hesitated.
“They weren’t only connected to Adrian.””
Malcolm looked at the screen.
“What do you mean?””
“There’s another person.””
Claire leaned closer.
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
“That’s the problem.””
Malcolm looked at him.
“Daniel.””
The manager turned the tablet around.
On the screen was a list of transactions.
One name appeared repeatedly.
A person Malcolm knew.
A person he trusted.
Someone who had been near him every day.
The entire time.
Malcolm stared.
“No.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I’m afraid so.””
Because the person helping Adrian Cross destroy Malcolm Reed’s company…
May you like
Was someone Malcolm had never suspected.
His own assistant.
