Chapter 12: The Enemy Inside My Office
My assistant’s face appeared on the screen.
Natalie Brooks.
Twelve years.
That was how long she had been part of my life.
Not just my company.
My life.
She knew my schedule.
My habits.
My weaknesses.
She knew when I was stressed.
When I was happy.
When I was vulnerable.
She was there when my company made its first million.
She was there when I cried after losing investors.
She was there when Daniel proposed.
She was there when I announced my pregnancy.
And now I was looking at her name beside the word:
*Breach.*
“No.””
I whispered.
Nobody spoke.
My father looked at the screen.
“Who is she?””
“My assistant.””
Daniel frowned.
“You trusted her?””
I looked at him.
The irony was almost unbearable.
“Yes.””
His expression fell.
Because he understood.
Everyone I trusted had betrayed me.
My father.
My husband.
My family.
Now her.
Marcus continued on the phone.
“Emma, we traced the leaks.””
“How?””
“Multiple channels.””
“Meaning?””
“She wasn’t just stealing files.””
I felt cold.
“What was she doing?””
A pause.
“She was changing information.””
My stomach dropped.
“Changing?””
“Yes.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Someone wanted you to believe certain people were responsible.””
I looked around the room.
The accusations.
The chaos.
The ring.
The documents.
The marriage.
Everything.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying someone has been manipulating all of you.””
I stared at the screen.
Natalie.
The quiet woman who never raised her voice.
The woman everyone ignored.
The woman who always stood in the background.
The most dangerous person in the room.
“Find her.””
Marcus answered immediately.
“We’re trying.””
I ended the call.
Daniel looked at me.
“Emma.””
I didn’t answer.
Because something else bothered me.
A memory.
Something small.
Something I ignored.
Natalie had always hated Chloe.
Not openly.
Never.
But every time Chloe insulted me, Natalie would quietly appear afterward.
“You deserve better.””
“She’s jealous.””
“Don’t let them make you feel small.””
At the time, I thought she cared.
Now?
I didn’t know.
My father’s lawyer spoke.
“Miss Hayes, there is another problem.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He hesitated.
“We found evidence Natalie wasn’t working alone.””
My heart sank.
“Who?””
He looked at Daniel.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No.””
The lawyer placed a document down.
“We traced communication records.””
I picked it up.
Emails.
Messages.
Transfers.
Then I saw it.
Another name.
Daniel.
I closed my eyes.
“No.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Emma, listen.””
I looked at him.
“Again?””
He stopped.
Because he knew.
He had used those words too many times.
“Explain.””
His face was pale.
“I contacted Natalie.””
Everyone reacted.
I felt something inside me collapse.
“Why?””
He looked ashamed.
“Because I was trying to find out what she knew.””
“About me?””
“Yes.””
“About my company?””
“Yes.””
I nodded slowly.
“So you did work with her.””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“I suspected her.””
“When?””
“A year ago.””
I laughed quietly.
“A year ago.””
He nodded.
“I didn’t tell you because I was trying to confirm it.””
“And instead?””
“I made it worse.””
“Yes.””
He looked devastated.
“I never gave her permission to steal anything.””
“But you gave her access.””
His silence answered.
The room felt smaller.
Then suddenly—
The ballroom doors opened.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood there.
Not a guest.
Not a lawyer.
Not security.
Natalie.
My assistant.
My friend.
My betrayer.
She looked exhausted.
Her clothes were messy.
Her face was pale.
But she wasn’t afraid.
“Emma.””
My entire body froze.
Nobody moved.
My father stepped forward.
“Security.””
Natalie shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at me.
“I came here because you deserve the truth.””
I stared.
“You have a strange way of showing you care.””
Pain crossed her face.
“I know.””
“Did you leak my files?””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked everyone.
Daniel looked furious.
“Why?””
Natalie looked at him.
Then at me.
“Because I was trying to stop you from making the same mistake your mother made.””
My heart stopped.
“My mother?””
She nodded.
“She trusted the wrong people.””
I stepped closer.
“Who?””
Natalie looked toward the crowd.
Then whispered:
“Your mother wasn’t killed because of the Whitmores.””
Silence.
“She was killed because she discovered who was really behind everything.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Natalie looked directly at my father.
And said:
“The man who raised you.””
Nobody moved.
My father went pale.
Daniel stared.
Chloe covered her mouth.
And I looked at the person who had spent my entire life telling me he loved me.
My father.
The man who saved me.
The man who lied to me.
Natalie whispered:
“Emma… your father didn’t protect your mother.””
May you like
A pause.
“He betrayed her.””
