Chapter 10 - THE HIDDEN COMPANY
The USB drive contained thousands of files.
Among them was one document marked BLACKTHORN.
Inside were ownership structures.
Nathan's empire was only one layer.
Victor controlled dozens of companies through nominees.
One company appeared repeatedly.
Vale Meridian Holdings.
I stared at the name.
"Dad."
He didn't answer.
"That's yours."
His face changed.
"I thought it was buried."
"What is it?"
He sat down.
"A company I created thirty years ago."
"Why would Victor have access?"
"He didn't."
My stomach tightened.
"Then who did?"
My father looked at me.
"Your mother."
I had not heard that name spoken in years.
My mother had died when I was young.
I remembered almost nothing.
"She worked with you?"
"She built the original intelligence network."
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"Because she disappeared before she could."
My heart stopped.
"Disappeared?"
My father looked away.
"We were told she died."
"Wasn't she?"
He slowly shook his head.
"We never found a body."
The room went silent.
For years, I had believed I had lost both parents in different ways.
Now one question destroyed everything I thought I knew.
"Is my mother alive?"
My father didn't answer.
May you like
He didn't need to.
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