Chapter 8 - The Enemy From My Father's PastThe name Victor Black remained on my mind long after the meeting ended.
Some names were just names.
But some names carried memories.
Pain.
Betrayal.
Warnings.
Victor Black was one of those names.
Seven years ago, before I walked away from the Sterling empire, my father had given me one piece of advice.
"Never judge a person by how loudly they promise loyalty."
"Judge them by what they do when nobody is watching."
At the time, I didn't understand why he said that.
I thought he was talking about business.
Contracts.
Investments.
Corporate negotiations.
I never imagined he was talking about love.
I never imagined he was warning me about Ryan.
Or about Victor.
I entered the private archive room beneath Sterling Global headquarters.
Very few people knew this room existed.
Even senior executives had no access.
It contained the history of my family.
The original company documents.
My father's private records.
Every decision that shaped Sterling Global.
Elena followed behind me.
"You haven't been here since you took control."
I touched the old wooden door.
"I didn't want to."
She looked at me carefully.
"Because of your father?"
I nodded.
Because every corner reminded me of the life I abandoned.
The life where I was supposed to become a powerful businesswoman.
The life where I was supposed to marry someone chosen by society.
The life where everyone wanted something from me.
I entered the archive.
The lights turned on automatically.
Thousands of files surrounded us.
Thomas had already prepared the documents.
One folder was placed on the table.
The label immediately caught my attention.
"Black Industries."
I opened it.
The first page contained a photograph.
A young man standing beside my father.
Victor Black.
Twenty years younger.
Smiling.
Looking like a trusted friend.
I turned the page.
The partnership agreement between Sterling Global and Black Industries.
Then came the conflict reports.
Financial disagreements.
Breach of trust.
Unauthorized transactions.
My expression darkened.
Victor wasn't just an enemy.
He was someone my father once trusted.
Someone who knew every weakness of Sterling Global.
Elena read the documents beside me.
"Your father never told you."
"No."
"Why?"
I continued reading.
Because I found the answer.
A handwritten note from my father.
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
"Victoria."
"If you ever discover these files, it means Victor has returned."
My heart stopped.
My father knew.
He knew this day might come.
"He was once my closest friend."
The letter continued.
"But ambition changed him."
"He believed Sterling Global should belong to him."
"He tried to take what he did not build."
I looked at Elena.
"This was never about Ryan."
She understood immediately.
"No."
"Ryan is only a piece."
Victor was the real threat.
I continued reading.
"Protect the company."
"Protect the employees."
"But most importantly..."
"Protect yourself."
The final sentence made my blood run cold.
"Because the person who hurts you most will always be someone you trusted."
I slowly closed the letter.
Ryan.
Victor.
Two men connected by the same weakness.
Greed.
Elena looked at me.
"What are you going to do?"
I placed the documents back.
"The same thing my father taught me."
"Prepare."
Meanwhile.
Ryan sat inside Victor Black's private office.
The room was designed to intimidate.
Dark furniture.
Expensive artwork.
A view overlooking the entire city.
Victor poured two glasses of whiskey.
"You remind me of myself."
Ryan looked at him.
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Victor smiled.
"No."
"It's a warning."
Ryan ignored the comment.
"I want Sterling Global."
Victor laughed.
"You don't want Sterling Global."
Ryan frowned.
"What?"
"You want Victoria to regret choosing herself over you."
The words hit too close.
Ryan looked away.
Victor noticed.
"That's why you're dangerous."
"You're not fighting for money."
"You're fighting because your ego was damaged."
Ryan's expression hardened.
"Can you help me or not?"
Victor walked toward the window.
"Yes."
"But there is one problem."
"What?"
"Victoria Sterling is smarter than both of us."
Ryan smiled.
"She thinks I'm weak."
Victor turned around.
"No."
"She thinks you are predictable."
The room became silent.
"And predictable people always lose."
Ryan clenched his fist.
"Then we'll surprise her."
Victor smiled.
"Good."
"Because I already found the first weakness."
Ryan looked interested.
"What weakness?"
Victor placed a file on the table.
Inside was a photograph.
A younger Victoria.
Standing beside someone Ryan had never seen before.
A man.
A man who looked exactly like her.
Ryan stared.
"Who is that?"
May you like
Victor smiled.
"The secret your wife spent seven years hiding."
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