Chapter 5 - Naomi Refused Two Hundred Million Dollars and Exposed the First Lie Inside the Boardroom—But the Betrayal Went Much Higher Than Richard ValeThe emergency board meeting lasted four hours.
Richard attacked.
Adrien defended.
Lawyers argued.
Directors shouted.
Naomi listened.
She said very little.
That made everyone underestimate her.
Until she asked one question.
“Who authorized the first Project Orchid transfer?”
The room went silent.
Richard answered.
“No such project exists.”
Naomi opened her father's file.
“Then why does your signature appear on page forty-seven?”
Richard's face tightened.
Adrien looked at the document.
“That's his signature.”
Richard shook his head.
“Forged.”
Naomi looked at him.
“By whom?”
“I don't know.”
“Then we investigate.”
Richard laughed.
“You have no authority.”
“I have thirty-one percent.”
The laughter stopped.
Adrien's chief counsel spoke.
“That's enough to request an independent audit.”
Richard stood.
“No.”
Naomi's gaze hardened.
“That sounded like fear.”
Richard walked toward her.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
“I know my father was accused of stealing four hundred million dollars.”
“Yes.”
“I know he didn't.”
“You can't prove that.”
“I can.”
She placed the drive on the table.
“My father recorded the transfers.”
The room erupted.
Adrien looked shocked.
“You never told me about the recordings.”
“I didn't know.”
A technician connected the drive.
Samuel Carter's voice filled the boardroom.
Richard Vale approved the transfer.
Richard's face turned white.
Then another voice.
Adrien's father.
If Samuel disappears, protect the boy.
Adrien closed his eyes.
The room went silent.
The recording continued.
Richard's voice appeared.
Once the old man is gone, we control the company.
Richard's attorney immediately objected.
“This recording may be inadmissible.”
Naomi turned.
“Then let an independent forensic team verify it.”
Adrien nodded.
“Do it.”
Richard glared.
“You're making a mistake.”
Adrien answered:
“No.”
“You're destroying your family.”
“You destroyed mine first.”
Richard's security team moved.
Adrien noticed.
“Everyone stays.”
The guards stopped.
Richard left the room.
Within twenty minutes, investigators were on their way.
But the danger didn't end.
Naomi received a message.
You should have taken the money.
She showed Adrien.
His expression changed.
“Security.”
A guard appeared.
“Find the source.”
Ten minutes later, they traced the message to a device inside headquarters.
Inside Richard's private office.
But Richard was gone.
Adrien ordered a search.
They found hidden drives.
False contracts.
A list of reporters.
And a file containing Naomi's personal information.
Her mother.
Her brother.
Her address.
Her work schedule.
Adrien's face became cold.
“He's been following you.”
Naomi swallowed.
“I didn't know.”
“I should have protected you sooner.”
“You weren't responsible for my life.”
“I am now.”
She looked at him.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
That night, Adrien moved Naomi and her family to a secure estate outside the city.
Naomi's mother sat in the kitchen.
“Are you in love with him?”
Naomi nearly choked.
“Mom.”
Her mother smiled.
“You look at him differently.”
“He's complicated.”
“So was your father.”
Naomi looked down.
“Do you trust him?”
Her mother thought.
“I trust what your father wrote.”
“Then?”
“Watch what he sacrifices.”
Across the room, Adrien was speaking with his lawyers.
Naomi noticed something.
He had removed himself from the company board's emergency vote.
Why?
She asked him later.
“You could have blocked Richard.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because the board should decide.”
“You're risking losing your company.”
“Yes.”
“My father said you'd be tested.”
Adrien looked at her.
“Then I suppose this is the test.”
She smiled.
“You're doing well.”
He laughed softly.
“I've been terrified for three days.”
“I couldn't tell.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“I can.”
For a moment, they stood inches apart.
Then Adrien's phone rang.
The forensic team had found something.
Project Orchid wasn't merely about stealing money.
It was about transferring control of the company to an external buyer.
A competitor.
Lazarus Holdings.
And the person negotiating the sale was not Richard.
It was Adrien's chief financial officer.
Naomi stared at the screen.
“Who else has access?”
“Three people.”
“Richard.”
“Yes.”
“Your CFO.”
“Yes.”
“Who is the third?”
Adrien paused.
“My mother.”
Naomi froze.
“No.”
Adrien looked toward Vivienne.
She was standing in the doorway.
“I told you the family was involved,” she said.
Naomi's heart sank.
“Mrs. Vale?”
Vivienne walked in.
“I didn't betray your father.”
“Then why are your credentials on the transfer?”
“Because I placed them there.”
Adrien stared.
“Mother.”
She held up a hand.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“How?”
“By giving Richard what he wanted.”
Naomi looked confused.
Vivienne continued.
“I knew he was planning to remove you.”
“So you helped him?”
“No.”
She smiled sadly.
“I helped him believe he had already won.”
Adrien stared.
“What did you do?”
“I redirected the final payment.”
“To where?”
Vivienne looked at Naomi.
“To a trust your father created.”
Silence.
The money from Project Orchid had never been stolen.
It had been hidden.
For fifteen years.
Waiting for the truth to surface.
Richard had been chasing money that no longer existed where he thought it did.
Naomi whispered:
“My father knew.”
Vivienne nodded.
“He trusted no one.”
Adrien looked at his mother.
“And you?”
“I trusted you.”
She paused.
“But I knew you would need to learn the difference between controlling an empire and deserving to lead one.”
Adrien exhaled.
Then Vivienne's expression changed.
“There is one more problem.”
“What?”
“The man who originally arranged Project Orchid is still alive.”
Naomi asked:
“Who?”
Vivienne looked at her.
“Your father.”
Naomi's world stopped.
“My father died fifteen years ago.”
Vivienne shook her head.
“No.”
“He disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Then where is he?”
May you like
Vivienne whispered:
“Still alive.”
Related Stories
