Chapter 4 - The Secret Hidden in the Company Files
Imara knew she needed proof.
Not suspicion.
Not instinct.
Proof.
Because powerful people survived by making accusations disappear.
Cyrus Aldaine had spent decades building an empire.
Prentice Aldaine had spent months trying to steal it.
The difference was evidence.
---
With help from Dix, Imara accessed old company records.
They discovered unusual transfers.
Small payments.
Hidden accounts.
Medical consulting fees.
All connected to companies that did not exist.
Houston looked at the documents.
“This is bigger than we thought.”
Imara nodded.
“He didn’t just poison Cyrus.”
Dix finished the sentence.
“He planned the takeover.”
---
But they still needed Cyrus’s testimony.
And that was impossible.
A man who could not speak could not accuse anyone.
Then Imara remembered something.
Cyrus reacted to music.
Specifically, her guitar.
She brought it into the room.
She played softly.
A melody she wrote years ago.
The monitor changed.
His heart rate increased.
Imara leaned closer.
“Mr. Aldaine.”
A pause.
“If you can hear me…”
She placed a notebook in front of him.
“I need you to help me.”
She slowly moved his hand toward the page.
Not forcing.
Just guiding.
“Can you write?”
Nothing.
Then his fingers moved.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But they moved.
The pen touched the paper.
One word appeared.
RUN.
Imara froze.
“Run?”
Another word.
NOW.
Her blood turned cold.
“What do you mean?”
Cyrus struggled.
The pen shook.
Then he wrote:
HE KNOWS.
---
At that exact moment...
The door opened.
Prentice stood there.
Watching.
His expression was unreadable.
“Interesting.”
Imara quickly hid the notebook.
“What are you doing here?”
Prentice smiled.
“I came to check on my brother.”
His eyes moved toward Cyrus.
Then toward Imara.
“I wonder what you two have been discussing.”
The room became silent.
Cyrus’s monitor changed.
Imara noticed.
Fear.
Not from her.
From him.
Cyrus Aldaine was afraid.
And that meant only one thing.
May you like
Prentice was closer to the truth than they thought.
---
