Chapter 8: The Man Who Protected Me
Martin Cole had been in my life for twenty years.
He attended my father’s funeral.
He helped me fight my first corporate battle.
He sat beside me when investors doubted me.
When everyone thought I was too young to run Valecrest, Martin told me:
“You’re stronger than your father.””
I believed him.
Now he stood outside my apartment door.
Knowing things he shouldn’t know.
Knowing Amelia was alive.
Daniel looked at me.
“Do you trust him?””
I didn’t answer.
Because that was the terrifying part.
I wanted to.
The door opened slowly.
Martin stood there.
Older than I remembered.
Gray hair.
Perfect suit.
Calm expression.
The same man who had attended every important moment of my adult life.
“Lucienne.””
His eyes moved past me.
Straight to Amelia.
“I knew it.””
Amelia stepped back.
“You.””
Martin sighed.
“I hoped I was wrong.””
I stared at him.
“What are you doing here?””
He looked at me sadly.
“Saving you.””
My jaw tightened.
“Everyone says that.””
He flinched.
Good.
“Martin, how did you know she was here?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because I know everything happening inside Valecrest.””
I stared.
“You’ve been watching me?””
“No.””
His answer came too quickly.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then explain.””
Martin looked at him.
“You’re Daniel Price.””
“Yes.””
“Richard’s last assistant before he died.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“You knew my father?””
Martin ignored him.
“Lucienne, you need to understand something.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You need to understand something.””
My voice was calm.
“I spent twenty-five years believing Amelia abandoned me.””
Martin looked away.
“She almost destroyed you.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Amelia whispered:
“Martin.””
He looked at her.
“You know I’m right.””
I turned.
“What is he talking about?””
Martin removed a small drive from his pocket.
“I have proof.””
He placed it on the table.
“Proof that Amelia wasn’t a victim.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Amelia.
She looked devastated.
“Lucy…”
I shook my head.
“No.””
I looked at Martin.
“Show me.””
He connected the drive.
A video appeared.
The image was old.
Grainy.
A young Amelia sat in a room.
Across from her was my father.
My breath caught.
Richard looked angry.
“You don’t understand what you found.””
Young Amelia looked terrified.
“I know what you did.””
My father leaned forward.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.””
The video shook.
Then Amelia said something that made my entire body freeze.
“I’m going to tell Lucy.””
My father’s expression changed.
“You won’t.””
The screen went black.
I looked at Martin.
“That’s it?””
He nodded.
“That was enough.””
“No.””
I turned to Amelia.
“What happened next?””
She didn’t speak.
I walked closer.
“Tell me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I tried to leave.””
“And?””
“I couldn’t.””
“Why?””
She whispered:
“Because someone else entered the room.””
The lights flickered again.
Everyone turned.
A second video file appeared on the computer.
Nobody touched it.
It started automatically.
A man’s voice filled the room.
A voice I knew.
My father.
“If you’re watching this, Lucienne, it means I failed.””
My heart stopped.
The recording continued.
“I failed to protect you from the people I trusted.””
I looked at Martin.
His face had gone pale.
My father’s voice continued:
“Especially Martin Cole.””
The room went silent.
Martin stepped back.
“No.””
I stared at him.
My father’s recording continued.
“Martin was never my advisor.””
A pause.
“He was the person controlling everything.””
Martin whispered:
“That’s impossible.””
Then the video showed a final image.
A document.
Signed twenty-five years ago.
At the bottom was a name.
May you like
The person who ordered Amelia’s disappearance.
Martin Cole.