Chapter 5 - THE LETTER FROM A DEAD WOMAN
Nathan arrived at Emma's apartment twenty minutes later.
Emma handed him the letter.
The paper was old.
Yellowed.
The handwriting was unmistakably his mother's.
Nathan read.
Then his hands began to shake.
The letter said that Charles had been hiding illegal transactions through Harrison Development.
But there was something else.
His mother had discovered that Charles planned to transfer ownership of a massive international construction portfolio into Nathan's name.
Nathan had never known.
The empire he inherited wasn't simply wealth.
It was a shield.
Charles had planned to make Nathan legally responsible for everything.
If the government ever investigated, Nathan would take the fall.
His mother had tried to stop it.
Then she discovered Emma's pregnancy.
She had realized the twins could become leverage.
Charles could control Nathan through them.
The letter ended with one sentence:
If anything happens to me, protect Emma and the children.
Nathan lowered the letter.
“She knew.”
Emma nodded.
“She tried to warn me.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Did you ever meet my mother?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before she died.”
Nathan's eyes widened.
“What did she tell you?”
Emma swallowed.
“She told me that if you ever came back into my life, I had to be careful.”
“Why?”
“She said Charles would never let you go.”
Nathan stared at the boys' bedroom.
Then he noticed something.
A small metal box beneath the bed.
“What's that?”
Emma looked confused.
“I've never seen it.”
Nathan picked it up.
It was locked.
No key.
He forced it open.
Inside was a tiny flash drive.
And a photograph.
Nathan turned the photograph over.
On the back:
FOR NATHAN — WHEN HE IS READY.
He inserted the drive into his laptop.
A video appeared.
His mother.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
Nathan stopped breathing.
“Hello, Nathan.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“If you're watching this, I'm probably gone.”
Emma stood behind him.
His mother continued.
“I need you to understand something. Your father is more dangerous than you know.”
The video showed documents.
Bank transfers.
Secret accounts.
Names of politicians.
Judges.
Contractors.
Then one file appeared.
PROJECT KINGDOM.
Nathan stared.
The project was familiar.
It was the largest development deal of his career.
A $12 billion international expansion.
The deal that had been waiting for his signature.
The deal that would make him the undisputed king of the construction industry.
His mother said:
“Project Kingdom isn't a business opportunity.”
Nathan leaned closer.
“It's a trap.”
The video ended.
Emma looked at him.
“What are you going to do?”
Nathan stared at the screen.
“I was supposed to sign the final agreement tomorrow.”
“Then don't.”
He nodded.
“I won't.”
Emma looked surprised.
“You'd really walk away?”
Nathan looked toward the boys.
“If signing that deal puts them in danger…”
He closed the laptop.
“I'd walk away from a hundred billion dollars.”
Then the front door opened.
A security guard rushed inside.
“Mr. Harrison!”
Nathan turned.
“What happened?”
The guard was pale.
“Someone just tried to get into the building.”
“Who?”
“We caught him.”
Nathan moved toward the door.
“Where is he?”
The guard hesitated.
“He's dead.”
Nathan stopped.
“What?”
“He swallowed something before we could question him.”
Emma covered her mouth.
Nathan's phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
YOU JUST LOST YOUR FIRST KINGDOM.
Nathan stared at it.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
NOW WE TAKE YOUR SONS.
