Chapter 7 - Shadows in the Background
By the end of the first week, the immediate crisis at headquarters had stabilized, but a darker undercurrent began to surface.
I was working late in Harriet’s home office, reviewing regional shipping logs, when my cell phone buzzed on the mahogany desk. It was an unknown number with a local area code.
I swiped to answer.
"Bellamy," a cold, smooth voice hissed through the speaker. It wasn't Sterling—it sounded younger, sharper, and deeply agitated.
"Who is this?" I demanded, keeping my hand hovering near the desk phone to trace the call if needed.
"Don't worry about who I am," the voice replied, laced with a venomous edge. "You think you won because your grandmother managed to throw Sterling to the federal wolves. But Sterling was just the front man, sweetheart. He didn't build Apex Holdings alone. There are people higher up who invested millions into those regional distribution centers, and they aren't going to let a twenty-year-old bookstore clerk liquidate their portfolio over a family feud."
My grip tightened on the edge of the desk. "If you have something to say to this company’s legal counsel, call our corporate office during business hours. Otherwise, consider this call recorded and traced."
"Trace it all you want," the caller laughed darkly. "Enjoy your little victory while it lasts. But check your shipping manifests for warehouse sector four tomorrow morning. You might find that your precious empire is a lot more vulnerable than you think."
The line went dead with a sharp click.
I sat back in my chair, my heart pounding against my ribs. I didn't hesitate. I picked up the desk phone and dialed Marcus Vance’s replacement—a sharp, fiercely loyal forensic accountant named David Chen whom Harriet had quietly brought on board years ago.
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"David," I said the moment he picked up. "I need you to pull every shipping and inventory manifest for warehouse sector four in Tacoma immediately. Look for ghost shipments, undocumented asset transfers, or outside logistics partners we never authorized."
"On it," David said, his tone instantly shifting from tired to alert. "Give me twenty minutes."
