Daniel looked stunned.

I stared at her.

Helen continued.

“He planned to move me out of sales leadership.””

That was the first time her voice cracked.

“He was replacing me.””

I understood.

This wasn't about an emerald dress.

It was about power.

But there was still something missing.

“You destroyed merchandise because my father was going to replace you?””

Helen shook her head.

“I didn't destroy most of it.””

“Most?””

She looked at me.

“The inventory losses began before I knew about your father's decision.””

My chest tightened.

“Then who started them?””

Helen glanced at Daniel.

That glance lasted less than a second.

But I caught it.

Daniel caught it too.

He immediately stepped back.

“Why are you looking at me?””

Helen said nothing.

I looked between them.

“Daniel.””

He raised both hands.

“I've done nothing.””

“Then open your records.””

“I will.””

“Now.””

He reached for the tablet.

Before he could touch it, the front doors of the boutique slammed open.

A man in a dark suit walked inside.

Two corporate attorneys followed him.

I recognized one of them immediately.

He was my father's chief legal adviser.

He looked directly at me.

“Evelyn, your father wants you upstairs.””

“Why?””

The attorney's expression was grim.

“Because we found something else.””

He held up a thick folder.

“The original ownership documents for this store were altered.””

I stared at him.

“Altered by whom?””

He looked past me.

Straight at Daniel.

Daniel's face went white.

The attorney continued.

“And the person who authorized the changes used your father's signature.””

I turned slowly toward Daniel.

He looked terrified.

But before anyone could speak, my phone buzzed.

A new message had arrived from my father.

Chapter 5: The Manager’s Hidden Deal

The message from my father stayed glowing on my phone screen.

*DON'T TRUST DANIEL. HE KNOWS.*

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Daniel.

The man who had apologized.

The man who had rushed across the boutique to protect me.

The man who had looked shocked when he saw the inventory records.

I slowly lowered my phone.

Daniel noticed.

“What did your father say?””

I studied his face.

That was the hardest part.

He didn’t look guilty.

He looked afraid.

And sometimes fear was more difficult to read than guilt.

The attorney stepped forward.

“Miss Evelyn, we need to move this conversation somewhere private.””

Daniel immediately spoke.

“You’re making a mistake.””

Nobody answered.

He looked at me.

“Evelyn, you know me.””

I did.

That was why this hurt.

“I thought I did.””

His expression changed.

“After everything I’ve done for this company?””

I stared at him.

“That’s exactly why I need answers.””

The attorneys escorted us upstairs to the executive office.

The boutique manager’s office had always been my father’s favorite place to work when he visited this location.

A large window overlooked the city.

A collection of old photographs decorated the shelves.

My father shaking hands with designers.

My mother standing beside him during the company’s first major fashion show.

And one photograph of Daniel.

Young.

Smiling.

Holding the first store opening certificate.

He had been with our family from the beginning.

I turned to him.

“Tell me you didn’t do this.””

Daniel looked at the photograph behind me.

Then he looked back.

“I didn’t steal anything.””

“That’s not what I asked.””

Silence.

The attorney placed a folder on the table.

“These are the ownership transfer documents.””

I opened it.

The papers showed the downtown boutique had been moved under a different holding company.

A company I didn’t recognize.

“When was this done?””

“Five months ago,” the attorney answered.

I looked at Daniel.

“You signed these.””

He shook his head.

“I signed paperwork, yes. But not this.””

“Your signature is here.””

“Because someone copied it.””

The attorney looked at him carefully.

“Do you have proof?””

Daniel hesitated.

That hesitation told me everything.

“What aren’t you telling us?””

He sat down slowly.

“My brother.””

I frowned.

“Your brother?””

Daniel rubbed his forehead.

“My brother owns a financial consulting firm. Last year, he approached me about helping with company expansion.””

“And?””

“He offered to review some of our financial systems.””

I crossed my arms.

“You gave him access.””

Daniel looked down.

“Yes.””

The room became quiet.

The attorney asked, “Who is your brother?””

Daniel swallowed.

“Michael Reed.””

I had heard that name before.

Not from business meetings.

From complaints.

A consultant who had been investigated by several companies for questionable financial practices.

My father had refused to work with him years ago.

“You knew my father didn’t trust him.””

“Yes.””

“Then why?””

Daniel looked exhausted.

“Because my wife was sick.””

That answer stopped me.

“My medical bills were overwhelming,” he continued.

“Michael said he could help me get ahead financially.””

“And what did he want?””

Daniel closed his eyes.

“Small favors.””

I already knew where this was going.

“Access.””

He nodded.

“At first, it was harmless. Reports. Inventory information. Nothing that seemed dangerous.””