Chapter 30 - The Beginning of the End
Raymond stood still for a moment, ballot paper in hand.
And then... finally... he made the mark.
A "Yes."
A quiet gasp rippled across the room.
With that vote, the numbers shifted.
9 against. 10 in favor.
It was done.
ADIG Constructions, a pillar of the ADIG Group legacy, would be sold.
Raymond slowly placed the ballot on the table, looked around at the board members with tired eyes, and spoke firmly:
"The decision has been made. ADIG Constructions is now officially open for acquisition. Interested buyers may begin submitting their offers."
Some board members nodded quietly. Others looked away, disappointed. The room carried an awkward tension, like a funeral where no one really knew what to say.
As people began gathering their things and heading out, a low murmur spread among them.
"He'll be the one to answer if this backfires."
"Raymond's call... hope he knows what he's doing."
"Selling ADIG? That's the beginning of the end."
Raymond heard it. Of course, he did. But he didn't react.
He turned to Philip and said, "Let the buyers know. They can send in their proposals. It's time."
Philip gave a respectful nod, hiding the small spark of triumph in his eyes.
He turned slightly, just enough to mask the smile threatening to surface. This wasn't just a business transaction for him. This was personal.
Step one... complete.
*****
Same Morning, Alex arrived at the office earlier than usual that day. The restless night he had was still in his eyes. He hadn't slept well. Not after everything he'd uncovered.
Someone close was leaking classified documents.
Someone working directly with Rebecca.
Alex was determined. He didn't have the full puzzle yet, but he was going to find every missing piece, no matter how deep they were buried.
As he entered the building, he made his way toward the elevator. Just as the doors opened, he bumped into Abigail, Rebecca's secretary.
She smiled as always, with her casual and sweet tone, "Hey, Alex. Morning! Didn't expect to see you this early."
Alex smiled politely. "Yeah, I have a lot I need to go through today."
Abigail tilted her head slightly. "Oh? That's strange. Mrs. Stallion didn't mention any assignment for you today as she would be absent today and said she has an urgent meeting to attend. Very far from here, so I thought you were still on standby."
Alex chuckled lightly, trying not to look suspicious.
"Well, not directly from her, no. But with this project moving fast, there's a lot I've taken initiative on. I've got a pile of files to organize and work on. You know how it is."
Abigail nodded, pressing the elevator button. "Makes sense. It's been chaotic lately. Everyone's on edge."
"Tell me about it," Alex replied, stepping into the elevator beside her.
As the doors closed, Alex gave her a quick glance.
The elevator dinged. Doors opened. Abigail waved goodbye and went her way.
Alex walked toward his desk with purpose and as he sat down, he remembered what Abigail had told him.
Wait... Rebecca isn't coming in today.
A rare opportunity.
Her office... empty.
Her computer... untouched.
Alex didn't waste a second. He stood up casually, not wanting to draw attention. He grabbed his USB drive from his drawer, slipped it into his pocket, and made his way down the hall. His steps were quick but calm, he couldn't afford to look suspicious.
Rebecca's office door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. No one was around.
He walked in, shut the door behind him, and went straight to her desk.
He keyed in the password and logged in as before. As he sat down, his heart was pounding in his chest. He typed "ADIG" into the search bar.
Documents flooded the screen, more than he'd imagined. Internal communications, breakdowns of budgets, project blueprints, secret board discussions, and flagged memos. Some were files he had seen before. Others... never.
Alex plugged in his USB and began copying.
His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but rage.
How did she get these?
It was taking time. More than he liked. He looked at the door every few seconds. The copy bar crawled forward, inch by inch.
Finally, it was done.
He pulled the USB out, shut the screen, stood up, and left the office like nothing had happened.
Back at his section, he positioned himself behind a file cabinet where no one could see his screen. He connected the USB to his personal laptop and began opening the files.
What he found shook him.
There it was.
A strategy document he had personally created, marked "Internal Board Use Only" was sitting in a folder named "Review - Rebecca Stallion."
And not just any version. It was his version. Edited with the same margin notes. The same highlights. Even the same file name he had used.
He froze.
I only sent that file to Philip... No one else.
He opened more files. Another internal report. A restricted financial projection. Board comments. Everything meant for closed circles was in here.
This isn't just a leak. This is a system at work here.
The connection became clearer by the second.
Philip gave away Raymond's strategy.
Philip recommended Rebecca.
Philip was the one who introduced Alex to her.
Alex leaned back in his chair.
The air around him suddenly felt cold.
He whispered the name under his breath, like it had turned to poison.
"Philip
..."
He was the leak.
The traitor.
The one who had sold out Adig Group from the inside.
But that wasn't the end.
Alex kept digging, opening call logs, reviewing transferred files, and connecting timelines.
And then, a name appeared in one of Rebecca's hidden folders.
George Agnew.
He paused.
The name hit him like a brick. Not just because it was familiar... but because it wasn't supposed to be there. George Agnew wasn't just a businessman. He was dangerous.
He remembered the picture of him, hanging on the wall in the Gatehouse's safe room, and what Raymond had said about George... "Local tycoon. The political face of hope but gives suffering behind the screen." He also remembered the part where Raymond mentioned that he's a major part of the Circle in their town.
And Rebecca... was part of it.
She wasn't just a partner.
She was a plant. A pawn of something far bigger.
Philip too... This wasn't by chance or a mere coincidence. It was a setup from the beginning. A chance for the circle to have more hands-on Raymond and his empire.
Alex's chest tightened. Raymond was walking into a trap.
That evening, Raymond was scheduled to sign the final handover of ADIG Construction. If he did, it would all be gone. The years. The legacy. The empire.
Alex grabbed his phone and bolted from the building.
He had to warn Raymond. He had to stop the signing.
He rushed into the street, waving for a bike or a car, anything to get him there fast.
But then...
Screech.
A white van pulled up beside him.
Before he could react...
Hands grabbed him.
Duct tape sealed his mouth.
A blindfold wrapped his face. Everywhere was dark.
They moved fast as they were trained.
He struggled but it was useless. He was outnumbered.
Thrown into the van. His head hit the floor. His arms were tied and his knees pressed against his ribs.
Then the door slammed shut.
*****