The Heir’s Secret Agenda

Chapter 2: Secrets Beneath the Surface

“Why Vale Industries?” Claire leaned back in her chair, her glasses slipping down the bridge of her nose as she tapped away on her tablet. “Out of all the companies you could have bought into, why this one?”

Adrian leaned against the glass wall of his penthouse office, gazing out at the glittering city skyline. “It’s not just a company. It’s my company. It’s time I take back what’s mine.”

Claire sighed, setting the tablet down on her lap. “And here I thought we were over the whole revenge thing. Five years, Adrian. Are you sure this is worth it?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “It’s not just revenge. It’s justice. My father handed everything to Victor—the money, the company, the name—after setting me up to take the fall. I won’t let him get away with it.”

She arched an eyebrow. “And Emma? Does this have anything to do with her?”

His silence stretched longer than it should have. Finally, he muttered, “She made her choice. She’s Victor’s problem now.”

Claire smirked, unconvinced. “If you say so.”

Adrian turned to her, his voice firm. “Have we secured the shares?”

“Through the proxy, yes. Thirty percent of Vale Industries is under your control. Any more, and Victor might get suspicious.”

“Good. That’s enough for now. I want him to feel secure. Let him think he’s untouchable.”

Claire studied him carefully. “You’re walking a fine line, Adrian. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment.”

“I’m not emotional,” he snapped, his tone betraying him. He turned back to the window. “This isn’t about her.”

“Of course not,” Claire said lightly, though the hint of sarcasm didn’t escape him. She stood, smoothing down her skirt. “I’ll keep digging into Victor’s dealings. If he’s as dirty as you say, we’ll find something.”

Adrian nodded, his gaze never leaving the city below. “He’s dirtier than anyone knows. I just need proof.”

---

That evening, Victor Vale basked in his self-made glory, his office exuding the cold, calculated power he thrived on. Emma stood by the window, arms crossed, her posture stiff as Victor rifled through a stack of papers at his desk.

“You embarrassed me tonight,” Victor said without looking up.

Emma’s gaze was distant. “I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s exactly the problem.” He slammed the papers onto the desk and leaned back, his expression hard. “You stood there like a statue while Adrian Vale waltzed into my gala and undermined me in front of everyone. Do you have any idea how that makes me look?”

Emma turned to face him, her voice calm but cutting. “If you’re so insecure, maybe that’s your problem, not mine.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t test me, Emma.”

She walked closer, her voice lowering. “I’m not testing you, Victor. I’m warning you. Keep pushing me, and I won’t keep quiet about your little offshore accounts.”

Victor’s smirk faltered, but he quickly recovered. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Emma leaned in, her tone icy. “Try me.”

Victor’s expression darkened as she stepped away, her head held high. But as she exited the office, her façade cracked. She leaned against the door, taking a deep breath before making her way to her room.

Unbeknownst to her, Adrian had been standing just down the hallway, hidden in the shadows. He had overheard everything.

---

The next day, Adrian’s plan went into motion. With Claire’s help, he had arranged to meet with key board members of Vale Industries under the guise of an independent investor interested in the company’s growth. The meeting was tense but fruitful, the board members intrigued by his vision and subtle hints of Victor’s incompetence.

As the meeting wrapped up, Adrian checked his phone, noticing a new message from an unknown number. The text was short and cryptic:

“Victor’s illegal activities run deeper than you think. Check the documents attached.”

Attached were scanned copies of financial statements, wire transfers, and emails—enough evidence to destroy Victor if made public. Adrian frowned, his mind racing. Who could have sent this?

“Adrian?” Claire’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You okay?”

He handed her the phone, and her eyes widened as she scanned the documents. “This is huge. If this is real, it could bury Victor.”

“It’s real,” Adrian said firmly. “I need to know who sent it.”

Claire nodded. “I’ll trace it, but don’t get your hopes up. Whoever sent this used a burner phone.”

Adrian stared at the screen, his mind flashing back to Emma’s warning to Victor the night before. Could it have been her?

---

Later that evening, Adrian sat in his dimly lit office, the documents spread out before him. Every piece of evidence pointed to Victor’s greed and corruption, but there was something else—something nagging at him. Why would Emma stay with Victor if she knew what he was capable of? Was she truly a victim, or was she playing her own game?

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Claire stepped in, her expression unreadable.

“I traced the burner phone,” she said, holding out a piece of paper. “It was used to send the message from a coffee shop near Vale Tower. The time matches when Emma left Victor’s office last night.”

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. “Emma.”

Claire nodded. “It’s possible. But we can’t be sure.”

Adrian stared at the evidence before him, his mind torn. If Emma was the one who sent the message, then she wasn’t Victor’s pawn—she was his enemy. But why hadn’t she come to him directly? Why hide behind an anonymous message?

“Adrian,” Claire said softly, “whatever you’re planning, be careful. If Emma’s involved, this could get messy.”

Adrian met her gaze, his eyes cold but determined. “It’s already messy. And I’m just getting started.”

---

The next evening, Adrian attended another event hosted by Victor, this time at Vale Tower itself. The room buzzed with chatter and laughter, the city’s elite oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface. Adrian moved through the crowd like a predator, his sharp suit and confident stride turning heads.

Emma was there, standing near the balcony with a glass of champagne in hand. Her eyes met Adrian’s across the room, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. He made his way toward her, ignoring the curious glances from onlookers.

“Emma,” he said, his voice low.

She turned to him, her expression guarded. “Adrian.”

“We need to talk.”

Before she could respond, Victor appeared, his arm snaking possessively around her waist. “Adrian,” he said with a smirk. “Enjoying the party?”

Adrian’s eyes never left Emma’s. “It’s certainly... illuminating.”

Victor chuckled, oblivious to the tension between them. “Good. I’d hate for you to feel out of place. After all, this is my world now.”

Adrian’s lips curved into a cold smile. “For now.”

Victor’s smirk faltered, but before he could respond, a server approached with a tray of drinks. The interruption gave Adrian the chance to slip away, leaving Victor and Emma behind.

But as he made his way toward the exit, his phone buzzed with another message from the same anonymous number:

“If you want to know the truth, meet me tomorrow. Pier 7. Midnight.”

Adrian stared at the screen, his heart pounding. This time, there was no doubt. It was Emma.