Chapter 20 - The Photograph That Changed Everything
The enlarged photograph remained frozen on the conference room screen.
No one spoke.
Daniel stared at the young man carrying the tray of coffee.
Himself.
Twenty-eight years younger.
His breathing became uneven.
"I... I barely remember that day."
Michael Carter turned toward him.
"Try."
Daniel rubbed his temples.
"I was in college. Dad told me to spend the summer learning how the company worked."
Rebecca zoomed in further.
Richard Collins stood at the center of the photograph.
Beside him were Thomas Keene, Victor Hayes, and Gabriel Ross.
All four men were looking directly at something outside the frame.
Not at the camera.
At someone else.
Edward requested the original negative from the company archives.
Minutes later, technicians enhanced the complete image.
The room collectively gasped.
A fifth person had originally been standing beside Richard.
That figure had been carefully cut from every public version of the photograph.
Margaret slowly stood.
"I know that suit."
Everyone looked at her.
"Richard designed it himself."
Rebecca frowned.
"For whom?"
Margaret whispered a single name.
"Elias."
No one recognized it.
Except Victor Hayes.
His face drained of color.
"It can't be..."
Michael noticed immediately.
"You know who Elias was."
Victor remained silent.
Edward spoke firmly.
"This is no longer optional."
Victor finally nodded.
"Elias wasn't an employee."
"He wasn't a shareholder."
"He wasn't family."
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Then who was he?"
Victor answered quietly.
"He was the only person Richard Collins feared."
The room fell into complete silence.
Outside, rain began striking the windows.
Somewhere in another part of the city...
May you like
A man watching the same photograph on a tablet smiled faintly.
"They've finally remembered my name."
