CHAPTER 43: A NAME FROM THE PAST

Alexander arrived at Blackwood International before eight in the morning. The sky was still grey, and the glass towers around the company reflected the pale light of the rising sun. He stepped out of his car, adjusted his coat and walked through the revolving doors without stopping to greet anyone.

Something had changed inside the building.

People still moved between offices, assistants still answered phones, and employees still gathered around the coffee machines. But when Alexander entered the executive floor, conversations became quieter. A few people looked up and quickly returned to their screens. Others exchanged brief glances before pretending to be busy.

He noticed everything.

Victoria had already arranged the documents he requested. She was no longer his assistant, but she had agreed to help with the investigation into Evelyn's disappearance and the old company records.

"The request came through the internal archive system," she explained, handing him a folder. "The access route hasn't been active for years. Whoever used it knew exactly where to look."

Alexander opened the folder. Inside was a copy of Clara Bennett's old personnel record, followed by several pages of access logs.

"Who has been responsible for maintaining these records?"

"Several people over the years. But one person has been here since your father's time. He knows the old system better than anyone."

"Name?"

"Martin Hayes. Senior records administrator. He's currently in the archive department."

Alexander closed the folder. "Arrange a meeting."

Twenty minutes later, he stood outside a small conference room with Martin Hayes sitting across from him. Martin was in his late fifties, with thinning grey hair and a carefully pressed shirt. He had worked at Blackwood for more than twenty years. His expression was polite, but his hands remained tightly folded on the table.

"Mr. Blackwood," he said. "I wasn't expecting to be called in personally."

"Then I suggest you get used to surprises."

Martin gave a nervous smile.

Alexander placed the photograph of Clara outside the Blackwood Grand Hotel on the table.

"Do you recognise this woman?"

Martin glanced down.

For a moment, his face changed. His eyes widened slightly, and his fingers tightened around each other. He recovered quickly, but Alexander had already noticed.

"Yes," Martin said.

"Her name?"

"Victoria."

Alexander leaned back. "Victoria what?"

"Victoria was her name. She worked here many years ago."

"That isn't what I asked. What was her position?"

Martin looked at the photograph again.

"She was Director of Corporate Records and Compliance. She had access to confidential financial documents, internal investigations and certain executive files. Very few people had that level of access."

Alexander studied him. "Why did she leave?"

Martin hesitated.

"An internal investigation was opened. Afterward, she left the company."

"Was she dismissed?"

"I believe so."

"You believe?"

"The official explanation was never made public. We were instructed not to discuss the matter, and her personnel file was sealed."

Alexander's expression hardened. "By whose instruction?"

"I don't remember."

"Try harder."

Martin shifted in his chair. "It happened during a difficult period for the company. Your father was still alive. There were concerns about missing financial records, and several departments were reviewed."

Alexander looked at him sharply.

"Missing records?"

"That's all I know."

"No. That's all you're willing to tell me."

Martin lowered his eyes.

Alexander stood and walked towards the window. He remembered that period. He remembered the sudden meetings, the closed doors and the arguments between his father and senior executives. He remembered being told that an employee had violated company policy and that the matter had been handled internally.

But he remembered something else.

He remembered seeing his father furious after a late-night meeting. He remembered asking what had happened and receiving the same answer every time.

It's a company matter. Stay out of it.

At the time, Alexander had believed the incident was an ordinary dispute over confidential information. Now, with Evelyn still missing and Clara's name appearing in a mysterious request, the official account no longer made sense.

"Was Victoria connected to Evelyn Blackwood?" he asked.

Martin looked up too quickly.

"I wouldn't know."

"She was connected to something. I can see that much."

"I really can't help you, sir."

Alexander picked up the photograph.

"Someone has reopened her file. Someone is using an access route that should have been dead for years. If you remember anything else, I expect you to tell me."

"Of course."

Alexander paused at the door.

"One more thing. Did Victoria leave voluntarily?"

Martin's silence lasted just long enough to become an answer.

"I don't know, sir," he finally said.

Alexander walked out without another word.

Across the city, Amelia was doing everything she could to keep her attention on her work.

Her design proposal was spread across a large table at Ethan's office. Samples of wood, fabric and flooring covered one side, while printed plans and cost estimates occupied the other. She had spent the previous evening adjusting the lighting layout and checking the budget.

She refused to let the messages, photographs and rumours take away something she had worked so hard to build.

"Amelia?"

She looked up. One of the clients, a middle-aged man named Mr. Lawson, stood beside the table holding a copy of her proposal.

"Yes?"

"I've been looking through your designs. They're impressive."

"Thank you."

He smiled, but there was something uncomfortable in his expression.

"I suppose working with Alexander Blackwood has opened a few doors for you."

Amelia slowly put down her pencil.

"Excuse me?"

"Well, everyone knows you're close to him. It must help when you're trying to get noticed in this industry."

For a moment, she considered ignoring the comment. Then she decided she had spent too many years allowing people to underestimate her.

"Mr. Lawson, I understand why people are curious about my personal life. But my relationship with Alexander has nothing to do with the work on this table."

He glanced at the plans.

"I didn't mean to offend you."

"I know. But I earned my place here through my training, my design work and the proposal I submitted. Ethan's team reviewed my work independently. Alexander withdrew from the selection process, and I would expect you to judge the final result by its quality."

Her voice remained calm, but there was no uncertainty in it.

Mr. Lawson nodded.

"Fair enough. Let's talk about the lighting plan."

Amelia returned to the drawings, feeling more confident than she had before the conversation. She could not control what people said about her, but she could control the work she produced.

Later that afternoon, Alexander arrived at her apartment. He looked tired, and the usual control in his expression seemed strained.

Amelia opened the door.

"You look like you've had a difficult day."

"I have."

"Come in."

He followed her into the living room. Daniel was at school, and her mother was resting in her bedroom. Amelia placed two cups of tea on the table and sat opposite him.

"Did you find anything?"

Alexander took out the photograph and placed it between them.

"The woman in this photograph has been identified."

"Clara?"

"No. Someone else. Her name is Victoria."

Amelia frowned. "Victoria?"

"She worked at Blackwood years ago. She was Director of Corporate Records and Compliance. She had access to sensitive financial documents and internal investigations."

"Was she involved with Evelyn?"

"I don't know. But she left the company after an internal investigation. The official explanation was never made public."

Amelia studied his face.

"What was the investigation about?"

"Missing company records. At least, that's what Martin Hayes admitted."

"Could those records be connected to what happened to Evelyn?"

Alexander looked down at his tea.

"They could be connected to the incident that damaged the company years ago. But I don't know the full answer. I remember being told that an employee had violated company policy. I was younger, and I accepted what my father told me."

"And now?"

"Now I think someone made sure I never learned the truth."

Amelia was quiet for a moment.

"Do you think Victoria was responsible?"

"I don't know. She may have been involved. She may have discovered something and been pushed out because of it. Until I find the original investigation report, I won't accuse her of anything."

Amelia nodded slowly.

"Then find the report. But be careful, Alexander. If someone is reopening these old files, they may be trying to make sure the truth stays buried."

He reached across the table, stopping just short of her hand.

"I know."

She looked at him, then placed her fingers over his.

"Don't shut me out when you discover something."

"I won't."

He said it quietly, but she watched his face to make sure he meant it.

At Blackwood International, Martin Hayes remained alone in his office long after the working day had ended. He had locked the door and switched off the main light. The photograph of Victoria was still open on his computer screen.

His phone began to ring.

The number was hidden.

He stared at it before answering.

"Hello?"

A distorted voice came through the speaker.

"I heard Mr. Blackwood has been asking questions."

Martin swallowed.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me, Martin. You showed him the photograph."

"I only answered what he asked."

"Then you should have kept your answers to yourself."

Martin stood and walked towards the window.

"Who is this?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you never mention Victoria's name again. Do you understand?"

The call ended.

Martin slowly lowered the phone. His reflection stared back at him from the dark glass, his face pale and his breathing uneven.

He looked once more at Victoria's photograph.

Then he whispered, almost too quietly to hear:

"I thought she was gone. How can she possibly be involved again?"