Chapter 3 - The File
Arthur took Renata inside.
The lobby was warm, bright, and crowded.
Yet everyone seemed to stare.
The little girl in the red coat walked beside the billionaire who had built the entire tower.
Arthur ignored them.
Daniel was waiting near the private elevator.
He looked nervous.
“Where is the file?”
Arthur asked.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Archive storage.”
“Who accessed it?”
“We don't know.”
Arthur's expression hardened.
“You always know.”
“Not this time.”
The elevator doors opened.
Arthur looked at Renata.
“You stay with me.”
She nodded.
Daniel glanced at the girl.
“Who is she?”
Arthur answered.
“Julia's daughter.”
Daniel's face went white.
Arthur noticed.
“You knew about her too?”
“No.”
“You reacted like you did.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I knew Julia had a child.”
Arthur stared at him.
“How?”
Daniel looked away.
“Because I was the one who helped Julia leave.”
Silence.
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“You what?”
Daniel quickly stepped back.
“Not here.”
Arthur grabbed his arm.
“Eleven years ago, you told me Julia stole from me.”
“I told you what I was told.”
“By whom?”
Daniel looked toward the lobby.
“Your brother.”
Arthur froze.
He had no brother.
Not anymore.
His younger brother, Michael, had died nine years earlier.
Arthur released Daniel.
“That’s impossible.”
Daniel whispered:
“Michael wasn't working alone.”
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“Then who was?”
Daniel didn't answer.
The elevator doors opened again.
Arthur stepped inside with Renata.
Daniel followed.
The doors closed.
Renata looked up.
“Mom said you would be angry.”
Arthur stared at the floor.
“I was.”
“At her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought she betrayed me.”
Renata was quiet.
Then she asked:
“Did you ever ask her why?”
Arthur looked at her.
“No.”
The elevator stopped.
The archive floor was dark.
Daniel opened the secured room.
Julia's file lay on a table.
Open.
One page was missing.
Arthur picked up the remaining documents.
The last visible line read:
SUBJECT: JULIA VANCE — PROTECTION STATUS: ACTIVE.
Arthur's breathing stopped.
“Protection?”
Daniel nodded.
Arthur turned toward him.
“Who was protecting my daughter?”
Daniel looked at Renata.
Then at Arthur.
May you like
“I think the answer is why your daughter disappeared.”
👉 The missing page from Julia's file contained the name of the person who had hidden her for eleven years—and someone had removed it just before Arthur arrived.
