Part 4
The Ashford jet landed in London just before dawn.
Rain streaked across the runway as Daniel handed me a sealed envelope.
“We recovered this from your father’s private archive,” he said quietly.
“It was hidden behind a false wall.”
I broke the wax seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Only three lines.
If you’re reading this, someone I trusted betrayed me.
Do not trust Damian Mercer.
And never believe Grant married you by accident.
I read it twice.
Then a third time.
Grant hadn’t chosen me because he loved me.
He had chosen me because I was an Ashford.
Across London, Damian Mercer stood in the penthouse of Mercer Capital overlooking the Thames.
His assistant hurried into the room.
“Sir… Victoria Ashford has landed.”
Damian slowly closed the file he had been reading.
“So…”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“The daughter has finally started asking the right questions.”
By noon, Daniel and I arrived at a century-old private bank.
The manager personally escorted us underground.
Six steel doors.
Three biometric scanners.
One underground vault.
Inside sat a single deposit box.
Property of Jonathan Ashford.
“My father never told anyone about this,” I whispered.
“He wanted only you to open it,” the manager replied.
The lock clicked.
Inside lay a leather journal…
…a gold pocket watch…
…and a flash drive.
Daniel connected the drive to his encrypted laptop.
A video appeared.
My father filled the screen.
Older.
Tired.
But smiling.
“Victoria.”
“If you’re watching this, then I was right.”
He sighed deeply.
“My death was never going to be an accident.”
My heart stopped.
Daniel looked at me but said nothing.
My father continued.
“Grant Carlisle didn’t create the plan.”
“He was recruited.”
I felt the room spin.
“There are people above him.”
“Much higher.”
The video switched to surveillance photographs.
Damian Mercer.
Grant Carlisle.
Three unfamiliar executives.
Several government officials.
Secret meetings.
Private yachts.
Late-night flights.
Then one final image appeared.
A document stamped with a title.
PROJECT HELIOS
“What is Helios?” I whispered.
Daniel’s face turned pale.
“I’ve heard rumors.”
“Rumors of what?”
“A private organization.”
“No governments.”
“No oversight.”
“Just billionaires deciding who rises…”
“…and who falls.”
The video resumed.
“If they failed to control me…”
“They would try to control you.”
My father’s eyes seemed to look directly into mine.
“Victoria…”
“If you ever discover Project Helios…”
“Run.”
The screen went black.
Silence filled the vault.
Daniel finally spoke.
“We should leave.”
Before I could answer…
The lights went out.
Emergency alarms echoed through the underground chamber.
The bank manager shouted from outside.
“Miss Ashford!”
“Someone has overridden the security system!”
Metal doors slammed shut throughout the building.
Daniel reached inside his jacket.
“This wasn’t random.”
A calm voice echoed through the vault speakers.
“Welcome back, Miss Ashford.”
“We’ve been expecting you.”
Then another voice spoke.
One I recognized instantly.
Grant.
“You should have stayed in Newport.”
The final steel door locked with a deafening crash.
Daniel looked at me.
“They know we’re here.”
I slowly closed my father’s journal and slipped it into my bag.
“No.”
I said calmly.
“They’ve finally realized…”
“…I’m coming for them.”
To be continued…
