— Then they started calling the shots, — Arthur hissed. — Who we sold to, what prices we set, who we hired. Every decision had to be cleared with them. They weren’t protectors anymore—they were the bosses. And we were just puppets.
Elena was silent, processing this. In the corner, Drew sat up, hugging his knees. He was listening intently.
— I was done, — Arthur closed his eyes. — Tired of the dirt. Tired of waking up every morning wondering what new demands they’d have. The work I’d spent twenty years building had become a nightmare. I don’t have a family, I don’t have kids—all I had was that company. And it had become a prison.
— You decided to leave, — Elena nodded.
— Three months ago, I told Mike I wanted out. — Arthur opened his eyes and looked at Elena. — I wanted to take my buyout and go. Maybe start something else, something small and clean. Or just retire. I’m forty-six. I’ve earned a rest.
— What did Mike say? — Elena asked.
— He lost it, — Arthur smiled bitterly. — Called me a traitor. A deserter. Said we started together, we finish together. I told him I didn’t sign up for this. That I wanted out while I could still look in the mirror.
Elena nodded understandingly.
— And Dan? — she asked. — What about him?
— Dan stayed quiet, — Arthur shook his head. — He’s terrified of Mike. Always has been. Mike is strong, forceful. Dan is a good engineer, but he’s a weak man. No backbone. He does what Mike says, no questions asked.
— And then what? — Elena leaned in.
Arthur paused, choosing his words.
— Mike said, “Fine, go.” But first, we had to do the valuation, the paperwork. I agreed. I thought we’d handle it like adults. But a week ago, I realized he was stalling. I checked the books—half the assets had already been moved to shell companies. Without my consent. They forged my signature.
Elena gasped, covering her mouth.
— I went to Mike: “What is this?” — Arthur clenched his fists. — And he just laughed. Said, “That’s business, Arthur. You wanted out, so go. With nothing.” I was furious. I told him I’d sue, I’d go to the authorities, that forgery is a felony. And he just said, “Try it.” He looked at me like I was an enemy. A target.
— That’s terrifying, — Elena whispered.
— That’s when I knew he was serious. — Arthur rubbed his temples. — He’d get rid of me if he had to. To him, I wasn’t a friend anymore. I was a liability.
Drew held his breath in the corner. He was listening with wide eyes.
— Three nights ago, Dan called me, — Arthur continued quietly. — Said, “Arthur, let’s meet. Mike’s ready to talk, he wants to settle this peacefully.” I believed him. Old fool. I thought maybe he’d come to his senses.
— And? — Elena squeezed his hand.
— I showed up at the meeting, an empty warehouse outside the city. — Arthur closed his eyes. — Mike was there with two guys. Big guys. Mike asked calmly: “Where are the transfer documents, where are the seals, where are the account passwords?” I told him I wasn’t giving them anything until we settled up. Then he just nodded to the guys. They grabbed me, fast and professional. Threw me in a car, drove me to the woods.
Elena bit her lip as she listened.
— Mike said, “Think about it, Arthur. A little time in the cold might clear your head.” — Arthur looked out the window. — They tied me up, gagged me. Left me. Said they’d be back in the morning to see if I’d changed my mind. If I froze, it was on me.
— My God! — Elena shook her head.
— I thought it was over. — Arthur swallowed hard. — I lay there, freezing. I tried to get free—no luck. The knots were professional. So I decided to crawl. I’d crawl to the road. I tried. I hurt my leg, tripped over a root, fell. The pain was blinding. But I kept going. Maybe a hundred yards. Then I just didn’t have anything left. My hands were numb, my legs wouldn’t move. I lay there thinking: this is where I die. No one will ever find me.
Elena wiped a tear from her cheek.
— And then Drew appeared. — Arthur turned and looked at the boy in the corner. — Like an angel. He was out for wood and heard me. He untied me, hauled me here. Cleaned my wound. Fed me. Saved me.
Drew looked away, embarrassed.
— Mr. Sterling! — Elena squeezed his hand tighter. — But why not the police? They tried to kill you.
— Elena, — Arthur shook his head. — Mike has friends in the department. Half the city is in his pocket: police, judges, prosecutors. If I show up and file a report, they’ll find a way to flip it on me. They’ll find forged documents, bring in fake witnesses. I’ll be the one in handcuffs.
— That can’t be right, — Elena whispered.
— It is, — Arthur nodded tiredly. — You don’t know that world. Money talks. And Mike has a lot of it.
— What are you going to do? — Elena looked at him, lost.
— I don’t know yet. — Arthur sighed. — I need time. To get my strength back, to think. Maybe I’ll just leave the state. Start over somewhere else.
— But what about the company? — Elena sat up straight. — People are working there. Two hundred people. I work there.
Arthur looked at her for a long time, sadly.
— The people… — he repeated softly. — Under Mike, the plant will keep running. He wants power. And money. He won’t shut it down. Don’t worry about that.
Elena nodded, but her hands were shaking. She hid them under the quilt. In the corner, Drew sat motionless. His mind was racing: it was like a movie. Betrayal, gangsters, escape. It was hard to believe this was real life. That this man, sitting in his bed, had gone through all that.
— Mr. Sterling, — Elena stood up and adjusted the quilt over his legs. — Stay with us. As long as you need. Until you’re better and you know what to do.
Arthur looked at her with immense relief.
— Thank you, — he whispered. — Thank you. And thank your son. You’re good people. There aren’t many left.
— Get some rest, — Elena tucked him in. — We’ll talk more in the morning.
Arthur nodded and closed his eyes. Within a minute, his breathing leveled out; he was asleep. Elena went back to the sofa and lay down. She stared at the ceiling. She couldn’t sleep. Her mind was spinning: the CEO of the company was in her house. Hunted, wounded. Saved by her son. What would happen next? Would those people find him? Would they come here?
She turned on her side and looked at Drew. Her son was still sitting in the corner, hugging his knees. He wasn’t sleeping either. Their eyes met. Elena reached out her hand. Drew came over and sat beside her.
— Mom, — he whispered. — Is it scary?
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