The Man With the Silver Cane
Chapter 02 - The Man With the Silver Cane
Henry Ashford crossed the terrace slowly, each strike of his cane against the stone cutting through the music.
Logan forced a smile. “Grandfather. The doctors said you needed another month in Switzerland.”
Henry did not answer. His eyes remained on Olivia.
“Why is that young woman in the pool?”
“She slipped,” Logan said. “She caused a scene after I caught her stealing company files.”
Olivia tried to climb, but pain shot through her shoulder. She sank back against the ladder.
Henry saw it. “Call a doctor.”
Logan’s head of security hesitated. “Mr. Ashford, perhaps we should first—”
“Now.”
The command sent two employees running.
Henry moved closer to the water. Olivia expected suspicion; the Ashford name had destroyed her father’s reputation. Instead, Henry removed his coat and knelt despite the obvious pain in his knee.
“What is your name?” he asked.
“Olivia Bennett.”
The color left his face.
Logan noticed. “She’s Daniel Bennett’s daughter. That explains everything. Her family has been obsessed with us for years.”
Henry’s grip tightened around the cane. “And you knew who she was when you hired her?”
“I didn’t hire her. Human resources did.”
“That was not my question.”
Olivia saw fear flicker across Logan’s features.
Henry extended his hand. “Can you stand?”
“I think so.”
He braced himself against the ladder and helped her reach the first step. A housekeeper rushed forward with towels. As Olivia rose from the water, the crowd saw the bruise forming on her arm.
Logan lifted his glass. “She is performing for sympathy.”
Henry turned.
The old man did not raise his voice. “Put down the drink.”
Logan laughed. “Grandfather, this is my gala.”
“This is my house, my foundation, and my name you are using to frighten a woman in front of two hundred witnesses.”
For the first time that evening, Logan’s smile disappeared.
He stepped toward Henry. “You don’t understand what she found.”
Olivia looked at him sharply.
Henry did too.
Logan realized his mistake and reached for Olivia’s phone. Henry blocked him with the cane. Logan stumbled backward on the wet stone, lost his footing, and fell into the pool with a violent splash.
No one laughed.
Henry handed Olivia’s phone to his attorney, Margaret Cole, who had just arrived behind him.
“Seal the gates,” Henry said. “Preserve every camera recording, every guest video, and every foundation server.”
May you like
Then he looked at Olivia.
“Twelve years ago, your father tried to tell me something. Tonight, you are going to finish what he started.”
