The polished revolving glass doors of Blackstone Asset Recovery looked exactly as Sebastian remembered before he left. For nearly five years, he had walked through these doors believing they were the entrance to his future. Three months ago, he had been escorted out in front of everyone like a criminal yet today he returned by his choice but not as an employee who used to work here, as an investigator who would find the secrets buried deep inside this company.Sebastian adjusted the strap of his work backpack, inside it rested his father's field notes, the faded photograph and the brass key. He took a slow breath before stepping into the marble lobby.The moment he entered almost immediately all the ongoing conversations faltered. All heads turned toward him as recognition spread across their faces instantly.“The fraud investigator.” one voice whispered. “I thought he'd disappeared.” The other voice said quietly.“He's got some nerve coming back.” Someone from behind mocked him.T

The morning air carried the scent of damp concrete and rust. Sebastian stood across the street from the abandoned machine repair shop, one hand tucked into his jacket pocket while the other held a folded city utility map. Commuters hurried past without sparing the crumbling building a second glance. To them, it was another forgotten relic waiting to be demolished.But to Sebastian, it was a question. He crossed the empty road. A loose sheet of corrugated metal rattled somewhere on the roof as the wind picked up. Weeds pushed through cracks in the pavement, brushing against his shoes.The front entrance was secured with heavy chain locks. He wasn't surprised as his father's notebook rested inside his backpack, its worn cover already beginning to soften from constant use and he remembered the line from the previous night's reading that suited his situation at the moment.Always inspect the surrounding before inspecting the asset.He walked past the entrance. The alley behind the shop wa

"Enough.” The store owners walked inside through the entrance door, silencing every member present inside.“What's going on ?” He asked, looking straight into the salesman’s eyes.“Si..Sir.” The salesman stuttered, feeling too scared. “This beggar tried to steal…”“He was lying. I didn't steal any…” Sebastian interrupted the salesman.“Enough both of you.” The store owner growled, shutting both their mouths.The salesman lowered his gaze, assuming now Sebastian would get punishment from his boss and he would enjoy the show but to his surprise the table turned in Sebastian's favour.“You're fired.” The store owner declared and everyone around gasped.“What ? NO SIR…but…” The salesman looked up, not believing his own ears.“I apologise Sir for the inconvenience caused to you by this foolish employee of ours. But we know how to correct our mistakes.” The owner bowed his head in front of Sebastian.The owner signalled his guards to leave Sebastian's hand and they did and walked outside wh

Saturday arrived beneath a gray sky. Sebastian spent the morning the way he had learned to spend every morning since finding his father's notebook –with discipline.He reviewed the auction listings over breakfast, marked two properties worth investigating next week, and transferred another small amount of money into his investment account. Forty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty dollars had seemed like a fortune only days ago. Now he understood it differently. It wasn't wealth but a working capital.His father had once told him, Money sitting still grows old. Money given a purpose grows with you.As Sebastian finally understood what his father had meant, a faint smile appeared on his lips.While working and checking everything double, Sebastian didn't forget about Evelyn. He tried her number umpteenth times but it was still out of reach which irritated and worried Sebastian at the same time. “When she'll return, I'll definitely ask for another contact to approach her in case of

The journey home felt longer than usual. Rainwater glistened beneath the streetlight as Sebastian walked through the quiet streets with an umbrella in his hand. Marcus’s final words refused to leave his mind. “They're no longer searching blindly.” Someone else had gone to the bank and now knew Box 417 mattered. That changed everything. Until now Sebastian had believed he was chasing his father's past and now someone was chasing him.His apartment was dark as usual as he returned. He locked the door behind him, placed his backpack on the table before removing David's notebook with the same care someone might reserve for an old family heirloom. The worn black cover had become softer from constant use, and several pages had begun to curl at the corners.The apartment greeted him with familiar silence. A month ago, that silence had felt lonely. Now it felt peaceful. He sat down and flipped to a blank page. Instead of reading, he uncapped a pen. Slowly, he wrote three lines.Information