Romans de Enny's pen

Chapter 80: The person inside The conference room on the forty-second floor felt colder than usual. Outside the floor to ceiling windows, London’s night lights blurred into a distant constellation.Ethan stood with both hands braced against the polished table as authorization logs scrolled across the central screen. Blue light carved shadows beneath his eyes.Judith watched him silently while Elena worked at the secondary terminal.“It wasn’t remote,” Elena finally said. “Whoever used your executive authorization code was physically inside this building.”Ethan continued locking every financial subsystem still under his control—payment gateways, legacy transfer protocols, and the old standing-order engine that had somehow survived years of restructuring.“How many people have physical access to the executive wing after midnight?” he asked.“On paper, twelve. In practice, fewer. Three people entered between one-forty and 2:30am on the night the renewal was executed.”“Show us.”Ele

Chapter 79: 2:13 AMEthan locked down the financial systems himself, standing over Elena's shoulder while she typed, refusing to leave the room until every account tied to Harrow Logistics had been frozen."If someone's using my code," he said, "I want them locked out before they know I noticed.""Already done," Elena said. "But locking the money doesn't tell us who moved it.""Then let's find out who did."We moved to the security archive next, a small room two floors below the executive suite that I hadn't even known existed until that morning. Rows of monitors, years of footage and a single guard who looked startled to see the CEO himself standing in his doorway before eight in the morning."I need building access logs," Ethan said. "Three nights ago. Everyone who entered after midnight."The guard didn't ask questions. He just typed.I stood beside Ethan, my arms crossed tight against my chest, watching the screen fill with names and timestamps. Most of the night showed nothing j

Chapter 78: The MarkAll through the night, no one could sleep.By the time the sun came up, the table was covered in old documents, printouts, and the one folded page Thomas had kept hidden for years. The symbol sat at the bottom of almost everything now that we knew to look for it."How did you never notice this?" I asked.Ethan rubbed his eyes. "Because it's small, it's has always been there and my father told me it was part of the original Blackwood seal, and I never had a reason to question it.""You have a reason now.""yes, I know."Elena arrived just after seven, laptop bag over her shoulder, looking like she hadn't slept much either. She took one look at the papers spread across the table and set her bag down without a word."Tell me everything," she said.We did. About Margare, the message, the symbol, Thomas's warning about the committee and the man they only ever called the Chair.Elena listened without interrupting, her face growing more serious with every sentence."I

Chapter 77: The AccusationThe words stayed on the screen longer than they should have.ASK ETHAN WHY HIS FATHER KILLED HER.I looked up at him.He wasn't moving."Ethan."Nothing."Ethan, look at me."He finally lifted his eyes, and I had never seen him look like that before. he wasn't angry, neither afraid.Hollow."I don't know what that means," he said."Then say something.""I am saying something. I don't know what it means."Thomas stepped back from us both, like he wanted no part of whatever came next."Margaret can't be dead," I said. "We just found out she had the second recording an hour ago.""Maybe that's why," Thomas said quietly.I turned to him. "What?""If she had proof. Real proof. And someone knew we were about to reach her—""Don't," Ethan said.Thomas stopped.I felt my own pulse in my throat. "Don't what?""Don't finish that sentence," Ethan said. "Not until we know it's true.""And if it is true?"He didn't answer.I stared at him, at the photograph of Lily st

Chapter 76: The Last MessageMy father's phone was sitting on the table, and suddenly it felt more dangerous than a weapon.“They want this?” I asked.Thomas nodded.“They know you have it.”Ethan's face was hard. “How?”Thomas shook his head “I don't know.”“Someone followed us.” “No.”Thomas looked at him. “They were already watching me.”The room went silent instantly.I stared at the old phone more than necessary with fear.My father's last connection to the truth was now being used against us.And Lily was being used as the threat.Ethan stepped toward me. “They won't get it.”My eyes met his without intending to.“What if they hurt her?” “They won't.”“You don't know that.” “I know we won't hand them the phone.”Thomas interrupted quietly.“You shouldn't make that decision yet.”Ethan turned toward him.“What?”“If they are willing to threaten your daughter for that phone, then whatever is inside it is worth killing for.”“That doesn't mean we give it to them.”“No,” Thomas said

Chapter 75: Thomas ReedThe location on my phone was not an invitation. It was a warning.BLACKWOOD GROUP HEADQUARTERS.I stared at the message until the letters blurred.“Whoever sent this wants us there,” I said.Ethan took the phone from my hand. “Which means we are not going.”Thomas Reed, who had been sitting silently across the room, suddenly stood.“You have to go.” Ethan looked at him.“No.” Thomas shook his head.“You don't understand.”“Then explain.”Thomas walked toward the window and pulled the curtain slightly.The black car was still across the street.“They want you to believe the danger is outside,” he said. I frowned.“What do you mean?” Thomas turned toward us.“The real danger is already inside Blackwood.”A cold feeling ran through me.“Who?”. “I don't know.”“You must know something.”Thomas hesitated.“I know enough to know that Gerald was right to be afraid.” Ethan stepped closer.“What did my father know?” Thomas looked at him for a long moment.“Your father

Chapter 12: Blood and BetrayalElara's POV"Victor!"I screamed at the top of my voice as I sprinted across the foyer, my bare feet slapping against the cold marble as his knees buckled. The stench of blood hit me like a wall—it was so thick.Marcus moved faster than I thought possible, catching Victor under the arms just before his head cracked against the floor. Damien’s voice cut through the chaos like a whip.“Call Dr. Harris. Now!”“You don't have to,” I said, my voice steady despite what was going on in my chest. I dropped to my knees beside Victor, years of medical training snapping into place immediately.The panic receded. The mother in me—the one who had been screaming for her son every waking second—stepped aside. The doctor took over.“Bring me my medical kit. Clean towel and saline. Now!”Guards scattered in every direction. I barely noticed them.Victor’s face was pale, slick with sweat and smeared blood.His pulse fluttered weakly under my fingers, his breathing shallo

Chapter 11 Cracks in the IceElara's povElara’s hands trembled as she held her phone close to her chest, Jordan’s small, shaky voice still echoing in her ears. She desperately wants her baby boy back home.“Jordan…” she whispered, her voice cracking. And suddenly, she broke down into tears. She has been strong for too long. Jordan was all she had. She slid down the wall of the estate’s security room, her knees buckling as weeks of sleepless nights crashed over her. She played the message again, and again, each time Jordan’s frightened words slicing deeper. Victor pretended… tricked me… I’m scared but I’m trying to be brave…“Jordan! My sweet boy,” she cried, rocking forward. Her shoulders shook without control. The phone slipped from her fingers onto the cold floor. She didn’t care. All the strength she had forced herself to hold onto for his sake shattered completely. She was breaking, right there in front of Marcus and the security team.Strong arms wrapped around her before sh

Chapter 10 – Little HeroThe bright headlights of the car came closer. His small legs wanted to run, but he was too tired. The car stopped. A door opened.A tall man stepped out. “Hey, kid? Are you okay?” The man’s voice sounded kind and calm. He smiled gently and bent down so he would not scare the little boy.Jordan hid his face behind his hands. He did not know if this man was good or bad. He thought about Madam Mabel and her mean guards. His heart beat fast. He turned to run into the bushes again.“Wait, Jordan! Don’t run,” the man called. “My name is Victor. Your mummy sent me. She is very worried about you. She asked me to find you and bring you home safe.”Jordan stopped. He looked back slowly. “You know my mummy?”Victor took out his phone and showed a picture. It was Jordan’s mummy smiling and holding him when he was a baby. “See? This is your mum, Dr. Elara Voss. She is my good friend. She told me to look for you. Come, little one. Let me carry you. You are safe now.”Jorda

Chapter 9 – The Woman from HellDamien's povI stood in the safe room at my estate, staring at the reports on the table. My hands shook with anger and a mix of unbelief. Victor’s phone. The attack on Elara. Everything pointed to betrayal. But something wasn't right. “Boss,” Marcus said as he walked in. “We have a problem.”“Another one?” I asked.He placed a new folder in front of me. “The woman who took Jordan. We got a clear photo from a street camera near the drop point.”I opened the folder. The moment I saw her face, my blood turned cold. Long dark hair. Sharp eyes. That elegant smile I remembered from my childhood.It was her.My stepmother. Mabel Blackthorne.She was supposed to be dead. Killed in a car explosion ten years ago. We buried an empty coffin because the body was too burned to identify. My father had mourned her. Or at least pretended to.“She survived,” I whispered.Marcus looked shocked. “You know her?”“She was my stepmother. Everyone thought she died.” I sat d

Chapter 8 – The Enemy WithinElara’s povaThe screech of tires shattered the silence of the empty street, slicing through the night.I lost my grip on the steering wheel.“What the hell is happening?” I screened in fear, pulse hammering in my ears.A massive black SUV cut sharply in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, tires trying to resist. Before I could even shift into reverse, another vehicle boxed me in from behind.I got trapped. The SUV’s doors burst open. Three men charged toward my car, moving with so much speed. One raised his arm—metal glinting under the streetlights.A gun.Fear flooded my veins. I tried to reach for my phone, my fingers trembling, but headlights suddenly flooded the scene from the opposite direction. Several dark vehicles roared in at high speed.Gunfire erupted.The attackers froze mid-stride. Figures in tactical black poured from the new arrivals—Damien’s security team. The kidnappers opened fire first, turning the quiet street into a battlefield.I

Chapter 7 – Enemies Forced TogetherDamien's pov I've built an empire, made a name for myself, and have men under my control. But right now, nothing of that matters . The only heir I have has been taken by someone and every attempt to find him is failing. My son disappeared without leaving a single trace.The thought alone made it hard to breathe.I stood in the middle of my office while everyone waited for my next order."There is no limit," I said coldly. "Use every resource we have."Marcus nodded."Yes, boss.""I don't care how much it costs.""I want every private security company working for me.""They've already been contacted.""The police?""They're searching.""The FBI?""I've spoken to two contacts. They're joining the investigation."I looked out of the floor-to-ceiling window.New York stretched before me, bright and alive.Somewhere in that city...Someone had my son.The fear in me had increased especially because the person hadn't called to request for a ransom."