Sophia's POV The days following the event Lucas and I had attended were a strange mix of exhilaration and apprehension. The coincidence of meeting Donald at the venue had gone incredibly well, thanks to Lucas’s invaluable help. The connection we'd made at the event seemed to carry over into the office. We weren't working directly together since we have different tasks, but our paths crossed more frequently. A shared coffee break, a quick chat in the hallway, a brief moment by the water cooler – each interaction felt easy, natural. He had this way of making me laugh, of asking questions that showed he was really listening. It was subtle, but I could feel myself getting closer to him, a comfortable warmth growing between us.I remembered that event, when he had asked me if I was seeing anyone, my heart had raced heart at first, as I thought he's about to pop the big question. I had told him the truth—I’m not seeing anyone. But, he had received a call which seemed to change his mood, a
Donald's POV Miles sat across from me in my office, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the polished mahogany desk. He slid a manila folder across the surface. It looked innocent enough, but the weight of it felt heavy, charged with bad news."Everything you asked for, Mr. Briggs," Miles said, his voice low and professional. "It's all in there. The evidence is… solid."I opened the folder, my hands surprisingly steady. Inside were printouts, bank statements, transaction logs, and even some coded messages. As I scanned them, a cold dread began to spread through me. The numbers didn't lie. Money had been moved, siphoned off, cleverly disguised. But the name that kept popping up, the one directly linked to these transactions, was Arnold.Arnold? The one in charge of the account departments. The guy I trusted implicitly. The guy who was supposed to be as loyal as the day is long. I feel my heart quickening in pace. It didn't make sense. Arnold was a family man, devoted to
Sophia's POV After my remark, I saw Donald tense a little bit. But then, he quickly covered it up with a smile.“Very well then,” Lucas remarked. “I thought he's giving you trouble.”Donald scoffed. "Trouble? Just catching up with her buddy,” he said, glancing at Lucas. “Nothing for you to worry about," He then turned to me. "Unless, of course, you need someone to rescue you?""Actually," Lucas cut in, holding my hand, a silent reassurance. "I think Sophia and I were just about to head over to talk to some key people here. She's got a lot on her plate tonight, and frankly, so do I. We should probably get going."Donald laughed, a harsh, unpleasant sound. "Key people? Right. What key people would you possibly be talking to?" He looked at Lucas as if he were an idiot. "We were just talking and I'd appreciate it if you step aside.""Talking?" Lucas's voice was dangerous now. "It sounds more like you are forcing the conversation. And I don't appreciate that. Since she didn't want to talk
Donald's POV Since the start of today, I have this excitement bubbling inside of me that I couldn't fully picture. I don't know maybe it was still the thrill of Laura getting me that Hublot wrist-watch I'd always admired, or the joy of meeting some of the big guys in the business later in the day.Laura being who she was, tried to ruin the day for me, but I just set my mind to ignore her charade. I had told her before about attending an event later in the evening, but she suddenly came up with the excuse of meeting a long-time friend now.I pulled out my phone and dialed Jane, my secretary. If Laura isn't going to attend with me, then Jane has to stand in as the female figure from the company. At least, this is still about getting big names for the company.“Boss?” Jane's voice sounded from the speaker as she picked the call.I clear my throat, wanting to present the situation in the most soothing way. “Are you having a great weekend?” I started in a light manner, hoping to get the r
Sophia's POVThe weekend comes rolling by quickly after another stressful week. I was already getting used to the stress, so it didn't weigh me down like when I just started the cleaning job.I sat just opposite my father, watching him drop the magazine he was holding, so he could engage me in a proper conversation. Today, the conversation with my father was quite different. Usually, our talks revolved around work, about the company, and sometimes, about the future. But this afternoon, it was about Lucas. His approval, his happiness for me, was a palpable thing. He spoke of Lucas with a warmth that surprised me, a genuine admiration that made my heart swell.“He’s a good man, Sophia,” my father said, his eyes alight with a pride I rarely saw. “You should probably get to know him. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and a good heart too. I see the way he looks at you.”My father’s words, his obvious pleasure in my blossoming connection with Lucas, spurred me on. It was a feeling I h
Donald's POV The fluorescent lights of the coffee shop hummed, a monotonous sound that did little to soothe the gnawing anxiety in my gut. I drummed my fingers on the tabletop, the rhythmic tapping a desperate attempt to quell the rising tide of frustration. Miles, the private investigator, sat across from me, his usual calm demeanor starting to fray around my nerves. It had been weeks since our last meeting, and the progress, or rather the lack thereof, was becoming unbearable.“So, Miles,” I began, my voice tight, “any news?” The question was laced with an impatience I couldn’t quite mask. An impatience born out of the urgency to see things work out for me.Miles took a slow sip of his coffee, his eyes meeting mine over the rim of the mug. “Mr. Briggs, I understand your frustration. But these things take time. We’re dealing with a sophisticated operation here.”“Time?” I scoffed, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. “Time is something I don’t have, Miles. This is bleeding my comp