Chapter 2

It was already 1:00 am by the time I returned to my rental apartment.

I sat on a folding chair with the unwrapped lingerie set, a needle, thread, and tweezers spread across the table.

I picked up the needle and thread and sewed the camera into the space between the padded cups and the lace.

After finishing the last stitch, I held the lingerie up to the light and inspected it. It looked untouched.

I folded the lingerie, placed it back in the gift box, and tied the satin ribbon into a bow. Then I looked up at the framed photo on the wall.

Scarlett was grinning from ear to ear in it, holding up peace signs with both hands as she leaned against my shoulder.

Back then, we had to squeeze into a basement apartment near our college. She used to tell me that as long as I was with her, even instant noodles tasted sweet.

I reached out, took the photo off the wall, and flipped it over. A folded bank statement was taped to the back, hidden beneath a strip of tape.

It documented all illicit transactions Zachary had made through Scarlett's account to offshore shell companies over the past six months. I stuffed the bank statement back in and laid the photo facedown on the table.

Then I picked up my phone and sent Sabrina an encrypted text message. "The bait is set. I'll deliver it tomorrow."

Three seconds later, she replied with a single word.

"Attaboy."

…

Early the next morning, I took the gift box to the office. Zachary's office was on the 26th floor, and his driver and right-hand man, Christopher Wright, was stationed outside the door year-round.

When I knocked on the door, Christopher sized me up before jerking his chin toward the office. "Mr. Trent is busy right now, so you'll have to wait for a while."

I stood in the hallway for 20 minutes. The door swung open, and Scarlett strutted out in her high heels. Her lipstick was smudged.

When she spotted me, she didn't bother to cover up, either. She simply wiped the corner of her lips with the back of her hand. "Well, aren't you early?"

She accepted the gift box, unboxed it, and took a quick look before nodding. "Nice color. Mr. Trent will like it."

A metallic tang rose in my throat, but I forced myself to swallow it down. "In that case, I'll head inside and deliver my report."

Zachary was reclining in his executive chair, his shirt collar hanging wide open. Two used glasses and a plate of half-eaten cherries sat on the desk. He didn't invite me to sit, so I stood before him.

"How long have you been following up on the final payment for the southern city's redevelopment project?"

"Six months, Mr. Trent."

He picked at his teeth and answered without even lifting his gaze. "In that case, you don't need to follow up on that project anymore. Hand it over to Scarlett. She'll get the commission on the final payment, too."

I'd spent half a year wining and dining clients, drinking through more than 50 dinners to secure that final payment. The commission alone was worth almost 80 grand.

"Mr. Trent, what about my commission—"

At last, he looked up at me. "Your commission? James, you need to look at the bigger picture. If you spend all your time obsessing over your own little patch of ground, how are you ever going to make something of yourself?"

He slapped the desk. "Young man, keep your eyes on the horizon. I won't treat you unfairly."

My hands balled into fists at my sides. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Trent. I've been too narrow-minded."

After emerging from his office, I chugged three glasses of water in the pantry.

Scarlett followed me in and leaned against the water dispenser with her arms crossed over her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes. "James, are you mad at me?"

"No."

She tugged at my sleeve. "Cheer up. I'm entertaining Mr. Trent for our future. Once I've established myself in the company, he's promised to promote you to assistant manager. Then we can buy a house, get married, and set ourselves up for life in one go!"

When she uttered the words "for our future", her lips still carried the smell of Zachary's cigarettes.

I looked into her eyes.

"Scarlett." I took her hand, and my Adam's apple bobbed. "It's my fault. I'm sorry for putting you through so much."

Her eyes misted over, and she reached out to pat my cheek. "So long as you know that. From now on, don't talk back to Mr. Trent. Just do as you're told."

The moment she turned around, I withdrew my hand from her coat pocket. Her work phone was now unlocked, and a mirroring app was running silently in the background.

I watched her hips sway as she walked into Zachary's office. Then the door closed behind her.

I pulled out my phone and sent Sabrina six words. "The fish has taken the bait."

Ten seconds later, she replied. "11:00 pm, our usual spot."