006

Throughout the drive to the police station, Jordan's mind swirled with distressing thoughts as he glanced out the window. His thick brows were furrowed in a deep frown and his heart was racing with trepidation. Despite his certainty in his innocence, an unsettling sensation lingered within him.

"You are under arrest for the embezzlement of company funds,"

Those words reverberated in his mind, like a relentless mantra, stirring his heart and leaving him perplexed about the unfolding events. He struggled to grasp how he had been accused of embezzling funds from his own company. As the CEO of JS Enterprises, he held the highest position, overseeing a board of executives. How could this situation have arisen? He pondered for a moment, but ultimately dismissed his thoughts, attempting to reassure himself that the arrest was merely a huge misunderstanding.

With that resolve, he took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as his gaze fell upon the police signpost marking the entrance to the imposing building before them. Jordan's face remained stoic as the officers navigated the vehicle into the police department's parking lot.

They approached his side of the car after they got out, opening the door and prompting him to exit. Jordan shot them a scornful glance, his insides boiling with anger. His jaw clenched tightly as he finally stepped out of the vehicle.

"Right this way, Sir," one of the officers instructed.

"Are the handcuffs really necessary? You're making me feel like a criminal. I haven't done anything wrong," Jordan retorted, his voice laced with irritation.

The portly officer turned to him and responded with courtesy, "We apologize for the inconvenience, Mr. Salvador."

Jordan let out an exasperated hiss before he began walking in the direction indicated by the officers. One led the way, while another followed closely behind. They eventually stopped upon reaching the police lobby.

Jordan was taken into custody after he refused to provide a written statement, insisting that he needed to speak with his assistant or attorney. The officers were hesitant at first but ultimately permitted him to make a phone call.

Jordan listened as the phone rang, the sound abruptly ending when his assistant's voice came through.

"Hello, Mr. Cameron speaking..."

Maintaining a calm demeanor, Jordan replied, "Hey, Norman, it's me..."

There was a brief pause before Norman's voice returned, filled with concern. "Boss...?"

"I've been detained by the federal authorities..." Jordan replied, disregarding his astonishment.

"What?" His assistant exclaimed, clearly taken aback.

"I need my attorney. Please contact Mr. Gary and have him come to the police station where I'm being held. I need this done as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

"Y- Yes, Sir," Norman responded, his voice still tinged with curiosity.

Jordan could sense from his tone that Norman shared his confusion. Regrettably, the limited information provided by the police left him unable to offer any reassurance.

"I'll be expecting you," Jordan finally stated before ending the call. He exhaled deeply, running his fingers through his hair as frustration mounted within him.

Surveying his surroundings, he was once again reminded of the dismal cell in which he found himself; alone and confined. As he tried to check the time, he remembered that his watch had been confiscated by the front office. A wave of annoyance washed over him, fueled by the way he was being treated; he felt unjustly labeled as a criminal, a sentiment that only intensified his need for retribution. He vowed that he would make them pay.

After a few minutes of restless pacing, he moved to the solitary chair in the cell and sat down. His mind raced with various thoughts as he awaited the arrival of his assistant and attorney. At that moment, it struck him as absurd that a billionaire like himself was confined to such a squalid space. He couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

His thoughts soon shifted from his dire predicament to memories of Alexa. A wave of warmth enveloped him as he reminisced about their happy moments from years ago. Those cherished memories had been his solace since she left him. He grappled with regret daily for the pain he had caused her. He didn't realize his true feelings for her until she left.

Despite his relentless search for her, a sharp ache gripped Jordan's heart as he confronted the reality of his fruitless efforts. Alexa remained unfound. It seemed as though she had disappeared without a trace. He had scoured the cities across the country in pursuit of her, yet she was nowhere to be found. Questions plagued his mind about her whereabouts. The last update he received was that she had slipped into a coma after her miscarriage, but upon returning to the hospital, the doctor informed him that she had been discharged after her recovery. This revelation suggested that she was still alive and well. Jordan felt...

"Boss..." The sedate voice of his assistant broke through his thoughts, pulling Jordan back to reality. His eyes darted toward the entrance, relief flooding over him as he spotted Norman making his way toward him.

Rising swiftly, Jordan crossed the room, held back only by the iron bars that confined him.

"My goodness, boss, what happened?" Norman asked, his brow furrowed in confusion as he surveyed the dismal surroundings.

Just as Jordan was about to respond, Norman's attention shifted back to him.

"I’ve been accused of embezzlement, Cameron..."

"What?" Norman's disbelief was palpable.

"Where is my attorney?" Jordan asked, noticing that Norman had entered alone.

"About that. He's currently out of town, Sir. But I've made arrangements, and you will have a replacement by tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow?" Jordan interrupted sharply.

"Yes, Sir."

"Why must it be tomorrow? I need to leave this place immediately! I can’t spend the night here!"

Norman checked the time on his wristwatch before turning his attention back to Jordan. "It's already 5 PM, Sir. I sincerely apologize."

A wave of anger washed over Jordan, but he quickly closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to contain his frustration. After exhaling slowly, he reopened his eyes and addressed Norman. "It's fine, I'll wait. What time will you be here tomorrow?"

"Noon," Norman replied.

"Alright. Additionally, I need you to find out the prosecutor handling this case, understood? I want you to speak with him."

Norman nodded sharply. "Understood, boss. I'll take care of it."

Jordan sighed again and nodded. "Okay, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then."

"Is there anything else I can assist you with regarding this situation?" Norman asked, concern evident in his voice as he referred to the cell Jordan was confined in.

Jordan shook his head. "No, nothing else... Oh, and before I forget, I need you to review the company's financial records to determine how this happened. If embezzlement has truly occurred, it means I've been set up. Find out who's responsible for this. Whose account the money went."

Norman acknowledged with a nod. "Yes, Boss."

"Alright, get going and get to work. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Norman hesitated, looking at his boss with empathy, but Jordan snapped at him. "Don’t give me that look. I won't be pitied, understood?"

"I apologize, Sir."

"Now go. I've given you two tasks: find the prosecutor and uncover the real culprit behind this!"

Norman nodded again before retreating from the room, leaving Jordan enveloped in a sense of loneliness.

Jordan remained rooted in that spot for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts. However, he soon pushed them aside and returned to his seat. He surveyed the surroundings once more and shook his head, realizing he would be spending the night there after all. It seemed he had no choice in the matter.

****

The following day, Jordan found himself in a cramped interrogation room, where individuals were detained by law enforcement for questioning. His huge hands on the table were cuffed, and he wore a prison uniform, a stark reminder of his current predicament.

At that moment, Jordan felt a wave of despair wash over him, his frustration mounting. Despite the turmoil within, he steeled himself, determined to maintain his composure as he awaited the arrival of his assistant and attorney.

At last, the door to the dimly lit room creaked open, and Norman entered. A wave of relief flooded over Jordan, prompting a heavy sigh of exasperation upon seeing him.

"What took you so long?" he inquired, well aware that he had been left waiting for nearly an hour.

"I'm sorry, boss. Traffic," Norman replied.

"Alright. Cut to the chase now, will you? What's the update?" Jordan pressed, his eyes fixed on him.

Norman's eyes sparkled with urgency as he spoke, his tone frantic. "Boss, you won't believe what I've uncovered..."

"What is it?" Jordan noted the intensity in Norman's demeanor.

Taking a seat across from him, Norman leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "The prosecutor handling your case is quite formidable. She’s impervious to bribery or flattery. She has a solid track record, having secured numerous convictions and imprisoned many offenders of the law. I’m not implying you’re a criminal, boss, but you should know that those in her custody rarely see the light of day again. To make matters worse, I conducted an investigation yesterday and discovered that the embezzled funds were indeed traced back to your account..."

"What?" Jordan gasped. "How is that even possible?"

"I honestly don't know, boss, but I promise to get to the bottom of this soon. For now, your primary concern should be your upcoming meeting with the prosecutor. She'll be here any minute. You need to tread carefully with your words; she’s ruthless and doesn't take nonsense irrespective of your status in life..."

Jordan's brow creased with confusion. He felt intrigued. He couldn't help but ask.

"Who is this person?"

Norman responded, "She's a woman, and I believe you're already familiar with her..."

Jordan's frown deepened as he struggled to grasp Norman's words. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

Just as he posed the question, the door swung open, the sharp sound of heels echoing through the room and interrupting their conversation.

Their gazes quickly shifted to the entrance, where a woman in a corporate outfit stood poised by the door, observing them intently. Her aura was cold as fuck. Her expression was stern, and her hazel eyes held a cold, calculating glare. A single glance at her could tell that she was the prosecutor they had been discussing.

Jordan felt his heart plummet as he recognized the woman at the far end of the room. His brows scrunched up in shock. He could hardly believe his eyes.

Rising to his feet, he blinked repeatedly, questioning whether he was imagining things or she was truly the one.

"Here she is, boss," Norman's voice broke through Jordan's astonishment, forcing his attention back to the woman, who met his gaze with equal intensity. "The prosecutor assigned to your case," Norman added.

Jordan was rendered speechless, his focus wavering at Norman's revelation.

He couldn't believe it. "A-Alexa?" he stammered, still grappling with the shock of seeing his long-lost ex-wife before him, staring at him with a glare that could kill.