MasukEmily POVSix months after Sebastian Cross fled to Switzerland, life found an unusual rhythm. LotusAutomotive sold for eight billion. Sebastian accepted, overpaid dramatically, andimmediately discovered he'd bought an expensive shell. We retained all IP, key personnel,and the Formula One team.Lothan-Lotus Racing prepared for our debut season. I stood in the team garage atBarcelona testing, watching mechanics work on our cars during their eighteen months of development."Emily, we have telemetry from Davies Hartley's run, " my race engineer called. "Fastestlap of the session. The car's performing beyond our projections."I studied the data. Hartley was twenty-three, aggressive, hungry and that's exactly what we needed.Our second driver, Mercedes refugee Lucas Werner, provided experience and consistency."Tell Davies to push harder. I want to see where the limit is."Nathan appeared beside me."You're in your element. Haven't seen you this alive sincebefore house arrest.""Racing
CHAPTER 143: The TestimonyVanessa POVI could barely sleep and it all kept replaying in my head, the kidnapping attempt, the hands grabbing me, Blakecame out of the Lothan tower to save me like someone from an action movie.At 6 AM, Emily knocked on my door."The press conference is at 10. Witness protection is still an option.""I'm testifying. I've been a shameful secret for too long. It's time to be honest about what I was."She studied me. "You've really changed.""I try every day, it doesn't erase the past but maybe it balances it slightly.""Did Jason love you? Really?"The question surprised me. "He loved the escape I represented. I was more of a distraction to him and I knewwhere I stood in terms of the relationship we had but I was rebellion against responsibility. And I loved whathe gave me security, feeling special. That wasn't love,Emily, that was transactional with emotional glazing. We were both lying to ourselves or I'd rather say I waslying to myself that I could
Blake POV Santiago pulled up and article from his tablet and Sebastian’s statement lit the screen. He'd already spin about the ongoing investigation painting us as thugs.His daylight kidnapping was rewritten in real time. Sebastian had posted a statement:Today, one of my former contractors was assaulted by Lothan Industries security whileattempting to conduct legitimate private investigation. The Lothan family's violent responsedemonstrates the thuggish tactics they employ. I'm filing charges against Blake Thompsonfor assault and considering civil lawsuit for excessive force. This is what happens whencorporate bullies feel threatened by legitimate business competition."He's spinning the kidnapping as legitimate investigation," I said. "Making us look like theaggressors.""We have video evidence," Marcus countered. "Security cameras captured everything.Sebastian's contractor explicitly said they were taking Vanessa by force. This is desperatespin control.""Desperate or ef
Blake POVI watched security monitors as Vanessa exited the building and walked toward thestreet. Professional habit monitoring everyone who left after sensitive meetings.My phone buzzed. Santiago."Blake, we have a problem. Three vehicles just converged on Vanessa's position. Black SUVs,no plates visible, professional formation looking like an abduction team."I was already moving. "Alert security. Get Emily and Marcus to the safe room. I'm going afterVanessa.""Blake, you need backup""No time. Call NYPD, but I'm not waiting."I grabbed my sidearm from the office safe and ran for the elevator. Watched security feedson my phone as I descended.Three SUVs had boxed Vanessa in. She was backing away, pulling out her phone. Six menemerged professionally moving with military precision."Vanessa Brooks," one said, loud enough for our street cameras to capture. "Mr. Cross wouldlike to speak with you. Come willingly or we will make this difficult.""I'm not going anywhere with"They d
Vanessa POVThe weight of that small drive held more than data, it held years of secrets buried beyond the boardroomsand the broken lives of Sebastian's innocent victims .I'd carried my own guilt in my chest as well, every name, every transaction and every moment I'd turned ablind eye and called it business.When Blake opened that conference room door, I wasn't simply walking into Lothan Industries.I was walking into a reckoning.Marcus Lothan sat at the head of the table. Emily Zhou beside him. Both watching me in silence loadedquestions behind their tongues .Could they trust me?The harder question was I'd spent seven years out running from the truth, now it was whether I trust myself.Emily pointed to a document file while it was projected . "This shows Sebastian planted a mole namedPatricia Walsh in Marcus's company twelve years ago. We prosecuted her eighteen months ago forcorporate espionage. You're saying she was Sebastian's from the beginning?""Yes. Patricia Walsh was
Vanessa POVI hadn't spoken to the Lothan family in seven years. Idisappeared into a new life-therapy, education, career counseling, everything needed tostop being "the mistress" and become just Vanessa Brooks but spoke with them a few years ago after a scandal that almost got me killed.Now I was watching the news about Sebastian Cross's hostile takeover of Lotus Automotivetriggered something. Recognition and familiarity with a face I'd hoped never to see again.I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and dialed Emily Zhou's office number, the oneI'd saved years ago but never called."Lothan-Zhou Automotive, how may I direct your call?""Emily Zhou, please. Tell her it's Vanessa Brooks. She'll... she might not want to talk to me,but it's urgent. About Sebastian Cross."Long pause. "Please hold."Three minutes of waiting. Then Emily's voice, cautious and cold."Vanessa. This is unexpected.""Emily, I know you have no reason to listen to me.. I'm sorry, especially after the last
Marcus POVThe flight to Moscow took nine hours, which felt like eternity. Nathan paced constantly,unable to sit still while Emily was held captive. Richard coordinated with Russianauthorities. Blake studied satellite imagery of the estate where Dmitri believed Margarethad taken Emily.And I sat
Emily POVThe Red Hook warehouse was exactly what I expected dark, abandoned, perfect forMargaret's final move. I parked outside, clutching the flash drive and encryption key."Radio silent now," I told Blake through my earpiece. "She can't know you're here.""We've got you covered. Code word 'Cat
Emily POVTwo months after Dmitri's arrest, I received an unexpected request. He wanted to meet me.Face to face, in maximum security, no intermediaries."Absolutely not," Nathan said immediately. "It's psychological warfare. He wants tomanipulate you""Or he wants to negotiate," Blake suggested. "
Emily POVThree days after returning from Moscow, I sat in my home office staring at Margaret'sencrypted email address. Lily and Ethan played in the next room, safe and healthy, theirbioweapon implants successfully removed. Nathan worked downstairs, coordinating finaldismantling of Margaret's or







