LOGINChapter 48–Laura’s POVMy thumb hovered over the call button longer than it should have.I’d already tried several times today. if I was being honest. I told myself not to call again and find the truth myself, but I still need him in this case. Still, I pressed his number and called him. The phone rang twice.Then...“Hello.”“You picked up,” I said, breathless, like I’d been running.“You shouldn’t be calling me from anywhere familiar,” he replied quietly.“I’m not,” I said quickly. “Where are you?”There was silence on the line. “Same directions as before,” he finally said. “But listen carefully. Don’t come if you think you were being followed.”“I wasn’t.”“Are you sure?”I answered confusedly. “Yes.”“Then hurry,” he said. “I can’t stay long.”The call ended before I could ask anything else.I stood there for a second, my phone pressed to my ear, staring at nothing. Then I grabbed my bag and left.The drive felt longer than before. I kept checking my mirrors, half-expecting to s
Chapter 47–Aryn’s POVThe moment Laura walked out of the security room, I almost laughed but I cautioned myself.I kept my face calm but inside, something warm and vicious curled in my chest. Satisfaction, relief and victory. The cameras had worked exactly the way they were supposed to. I can't be more happy to have guessed correctly that she will check the camera. Having money and being popular is so good, how would it have been able to get a scapegoat that easily.The best part of it, Daniel believed me not her. As in, he believed me. I badly wanted to squeal but I had to hold it in.I replayed it in my head as I walked back toward my office, his hesitation, the way his eyes softened just a little when he looked at me, the way he asked Laura to apologize. I felt the moment settle into me.Laura apologizing.God, I want more of this moment.If I had let myself smile, it would have been too much.I closed my office door behind me and finally allowed my face to change. The pity draine
Chapter 46—Michael’s POVThe fifth day arrived with no mercy.I sat in the conference room ten minutes before the investors arrived, staring at the glass table as if it might suddenly change the reality in front of me. My phone lay face down beside my hand. I already knew what was on it were missed calls, reminders and warnings from the investors. I did not need to look at it.I had failed them.The stolen goods were still missing and I was unable to track it. I did all my best but it was all futile.And without them, everything else unraveled.The door opened one by one as the investors entered. There were six of them today, fewer than usual. That alone told me something. This was not a discussion, this was an execution.One of them, Mr. Collins, sat directly across from me and folded his hands. “Mr Michael,” he said calmly, “today is the fifth day.”“I’m aware,” I replied.“You promised us a full recovery within five days.”“I promised effort and progress,” I said carefully.Another
Chapter 45–Laura’s POVI headed straight for security. I knew that the answers were on those cameras. “Good morning,” I said to the security officer. “I need to see the CCTV footage from my office this morning."He pulled up the feed, and I leaned forward, my eyes scanning every frame.The first shots showed me entering the office, placing the file neatly on my desk. I remembered that moment clearly. I watched as I left for the small brewing station. Then the door opened after I left.Aryn walked in shaking badly.I leaned closer to the screen. There was no mistaking her. She searched around my table till she finally saw the file. She picked up the file, flipped through it for a few seconds, heaved a sigh of relief and left.“That’s her” I whispered. My pulse was quickening.The officer didn’t speak. He simply let the footage replay twice more. I watched every movement, every detail. I couldn’t be wrong.I thanked him without waiting for a response and left. I needed answers, and I
Chapter 44–Laura’s POV After I promised Aryn that I would speak to Daniel, I left her and went in search of him. I spotted him already engaged in conversation with some guests, their laughter carrying across the room. Not wanting to interrupt, I stopped and watched from a distance, deciding to wait until he was done.Then, my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the answer button, but curiosity won.“Hello?” I asked.The voice on the other end was low, urgent, and careful. “Ms. Laura, I have something I need you to see. Something only you can help with. Can you come?”“Where?” I asked instinctively.The voice gave an address, and then a soft warning. “Come alone. And… please, be careful.”I frowned, but I didn’t hesitate. Something in the tone, pleading, urgent, sincere pushed me to go. I grabbed my coat and left the party, the city streets blurring past as I made my way to the location.The building was old, unremarkable, tucked between more mod
Chapter 43_Aryn’s POVI was at my desk, the afternoon sunlight slicing through the blinds, when my phone rang. The ringtone was ordinary, but the number flashing across the screen made my stomach tighten.“Hello?” I answered, forcing my voice to sound casual.The voice on the other end was crisp. “The case… the one you asked us to cover? Someone has reopened it and it has been sent to the firm you are working with."Time stopped moving.A cold sweat ran down my spine. My fingers froze on the keyboard. How?"Who was it sent to? I asked in panic."I think the name is Laura if I was right, you can check it out yourself." She replied.I didn’t wait to think. That case I was trying to bury was dangerous. If Laura touched it, if she even glanced at it, it could unravel everything I had worked so hard to control.I grabbed my bag, my heart hammering so hard. “I’ll be right there,” I said and hung up.Running down the corridor, I rounded the corner and went to Laura's office hoping it would b







