Chapter 9

The next morning, I arrived early at Harrington Tower. The city was still waking up, but I had been awake for hours. The anonymous person and the locket had lingered in my mind all night, but today, I had other important things to do.

Nathan was waiting for me in my office, seated casually in the chair across from my desk. One thing that impresses me about him, is his ability to always keep to time. His sharp blue eyes assessed me, they were filled with doubts. I wouldn’t blame him for that, I didn’t stand up for him when I should have. But this time, I’ll give him enough time to build his trust for me again.

“Bad night?” he asked playfully as I walked into the office.

I ignored him and dropped a folder onto the desk. “Jamie has been using shell companies to funnel money out of his business. Your job is to trace the accounts and find out where it’s going.”

He didn’t move, he looked at the folder and then to me. He let out a soft bitter laugh. “You still haven’t told me why I’m here?”

“I just did” I said narrowing my eyes.

“No, you haven’t” he shook his head, leaning forward. “You were there when Jamie ruined me, when he stole from people and manipulated the market, screwing up anyone who got in his way— including you. And you did nothing. Even when you knew the truth about me, you didn’t stand up for me. His voice dropped slightly “so why now?”

A frozen moment of silence passed between us as I stared at him, my heart felt heavy as the memory of what happened that day played in my head, I wanted to help him but I couldn’t. And now, I felt bitter.

I exhaled slowly, breaking the silence. My fingers tightening around the pen in my hand. “Because I was blind” my voice, laced with remorse. “Too blind to see the monster that he was”

His smile faded.

“I believed in him” I admitted. “I sacrificed for him. I trusted him with everything I had, and he turned around and threw me away like I was nothing.” My eyes locked onto Nathan’s. “I let Jamie get away with too much. But now, now I’m done letting him win”

Nathan studied me for a long moment, his fingers tapping against the desk. Then he sighed, dragging the folder towards him.

“You want me to burn him with this?” He asked as he flipped through the documents.

“I want you to join me, let’s rip his empire apart” I corrected. “I want it to be so bad that when we’re done, there’d be nothing left for him to rebuild.”

A slow dangerous smile spread across his lips. “You know” he thought, “I’ve never liked Jamie”

“Then prove it” I said with an evil smile.

“Hmm…I see you’ve already connected some of the dots” his smirk faded a little

“I don’t like wasting time”, I said sitting down. “You’ll have access to everything you need. Just find me something I can use.”

Nathan closed the folder, tapping it against his knee. “And when I do?”

I look at him blinking dramatically. “We burn him with it”

He chuckled softly.” I like your style Susan”

“Just get to work” I said dismissing him.

Nathan stood up and playfully tossed a salute before walking out the door. I smiled and shook my head. My mind was already moving to the next step.

I worked all day until it was nightfall, it was time for me to go home, get some rest and prepare for a new day.

As I stepped out of the Harringtons tower, I took my phone from my bag and dialed Nathan.

“Apart from the documents that I gave you earlier, I need you to also look into a potential investor,” I said straightaway.

“Check their records, business affiliations, and who else they’ve been in talks with. Something doesn’t add up”

“Got it, he said. “I’ll have a report for you in a few hours.”

I ended the call and pulled my coat tighter around me as I walked through the dimly lit streets. The city was alive with cars honking, neon lights and people who had no idea that just blocks away, one of it’s biggest corporate giants was on the verge of collapse. And I was the one who would cause his downfall.

When I got home, Mrs Belinda was in her usual spot, I walked straight to the dining table this time, I was starving. Jamie and Lily weren’t home but I knew where they were, feasting on each others private parts.

Mrs Belinda had prepared a plate of mushroom soup for me, something that helped to calm my nerves. I finished my bowl of soup and walked to my room. I did my normal night routine and then I dived back into the investors records myself.

I sat on my bed with my legs crossed, my laptop was open before me. I wasn’t the type to leave things entirely into someone else’s hands. I traced their past deals, their partnerships and every silent transactions hidden behind fake associates, anything that could explain why they’d come after Johnny’s company and I found it.

This was more than rivalry or competition, it was personal. Years ago, Johnnys father had pulled out of a joint venture at the edge of them getting bankrupt. The humiliation did not only cost them millions but it also cost them their reputation in the buisness world and since then, they have been waiting for the perfect moment to take their revenge. To strike back at the company, but that wasn’t all.

Their recent investments were suspiciously similar to the the blueprint of Johnny’s upcoming growth project, something that had only been discussed in private board meetings. Which meant someone… someone close to Johnny was feeding them information.

I picked up my phone and texted Johnny “I found something”