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The room was suffocating with silence. After Claire's revelation about the invoice, no one moved, and no one dared speak. Her voice still echoed in the heads of every executive seated at the long mahogany table. George leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the screen. He wasn't just impressed anymore-he was alarmed. Ethan's attention was locked onto the digital display. His cold stare focused on the line of data Claire had pointed to. Claire sat beside him, quiet now, but far from idle. Her fingers traced the edge of the report folder while her mind ran laps through the numbers and names. "Pull up the chain of approval for the invoice," Ethan said without looking away from the screen. Seth, seated near the corner, immediately began typing. The screen flickered, lines of authorization appearing in a vertical flow chart. Each name attached to the approval process was accompanied by timestamps and department roles. As the list continued scrolling upward, a name caugh
Claire sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, but her mind raced. The murmurs in the room faded into the background as Mia's voice echoed in her head. “They never would’ve noticed,” Mia said. “Not unless someone spelled it out for them.” “It makes no sense,” Scarlett said, her tone sharp. “Where is all that money going? That’s a massive leak. How do people in power miss something that obvious?” Claire’s eyes skimmed through the files in her hands again. She flipped another page and then another before her gaze stopped. A recently logged invoice. Her brow furrowed. She raised her hand slightly, uncertain if she should interrupt again. Then she pushed the hesitation aside. “Can you tell us more about this invoice?” she asked, holding up the page. Her eyes were still glued to it, the confusion visible on her face. The room turned quiet again. The executives looked at her, irritated. A few exchange-side glances. Frowns deepened. Who did this girl think she was? Yes, she proved
“Claire,” Ethan said firmly, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves, “we’re heading back to the meeting now. Please, don’t wander around again. And I mean you two, too, Mia and Scarlett.” George echoed, “Stay put this time, alright? It’s not a place for you to be walking into. Please don't cause more trouble than you've already caused.” Claire crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t see why I can’t come with you. What’s the big deal?” “It’s a formal meeting,” Ethan explained patiently. “Executives, board members—this isn’t something you can just sit in on.” he rubbed his forehead. Claire arched a brow. “And why not? You act like I will break the projector or bite someone.” George gave a tired smile. “It’s not about that. It’s confidential company business. Please, Claire.” “I won’t make a sound,” she argued, following them a few steps. “I’ll just sit in the back.” Ethan shook his head. “We’ve already discussed this. I said no, and that's just it. I will come for you when I'm done
George's office was a perfect reflection of him—calm, controlled, and lined with order. Tall bookshelves towered over leather-bound folders and glossy awards, and the decor spoke of efficiency and discipline. Claire stood in the center of it, feeling oddly like a storm in a museum. George moved behind his desk and looked at her, arms crossed loosely. “This is where the real work happens,” he said, offering her a smile. “Not as flashy as Ethan’s corner office, but I like to think I get more done here.” Claire offered a wry grin. “It’s... intimidating, not gonna lie. But in a good way.” Mia’s voice hummed in her mind, calm and quiet. “He’s gentle beneath the surface. I can feel it.” Scarlett snorted. “He’s a walking rulebook. But I’ll give him this—he hasn’t thrown us out a window yet. I kinda like him.” Claire laughed softly to herself. George noticed but he didn’t comment. He knew Claire and her two girls might be having a conversation on their own in her head. Instead, he w
Ethan stood by the kitchen counter, one hand wrapped tightly around his half-empty coffee mug and the other massaging his temple I'm frustration. Across the room, Claire sat cross-legged on the couch, clutching a pillow to her chest like a barrier while giving him puppy eyes. "You don’t want to go?" Ethan asked again, trying to keep his voice level. He had asked her more than a hundred times now. Claire lifted her chin and replied, “No.” He clenched his jaw. "Claire, we've talked about this. You're feeling better. Chase said you're okay to go." "I don't want to go," she repeated, voice firmer this time. Ethan walked a few paces, then turned back to her with his arms folded. "Why? You used to enjoy your classes." There was a brief silence before Claire's expression softened and her gaze turned inward. A subtle shift in her demeanor, a tilt of her head, and the way her hands relaxed around the pillow—Ethan recognized the change immediately. "I’m sorry, Ethan," Mia's gentle voice
The basement was suffocating. No! It's more than suffocating. Thick, damp air clung to the cracked concrete walls like mildew, heavy with the stench of rot and rust. A single flickering lightbulb dangled from the low ceiling, its weak glow casting long shadows across the floor. In the far corner, barely visible in the gloom, a woman was chained to the wall—her wrists bound high above her head, ankles shackled to rusted iron bolts drilled into the floor. She didn't move. She hadn’t moved in hours... Maybe days. Her hair, once a soft chestnut brown, had long since turned gray, matted into tangled clumps that hung in greasy ropes around her bruised face. Dirt caked beneath her fingernails. Her clothes—if they could still be called that—were tattered scraps clinging to weathered skin. Her frame was skeletal, her lips dry and cracked. She looked dead. And yet... she breathed... Barely. A cruel laugh rang from near the stairs. She had heard that taunting voice several times. “S