INICIAR SESIÓNClara’s POV BAM! BAM! BAM! “Miss Clara Bennett! Open this door immediately! This is Scotland Yard!” The hard, booming noise of the police officers banging on my front door echoed through the large penthouse like thunder. My whole body went completely stiff, and the zipper of my half-packed suitcase slipped right out of my numb fingers. My heart was beating so fast and hard against my ribs that I could barely catch my breath. Cold sweat ran down the side of my face. They were really here. The police were actually standing outside my front door with an arrest warrant. “No... no, no, no!” I whispered frantically, taking three shaky steps backward away from the bedroom door. BAM! BAM! BAM! “Miss Bennett, we know you are inside! We have officers securing the building perimeter! Open the door now, or we will force our way in!” the police commander shouted from the hallway. Pure, unadulterated pa
Clara’s POV“What do you mean the breaking news is already spreading across every channel?!” I screamed into the home phone, holding the landline handset tight against my ear.“Clara, turn on your television right now!” Vanessa yelled back through the speaker, her voice filled with pure panic. “It is on every single news station! The London Times, the European Business Gazette, even the local entertainment networks! They are showing red headline banners across the bottom of the screen!”My hand started shaking so badly that the heavy plastic handset almost slipped from my fingers.I grabbed the black television remote from the marble glass table, pointing it toward the large flat-screen TV mounted on the living room wall. I pressed the red power button with a trembling thumb.The screen flickered to life right away.The bold red letters flashing across the news banner hit my eyes like a physical punch:’BREAKING NEWS: HERITAGE BOARD GALA HALTED OVER FRAUDULENT MEDICAL CREDENTIALS AND
Clara’s POVI sat on the edge of my soft velvet sofa, staring down at the broken pieces of my phone on the floor.The house was so quiet that I could hear my own fast breathing. My chest felt tight, and my whole body was warm with fear. The leader of my spy team in London had just hung up on me and cut off his phone line completely. He refused to help me, and he refused to destroy the black briefcase that Nora was holding.“No, this cannot be happening,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head repeatedly.I stood up slowly, stepping over the small bits of plastic on the carpet. My long silk robe trailed behind me as I walked toward the kitchen to get a glass of water. My hands were shaking so much that when I tried to pour water from the glass jar, half of it spilled onto the marble counter.I dropped the jar back onto the counter with a loud thud, not even caring to wipe up the spill.My mind was racing in circles. I kept thinking about what the spy had told me over the phone. He sai
Nora’s POVThe main ballroom of the Grand London Hotel was filled with total chaos.Reporters were standing up from their seats, pushing their heavy cameras forward to capture Julian pale, shaken face. Board members were whispering loudly among themselves, looking back and forth between the presentation stage and the certified Paris papers resting on our table.Julian stood frozen beside his chair, staring down at the stamped legal documents with wide, bloodshot eyes.His hands were trembling so badly that he couldn't even reach out to touch the paper. The arrogant CEO who had walked into this hotel believing he owned the world looked completely broken in a matter of seconds.“This... this cannot be real,” Julian stammered, his voice sounding hollow and weak. “Clara... Clara told me she graduated from the Paris Institute. She showed me her certificates three years ago...”Maya let out a dry, cold laugh from beside me, leaning her hands on the table.
Nora’s POVMy heart was beating so fast inside my chest as Marcus stood so close to me.His warm breath touched my skin gently, and for a small second, my mind went completely blank. I looked into his dark eyes, feeling a soft, warm feeling that I had never felt in my entire life. But just as his face came closer, I took a gentle step back, my hand resting softly against his arm.Marcus stopped right away. He didn't force me or look angry. Instead, he let out a soft breath and stepped back just a little, giving me space to breathe.“I am sorry, Nora,” Marcus said softly, his voice full of pure respect. “I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”“No, Marcus, it is not your fault,” I said quickly, feeling my face warm up as I smoothed down my dress. “I... I just need to focus on what we came here to do tonight.”Marcus smiled gently, bending down to pick up the blue file folder that had fallen onto the floor when I tripped. He handed it to me with a kind look in his eyes. “You are
Nora’s POVThe loud noise of everyone clapping inside the big hall sounded so good to my ears.I stood right beside the huge physical model of our project on the stage. For twenty minutes straight, I stood in front of the board members, Professor Vance, top architects, and all the news reporters. I explained every single detail of our building design without making a single mistake.I talked about how strong the foundation was, how we used good steel, and how the special glass panels would save energy.When I finished talking and bowed my head, Professor Vance stood up first and clapped for me with a huge smile on his face.I slowly walked down the small stairs from the stage, holding my presentation clicker. Maya ran to meet me near the side entrance, her face bright with excitement as she handed me a cold glass of water.“Nora, you were so amazing!” Maya shouted softly, hugging me tightly. “Did you see Julian face while you were speaking? He looked like a statue! He couldn't believe







