Semua Bab Chasing The Boss: Bab 11 - Bab 20

"You don't know anything about me."The words came out harsher than I intended, and I watched Lexi's eyes widen slightly. For a moment, the apartment fell silent except for the distant hum of city traffic below.She was right about one thing, I did see everything as a chess match. But what she didn't understand was that sometimes the most important piece on the board wasn't the king or the queen.Sometimes it was the pawn you'd do anything to protect.My phone buzzed. A text from my financial team. "Kane's accounts have been frozen. His warehouses were seized. The operation is complete."I allowed myself a small smile. While Lexi had been yelling at me about my attitude, I'd been systematically destroying Victor Kane's life. Three phone calls to the right people, one tip to the FBI about Kane's money laundering operation, and a well-placed bribe to freeze his offshore accounts.Kane thought he was playing chess. I'd been playing 4D chess since I was twelve."Mia," I said calmly, "woul

I adjusted my cufflinks for the third time, staring at my reflection in the elevator's polished mirror. The Governor's gala was always a strategic necessity, but tonight felt different. Tonight, I had Lexi to worry about.The elevator dinged as it reached the hotel's grand ballroom level. I stepped out, scanning the crowd until I spotted her near the entrance. My breath caught in my throat.She looked stunning in a midnight blue gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, revealing the graceful line of her neck. For a moment, I forgot why I was angry with her.Then I remembered the recording. The blackmail. The smug look on her face when she'd cornered me.“Lucian!” A melodic voice called out before I could reach Lexi.I turned to see Victoria Ashworth gliding towards me, her champagne-colored dress trailing behind her like liquid gold. The daughter of Senator Ashworth, Victoria had been trying to catch my attention for months.“Victoria,” I sai

I watched from the window as Marcus's car disappeared into the night, carrying Lexi away from me. Something was wrong with her, and it was eating at me that she wouldn't let me help.My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.“Cross," I answered."Boss, we have a problem," Detective Rodriguez's voice came through the line. “Kane's death wasn't as clean as we thought.”I moved away from the window, my senses on high alert. “What do you mean?” “Someone was in his penthouse tonight. The security footage shows a figure in dark clothing leaving about twenty minutes before Kane was found."“Any idea who?”“That's the problem. The footage is too grainy, and they knew exactly where the cameras were. This wasn't random.”I ran a hand through my hair. “So someone wanted Kane dead.”"Or wanted to make sure he was dead. The medical examiner says it was definitely a heart attack, but there are some... inconsistencies.”"What kind of inconsistencies?"“Kane had been taking heart medication for month

The next eighteen hours were a blur of preparation, phone calls, and strategic planning. I'd moved Lexi to a safe house, one of several properties I kept for situations exactly like this while Marcus and I worked on identifying our mysterious friend.The breakthrough came at noon."Boss," Rodriguez called, his voice tight with excitement. "I found something. The phone number sending those texts? It's registered to a shell company. And guess who's the silent partner in that shell company?""Tell me.""Frank Moore."I felt the pieces clicking into place. "Lexi's boss.""Gets better. Moore's been in financial trouble for months. His magazine's hemorrhaging money, and he's got gambling debts up to his eyeballs. Sound familiar?"It did. "He's in debt to the same people Lexi owes money to.""Ethan Shaw owns both their debts. But here's the kicker Shaw's been feeding information to Moore about Lexi's financial situation. They've been working together.""To do what?""Set up the perfect patsy

"You were magnificent," I told Lexi as we walked out of the restaurant two hours later. The lunch had ended with Harrison agreeing to restructure his bid and apologizing for his oversight. The other investors had been impressed enough to increase their stakes in the project "I can't believe I just accused a multimillionaire of embezzlement over lunch," Lexi said, shaking her head. "My hands are still shaking.""You were right, though. I've suspected Harrison for weeks, but I couldn't prove it.""That's what happens when you surround yourself with yes-men," she said, then immediately looked horrified. "Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…""You meant exactly what you said, and you're absolutely right." I stopped walking and turned to face her. "Do you know how long it's been since someone challenged me like that? Since someone told me the truth even when it wasn't what I wanted to hear?""Probably never, knowing you," she said with a small smile."Exactly never." I brushed a strand of ha