Numbers Don't Lie Novels & Stories

The grief, pain, and screams all at once returned In droves. "If he truly misses he would have called but he didn’t, he truly misses me he would have responded to the messages I sent but he didn’t, if he truly misses me he would have visited or let me visit but you what! He didn’t" I just had to stop talking; I have nothing to say right now, if I continue talking I would burst into tears. After so many years, of believable lies and fake love, I can’t deal with this anymore. He doesn’t miss me, he doesn’t even care. "Dani!" He sighed

That sentence didn’t land emotionally first. It landed structurally. Like something inside a system had just stopped being random. I took the paper from him and read it myself. Numbers don’t lie in ways people can argue with. They either align or they don’t. And these aligned too cleanly. Too complete. I handed it back without changing expression. “Run it again,” I said. He blinked once. “It has already been verified twice.” “Run it again,” I repeated. Not louder. Just final. He left after that without pushing further.

"You sure this is okay? That they won't trace it back to you?" "If I thought it would get me burned, I wouldn't be sitting here," Adrian replied coolly, his gaze steady, unwavering. Then, quieter, his voice softened. "This is the only way. The numbers were never meant to make it out. Someone inside's been laundering through ghost nonprofits. And I'm betting it's not just one person."

Since this my number is not connected to my F******k account so I know he can't find me there, he now knows my name but there are hundreds of Rose on F******k. *I can track you down as well you know?* I said hoping to threaten him too. *This my number is not registered in any social platform so good luck with that* He replied and he was right, even true caller didn't show his name. Earlier tonight I was heartbroken now I am scared that my name will be sullied by the public, can I stand the disgrace, what will my religious mother think. *How will I trust you won't request for more after the one night* I texted.

My mind raced, but my silence only stretched, drawing his suspicion. “Eve, her number?” “I—I don’t remember,” I stammered, my voice barely audible. He sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “Fine. Then give me your number. It will help lodge a report, and I can look into it.” My stomach twisted. Shit. “P...N 1365,” I blurted out, the lie spilling from my lips before I could second-guess it. It sounded plausible—two letters, four numbers, just like the format I’d seen before.

Neither of them spoke right away. Finally Sophia said, “This is what I meant.” Dominic nodded. “I know.” Sophia looked at him. “It doesn’t stay contained.” Dominic exhaled. “No… it doesn’t.” Sophia leaned back in her chair. “One lie turns into ten.” Dominic sat beside her. “And then everything falls apart.” Sophia looked out into the dark. “Exactly.” Dominic reached for her hand. “We stayed out of it.” Sophia squeezed his hand. “We stayed clean.”

Number 1 remained silent, his stoic expression unyielding, a stark contrast to the growing chaos. Number 9 let out a weary sigh. "Ever since my real name got leaked, I've been bombarded with messages. I think I'm done here. But let me say this, it was fun until you, Number 5, Number 7, and you, Number 1, started your secret machinations. Go to hell, all of you. I'm not going to jail because of your actions!" With that, he disconnected, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. One by one, the remaining members also vanished into the digital void, leaving the virtual world eerily silent.

-That's what I was afraid of," I squeeze the bridge of my nose. -Has someone been stealing from you? -Don't tell me you have a thief inside your own company? Shit. She can't find out about this, gossip in this industry runs like wildfire when you pour gasoline on it. -Not at all," I confidently replied. Someone has been changing the numbers, but I think it's one of our middlemen. It's not a V&MF employee. -I hope you're right, my dear friend. Can I help you with anything else?

Hoping I’d heard wrongly. “I can’t do this anymore.” Sapphire breathed heavily, her voice cracking as she continued. “Every day I wake up feeling like a stranger in my own home. I can’t keep wallowing in guilt. My husband… my kids… I can’t… keep lying to them!. I will do anything. Anything to get out of…” “So what are you gonna do about it?.” Lyra asked, cutting in. “You shouldn’t be here if you are so sure of what you want, my dear. You should be at the Don’s… tea-talking with Lazarus.”

Silence hangs heavy. Leo rubs a hand down his face. “So, what’s the play?” Before I can answer, my phone buzzes again. A text. Unknown number. Bring the girl. Alone. 11 p.m. Or she dies screaming. My stomach twists. I read it aloud. Carina goes pale. Bring the girl? They mean me. They’re bluffing, I say, shaking my head. They just want leverage. Her eyes flash. “And if they’re not?”