2025-01-23 22:18:51Adrian leaned back in the leather chair, his jaw clenched as he studied the documents spread across the mahogany desk in front of him. The accountant, a nervous man named Carl Weston, shifted uncomfortably across from him, dabbing at his forehead with a handkerchief.
“So, you’re telling me Victor has been funneling company funds into offshore accounts?” Adrian’s voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it. Carl nodded, his eyes darting around the room as though Victor might appear out of thin air. “Yes, sir. The transactions are disguised as consulting fees and shell company payments. But there’s more...” He hesitated, wringing the handkerchief in his hands. “Go on,” Adrian prompted, his patience wearing thin. Carl swallowed hard. “Your ex-fiancée, Emma... she’s listed as the authorized signer on some of the accounts. I don’t know how willingly she’s involved, but her name is all over the paperwork.” Adrian’s heart sank. Was Emma truly entangled in Victor’s schemes? Or was she just another pawn in his brother’s ruthless games? He dismissed Carl with a curt nod, his mind racing as he considered his next move. --- Meanwhile, across town, Emma sat stiffly in Victor’s opulent office, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Victor leaned against the edge of his desk, his smirk as smug as ever. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” he said, tossing a manila envelope onto the desk in front of her. The contents spilled out—a series of photos of Emma meeting with a journalist. Her stomach twisted. She kept her expression neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Victor’s smirk widened. “Oh, don’t play dumb, Emma. You’ve been digging into my affairs. Do you know how dangerous that is?” “I’m not scared of you, Victor,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. “You should be.” His tone darkened, and he leaned in close. “If you keep playing games, your precious little sister might have an accident. And wouldn’t that be a shame?” Emma’s breath caught. Her sister, Chloe, had no idea she was being used as leverage. She’d already lost so much—she couldn’t risk losing Chloe too. “I’ll do whatever you want,” Emma said quietly, her heart breaking as she spoke the words. Victor straightened, satisfied. “Good. Then you’ll stay in line, won’t you? And make sure to look happy while you’re at it. Our engagement announcement is next week.” --- Adrian sat in his penthouse later that evening, a glass of whiskey in his hand as he stared at the stack of letters on the coffee table. He’d found them earlier while rummaging through a storage room at Vale Industries—letters addressed to him in Emma’s handwriting. Carefully, he opened the first envelope, the familiar script pulling him back in time. Adrian, I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but I need you to know... The words blurred together as his anger boiled. These letters were dated shortly after his disinheritance. She’d reached out to him, and he’d never known. He flipped through more letters, the contents growing more desperate, more painful. Victor had intercepted them, ensuring Adrian believed Emma had moved on without a second thought. Adrian gripped the arm of the couch tightly. If Victor had lied about this, what else had he manipulated? --- The next morning, Adrian’s suspicions deepened when he discovered Emma pacing in the lobby of Vale Industries. She hadn’t noticed him yet, her focus locked on the building’s towering windows. “Emma,” Adrian called, his voice cutting through the tension-filled air. She froze, then turned slowly, her face pale. “What are you doing here?” “Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.” Adrian approached her, his expression unreadable. “You seemed surprised to see me yesterday. Yet here you are again, in my company.” Emma’s eyes flashed. “Your company? Is that what this is about? You think you can just waltz back in and take everything after disappearing for five years?” Adrian stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Don’t pretend you don’t know why I left, Emma. And don’t pretend you didn’t help Victor take everything from me.” Her breath hitched, but she held her ground. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Then enlighten me,” Adrian challenged, his voice soft but razor-sharp. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth back then? Why didn’t you fight for us?” Emma’s jaw tightened. “You left without a word, Adrian. What was I supposed to think? You abandoned me!” “Because Victor made sure I had no choice!” Adrian snapped. “But that doesn’t explain why you’re still standing by his side, playing the dutiful fiancée.” Emma opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the elevator doors beside them opened, and Victor stepped out. “Well, isn’t this a cozy little reunion,” Victor said, his smile cold as his eyes darted between them. Emma stiffened, taking a step back. Adrian, however, remained where he was, his gaze locked on Victor. “We were just catching up,” Adrian said, his tone dripping with mock civility. Victor’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Is that so? Emma, darling, you didn’t mention you’d be meeting with Adrian today.” “It wasn’t planned,” Emma said quickly, avoiding Victor’s gaze. Victor’s attention shifted to Adrian. “I’d be careful if I were you, brother. Stirring up old flames can be... hazardous.” Adrian’s lips curved into a cold smile. “I’ll take my chances.” The tension between the three of them was palpable as Victor placed a possessive hand on Emma’s arm, guiding her away. But as she glanced back at Adrian, her eyes held a silent plea he couldn’t ignore. --- That evening, Adrian made a decision. He needed to know the full extent of Victor’s hold over Emma. If she wouldn’t tell him the truth, he’d find it himself. His investigation led him to a private detective who had once worked for Victor. The man hesitated but ultimately handed over a USB drive. “This is everything I’ve got,” the detective said. “Emails, bank transfers, contracts... Victor’s been up to a lot more than you think.” Adrian took the drive, his mind racing with possibilities. But as he plugged it into his laptop later, one email caught his attention. It was a message from Victor to Emma, dated three months ago. If you breathe a word of this, Chloe pays the price. Adrian’s fists clenched as he read the message. So this was why Emma was trapped. Victor was using her sister as leverage. --- The next day, Adrian cornered Emma in an elevator. She stiffened as the doors closed, leaving them alone in the small, confined space. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth back then?” Adrian asked, his voice low and intense. Emma glanced at him, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance. “What truth, Adrian? That you disappeared? That you abandoned me without an explanation?” “You know that’s not what happened,” Adrian said sharply. “I found your letters, Emma. The ones you sent me after I left. Victor made sure I never saw them.” Her eyes widened, tears threatening to spill. “I—” The elevator jolted to a stop, and the doors slid open. Standing there, his face a mask of fury, was Victor. “Well, well,” Victor said, his voice cold and cutting. “Care to explain what’s going on here?”
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