Novels by SHSA

Chapter 505Two hours later, Alisha was reviewing a termination file when her office phone rang. The caller ID showed an internal extension from the fifteenth floor.“Alisha Carl,” she answered.“It’s Jaxon.” His voice sounded strained. “Can you come up to my office?”“I’m busy.”“It’s important.”Alisha glanced at her schedule. She had a meeting in thirty minutes but technically she was free right now. “Fine. Give me five minutes.”She saved her work and took the elevator up to the executive floor. Jaxon’s office was at the far end, the door slightly ajar. She knocked anyway before entering.Jaxon sat behind his desk, looking worse than he had in weeks. The bruises on his face had faded but new stress lines had appeared around his eyes and mouth. He gestured for her to close the door.“What’s going on?” Alisha asked, remaining standing.“I need your help with something.”“With what?”Jaxon pulled a small USB device from his desk drawer and held it up. “Do you know what this is?”“A f

Chapter 504: Office PoliticsAlisha Carl arrived at EMC fifteen minutes early, her heels clicking against the marble lobby floor as she headed toward the elevators. The morning rush hadn’t started yet and the building felt almost peaceful in its emptiness. She pressed the button for the HR floor and checked her reflection in the polished elevator doors while she waited.Her phone buzzed with a text from her mother.*Did you talk to Liam about the position for Henry?*Alisha sighed and typed back a quick response.*Not yet. I’ll handle it later today.*The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside, pressing the button for her floor. As the doors began to close, a hand shot through the gap and they reopened. Milly Sienna hurried in, slightly out of breath.“Thanks,” Milly said, smoothing down her skirt. “I overslept.”“Late night?” Alisha asked, though she already knew the answer. Milly’s late nights usually involved Jaxon Sterling, despite his supposed engagement to Alisha herself.

Chapter 503: Morning ReportsKai Nakamura sat in the living room of Liam’s penthouse, his phone pressed to his ear as he listened to the report from his surveillance team leader in Greece.“They landed at nine forty-five local time,” the team leader said. “A tall man in his fifties picked them up with two other men, all dressed professionally. We attempted to follow but they used evasive driving and we lost them downtown.”“Description of the driver?” Kai asked.“Caucasian, gray hair, approximately six feet tall, moved like former military. The other two were younger, both athletic builds, clearly security.”Kai made notes on his phone. “And you’re certain it was the Wane girl and Princeton girl?”“Positive identification. We had visual until they entered the vehicle.”“Understood.” Kai ended the call and set his phone down.Across from him, Lina sat curled up on the sofa, a book open in her lap. “Problems?”“The targets made it back to Emerald Falls. My team lost them after the airpo

Chapter 502Lana dozed fitfully beside her. The elderly Greek woman in the aisle seat snored softly. The cabin lights dimmed as the flight entered its cruise phase and passengers settled in for the long journey.Ellen pulled out her phone and composed a message to James, even though she couldn’t send it until they landed.*Man following us got on the plane. Lana found another tracker in her purse. Theo thinks this is bigger than we realized. I’m scared.*She saved it as a draft and put the phone away.“Get some rest,” Theo said from behind her. “You’ll need your energy when we land.”“I can’t sleep.”“Try anyway.”Ellen closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window, listening to the steady drone of the engines and the quiet sounds of passengers sleeping around her. Somewhere in this plane, the man in the dark jacket was awake and watching them.She didn’t sleep, but she pretended to, keeping her breathing steady and her eyes closed while

Chapter 501: The FlightEllen settled into her window seat and fastened her seatbelt with hands that wouldn’t stop trembling. Lana took the middle seat beside her while an elderly Greek woman occupied the aisle seat, already pulling out a magazine and settling in for the flight. Theo was directly behind them as promised, his presence offering some comfort despite the situation.“We’re fine,” Lana whispered, though her white knuckles gripping the armrest suggested otherwise. “Once we’re in the air, there’s nothing they can do.”Ellen didn’t respond. She watched passengers file down the aisle, each face a potential threat. The man in the dark jacket appeared three minutes later, scanning seat numbers as he walked. He stopped at row twelve, directly across the aisle and two rows ahead of them.He could see them if he turned around.“Don’t look at him,” Theo said quietly from behind. “Just act normal.”The plane filled quickly. A young couple with a crying baby t

Chapter 500 The airport appeared ahead, a modern building of glass and steel perched on a hillside overlooking the sea. Theo pulled into the departure lane and stopped near the entrance. He got out quickly and retrieved their bags from the back while both women exited the vehicle. The white sedan pulled up three cars behind them and stopped. The two men inside made no move to get out, just watched. “Ignore them,” Theo said. “Walk normally. Don’t look back.” They entered the terminal and joined the line at the check-in counter. Ellen kept her eyes forward but she could feel the weight of surveillance pressing on her shoulders. Somewhere behind them, the men from the sedan had probably entered the building and were watching from a distance. The check-in process took fifteen minutes. Theo handed over the fake documents along with their real passports and the airline agent processed everything without question. When they received their boarding passes, the names printed on them read

Chapter 426: Kate’s Visit to SkyCareKate Carl decided to visit skycare and see if Williams could help even in his hospital bed. He has always helped them in the past, and she thought he would this time around too.She arrived at SkyCare Medical Center, stepping out of her black luxury sedan with a deep breath. The hospital’s glass facade gleamed under the afternoon sun, giving it an air of sterility and wealth. Inside, the lobby was spacious, the scent of antiseptic hanging in the air as nurses moved briskly from one station to another. The soft hum of conversations between patients, doctors, and visitors created a low, almost soothing background noise.Kate, dressed elegantly in a beige coat over a fitted dress, approached the reception desk with her usual poised demeanor. The receptionist, a young woman in a crisp uniform, looked up with a professional smile.“Good afternoon. How may I help you?”“I’m here to see Williams Jesse,” Kate said smoothly.The receptionist glanced at her

Chapter 34In the dark hallway, Valentina pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The deep silence of the mansion surrounded her, broken only by the muffled sounds of the conversation coming from Diego’s study. She had been in the bedroom when the men entered, and unable to resist, she had tiptoed silently to the door to listen in.Though she hadn’t heard much of the conversation—her position had been precarious and the voices low—the part that had caught her off guard made her blood run cold. Javier had suggested hiring the best hackers in the world to break into Alejandro’s casino since the fire attack wasn’t successful, and Valentina’s mind had skipped at the thought.She didn’t know Alejandro personally, but from the little she’d gathered, he seemed like a young, innocent man who luckily won her husband’s scam lottery.Yet here was Diego, her husband, plotting to destroy him piece by piece. She couldn’t stand the thought of Diego manipulating

Chapter 33The night was cloaked in a veil of restless clouds, the soft hum of distant crickets the only sound outside Diego’s sprawling mansion. Inside, the warm glow of chandeliers illuminated a room thick with tension. The mahogany table in Diego’s private study bore marks of age and power, much like the man who sat at its head.The thick smell of cigars mingled with the faint tang of spilled whiskey, curling through the opulent study like a specter of power. A half-empty wine bottle stood forgotten on the table, next to a silver tray dusted with the remnants of cocaine. The grand chandelier above cast flickering light, illuminating the tension etched into every corner of the room.Diego lounged in his leather armchair, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, bore into the men seated before him. On the table, a glass of Malbec swirled lazily in his other hand, the deep red liquid glinting in the light. He didn’t need to speak; the silence was s

Chapter 32Later That AfternoonThe golden rays of the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Alejandro’s mansion as the doorbell echoed throughout the luxurious halls. James, the butler, shuffled to the entrance, opening the door to reveal two women—Amy Johnson and Judy Miller.Amy wore a simple floral dress that flattered her petite frame, while Judy was dressed in bold designer clothing, her oversized sunglasses perched arrogantly on her head.“Welcome, ladies,” Mr. James said with a polite nod, stepping aside to let them in.Amy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the mansion's new interior that Sophia had had made. “Oh my gosh, Judy, look at this place! It’s like something out of a movie!” she whispered excitedly.Judy rolled her eyes, stepping inside with a smirk. “Calm down, Amy. It’s not like you’re moving in. You’ll embarrass yourself, as usual.”Amy flushed but ignored the jab, too enamored by the sparkling chandeliers and marble floors to c

Chapter 31He left the gym and headed straight for Theo’s office. Pushing open the door, he found Theo reviewing the updated security plans.“Got a minute?” Miguel asked, shutting the door behind him.“Sure,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”Miguel crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “It’s about Sophia and that so-called gym instructor of hers, Oscar.”Theo raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”“I just saw them in the gym. The way they were interacting—too close, too familiar. He told her he missed her after the ‘kidnapping.’ It’s odd, Theo. He’s supposed to be her trainer, not her confidant.”Theo frowned. “You think there’s something going on between them?”Miguel stopped pacing, his expression serious. “I don’t just think it—I know it. And we need to keep a closer eye on them. There’s something about Oscar that doesn’t add up. He’s disrespectful to staff, acts entitled, and now he’s cozying up to Sophia.”Theo nodded thoughtfully. “Do you want me to escalate this?

Chapter 30The next day was a Sunday. It was a bright morning, and the mansion grounds were bustling with activity. The new gardener was trimming hedges, while a few maids hurried about their chores. At the gate, Martin, the elderly gateman, was performing his usual duties, meticulously inspecting everyone entering and leaving.A sleek, black car pulled up at the gate, and Oscar stepped out. Dressed in an expensive tracksuit and sunglasses, he looked around with a smug expression. He gestured impatiently at Martin, his tone sharp.“Hurry up, old man! Do you want me to stand here all day?” Oscar snapped, leaning against the car. “Open the gate already!”Martin, used to dealing with difficult people, remained calm but couldn’t hide the slight frown forming on his face. “I’m just doing my job, sir. Could you please confirm your identity?”Oscar scoffed, pulling off his sunglasses. “I’m Sophia’s gym instructor. She’s expecting me. Now stop wasting my time and open the gate!”Martin nodded