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 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 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 506: Lunch Break Ana Davies locked her desk drawer and grabbed her purse, ready for her lunch break. The morning had been exhausting with back-to-back meetings and endless paperwork. She needed air and distance from her desk. “Ana, wait up,” Cara Hart called from down the hallway. Ana paused at the elevator bank. “Hey. Going to lunch?” “If you are.” Cara joined her and pressed the down button. “I’m starving. Skipped breakfast.” The elevator arrived and they stepped inside along with three other employees. Ana pressed the button for the ground floor and the doors slid shut. “How was your weekend?” Cara asked. “Quiet. Caught up on some reading. You?” “Busy.” Cara lowered her voice slightly. “Had to help Mr. Wood with something work related.” Ana glanced at her but said nothing. The other employees in the elevator were too close for any real conversation. The elevator reached the lobby and they exited into the midday rush. Employees streamed toward the cafeteri

Chapter 508: Afternoon RoundsMr. Sterling sat in his office reviewing quarterly reports when his phone buzzed with an internal call. He glanced at the screen and saw his son’s extension.“Yes, Jaxon,” he answered without preamble.“Can I come see you? I need to discuss something.”Sterling checked his watch. Two fifteen. His next meeting wasn’t until three. “Make it quick. I have fifteen minutes.”“I’ll be right there.”Sterling set his phone down and returned to the reports spread across his desk. EMC’s numbers looked solid on paper, but he knew better. The virus he and Williams had planted was quietly siphoning funds into offshore accounts, small amounts that wouldn’t trigger immediate alarms but would add up significantly over time.A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.“Come in.”Jaxon entered and closed the door behind him. He looked nervous, hands fidgeting with something in his pocket.“Sit down,” Sterling said. “What’s this about?”Jaxon took the chair across from the