The tension in the room was thick as James turned the flash drive over in his hands. The weight of the evidence it contained was undeniable. This wasn’t just a business war anymore—this was a complete takedown.Pamela watched him carefully. “What’s the plan?”James glanced at Mr. Carter, his expression unreadable. “We verify everything first. If Gregory has ties to bribery and offshore fraud, we’re not just exposing a businessman—we’re dragging government officials into this.”Mr. Carter nodded. “I understand. But I promise you, everything on that drive is real.”James stood, his movements precise. “Then we’ll find out soon enough.” He turned to Pamela. “I need Victor on this. If there’s a single hole in this information, Gregory will exploit it.”Pamela nodded, already pulling out her phone. “I’ll have him start analyzing it immediately.”James looked back at Carter. “You know Gregory. The moment he suspects a threat, he eliminates it. Are you ready for what happens when this goes pu

A Race Against TimeJames’s car sped through the city streets, Victor’s voice sharp in his earpiece.“We have a location. Gregory’s men were spotted near the east industrial district. They’re moving in on something—or someone.”James’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Pamela and Emily?”“They’re secure,” Victor assured him. “But this isn’t just a scare tactic, James. Gregory is making his final move.”James’s jaw clenched. “Then we make ours.”At the East Industrial DistrictThe air was thick with tension as Gregory’s men surrounded the abandoned warehouse. The target was inside—someone they had been paid to silence.Inside, a man sat in the shadows, his face pale with fear. He had once been one of Gregory’s closest business allies, but now, he was nothing more than a liability. He had agreed to testify against Gregory, and in return, Gregory had sent his men to eliminate him.A masked man stepped forward, gun in hand. “Mr. Shaw sends his regards.”The man squeezed his eyes shut

James set his phone down, his fingers tightening around the device. Liam Donovan wasn’t just another businessman—he was a predator, the kind who thrived on exploiting weaknesses. Gregory had been desperate enough to call in a man like that, and now, even behind bars, his reach still lingered.Pamela’s brows furrowed as she stepped closer. “What did he say?”James exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the city skyline beyond his office window. “He made an offer.”Victor scoffed. “Let me guess. ‘Why fight when we can strike a deal’?”James smirked. “Almost word for word.”Pamela’s stomach tightened. “And what does he want?”James turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Control.”Victor’s jaw clenched. “Then we have a problem.”James’s eyes darkened. “No. He has a problem.”The Trap is SetBy morning, James had already begun countermeasures. Liam operated in the shadows, but that didn’t mean James couldn’t bring him into the light.Victor stood at James’s desk, handing over a file. “We fo

The Trap TightensThe next morning, Emily stood by the window of her safehouse, coffee untouched in her hands. She hadn’t slept. The silence of the apartment was suffocating, each creak and shadow pulling her nerves tighter.She flinched when her phone buzzed.Unknown Number: You should’ve stayed on campus.Her hands trembled. A second message appeared—this time, an image. It showed her from behind, standing at that same window, moments ago.Emily dropped the phone.Downstairs, one of the guards caught the alert from the security system. James’s team had swept the apartment, locked down the perimeter, but clearly, someone had gotten close—too close.Maple Group HeadquartersJames’s eyes were bloodshot as he read Emily’s forwarded messages.“She’s supposed to be in a secure location,” he growled.Victor was already coordinating. “I’m pulling the surveillance now. Whoever got that photo had to be within fifty feet. If we’re lucky, they tripped a motion sensor.”Pamela hovered nearby, te

Underground Bunker – 03:17 AMEmily jolted awake, drenched in sweat. The lights above flickered briefly before stabilizing. Silence settled again—too deep, too complete. She swung her legs over the edge of the cot, listening.Then she heard it.A faint, rhythmic hum—metal on concrete. Wheels. Slow. Deliberate.Emily moved swiftly to the control panel, triggering the silent alarm James had taught her to use only in emergencies. Green lights blinked—no breaches registered. But something wasn’t right.The hum grew louder.She reached under the bed, pulling out the emergency pistol stashed beneath the floorboard.Maple Group Command Center – Same TimeJames’s phone buzzed once.He checked the encrypted alert on his private screen. His blood turned cold.BUNKER: PERIMETER SENSOR FAILURE – EAST CORRIDORHe was already moving before Victor could speak. “Lock down the estate. Scramble the bunker guards. I want eyes on every access point.”Pamela stepped into the room, her expression drawn. “E