“Numbers don’t lie, Javier,” murmured Adrian, the CFO, his eyes narrowing as he slid the quarterly report across the table. His fingers tapped impatiently, the sound sharp in the tense silence of the boardroom.“These drops aren’t natural,” the strategist whispered. Her expression was tight, lips pressed into a thin line.“It’s as if someone anticipated our moves,” Javier said softly. His gaze swept across the boardroom, lingering on each executive in silence.“Competitors don’t usually get this precise,” Valeria commented from her seat beside him. Her eyes carried both concern and suspicion.“The data leak is internal,” Adrian pressed firmly. His stare flicked toward Javier with an edge that was almost accusatory.“Or someone is planting that idea to divide us,” Javier replied calmly. His voice was even, free from anger despite the weight of the moment.“There are whispers in the lower divisions,” muttered another executive. His nervous glance avoided Javier’s steady eyes.“Whispers

That evening, Valeria paced the length of their bedroom. Her arms were crossed tightly, her face shadowed with unease.“You’re letting him strike first,” she said sharply. Her tone was low, but it carried the tremor of both fear and anger.Javier sat at the edge of the bed, removing his cufflinks with unhurried grace. “The impatient always strike first,” he murmured. His calmness only deepened her frustration.“You should expose him now,” Valeria pressed. Her eyes glimmered with fierce protectiveness, a lioness guarding her mate.“And if I do, the others will only see revenge,” Javier replied softly. His gaze met hers, steady and unyielding.Valeria’s lips tightened. “They doubt you, Javier. Every whisper chips away at their trust.”“Trust is not built on whispers,” Javier said calmly. His voice carried the weight of patience honed over years of shadows.She stopped pacing, her hands clenching at her sides. “You don’t care what they think of you, do you?”“I care only that they see tr