Aldric took a breath and he looked at Kim with an expression that was almost weary."Yes, I do know he's back," he said quietly. "And if I hadn't found a way to tell him about the theft, how do you think you would have found out?"Kim's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?""I couldn't do it directly. That's the thing. I couldn't just walk into headquarters and ask for an appointment with the chairman. I'm a division manager. I don't have that kind of access. And even if I did…" He paused, his jaw tightening. "Even if I did, there are people watching. They would have noticed and would have made sure that information never reached him.""Who's they?" Kim demanded sharply. "Who's watching?"But Aldric shook his head. "That's not the point. The point is, I had to find another way. So I took a gamble." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His eyes met hers directly, and there was an intensity in them that made a shiver run down her spine, "Mr Leo was regarded as on

The receptionist outside looked up as Kim passed, her reading glasses catching the light. Kim didn't acknowledge her. She was already moving down the hallway, her mind turning over everything Aldric had said..and everything he hadn't. The chairman put him there. His brother was missing. He'd been feeding them information through Leo. And someone, somewhere, was watching closely enough that he was terrified of being seen.She was halfway to the elevator when the doors slid open and Leo was there. His expression was strange.It was not his usual easy grin, not even the focused intensity he'd worn when they'd parted ways earlier. It was disconcerting.She stepped into the elevator beside him. The doors slid shut, sealing them in the quiet hum of the ascending car. "So what did you find?" she asked.Leo was silent.She looked at him. He had a puzzling look to him, the kind of look that came from trying to solve a problem that refused to be solved. His brow was furrowed, his lips p

(A few hours earlier.)Saul was so fucked.It was all he could think as he sat with his phone pressed against his ear.He was so so fucked.But he had known that already. He had known it the moment he'd let her walk out of his office without running after her. He had known it when he'd spent twenty minutes searching his own apartment for the phone she had given him, the phone he should have been using all along. He had known it when he'd dialed her number and listened to it ring, each tone a small eternity.She continued, her voice smooth as silk over glass. "So to what do I owe this swift response from the chairman himself? I doubt I was that persuasive earlier today. A few sharp words and a dramatic exit, and suddenly you're calling me within the hour?" A soft laugh followed, low and private. "I must be losing my touch. Usually it takes men much longer to come crawling back. Days. Weeks. Sometimes months. I had one man wait an entire Year once. Showed up at my office with flower

Saul drew a slow breath, steeling himself. "I understand. I'll owe you Veronica."There was a pause. When she spoke again, her tone had shifted once more, lighter, almost playful. "Good. Now, get some rest. You look terrible. Or you did this morning. I assume you haven't improved much since then."Saul huffed a quiet laugh. "Thanks for the concern.""I'm serious, Saul. Whatever you're caught up in, you won't solve it by running yourself into the ground. Take a nap. Drink some water. Do whatever rich chairman's do to recover. I'll handle the rest.""Thank you, Veronica. Really.""Whatever," she said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. "See you."Before he could respond, the line went quiet. She had hung up. Saul sat there on the edge of the bed, staring at the dark screen of the phone. The call was over. The deal was made. The debt was owed. And somewhere out there, across the city, Veronica Hale was already setting things in motion. He hoped he wouldn't regret it. With a

“....And if you think I saved you that day out of some deep feelings lingering inside my chest, then you've got another thing coming. I saved you because it was the right thing to do. Because if it wasn't you in that situation, if it was a complete stranger being dragged into a van by masked men, I'd still risk my life for that person. Because that's what people do. Good people." He sneered bitterly. “And despite everything you and your family put me through, I'm still a good person. But don't mistake that for affection. Don't mistake it for an open door. And don't you dare call me asking for help as if you have any right to it!"It was quiet for a few seconds, Saul's chest heaving up and down in the aftermath of his rant.“Well? What do you fucking have to say for yourself?" He snapped when she didn't respond.Swallowing thickly, Daniella's voice was wet and wretched when she managed to speak. "Please..." she whimpered. "Saul, I am sorry, for everything! But you don't understand. Th