Anushka leaned back in her chair, her fingers still hovering over the keyboard. The glow of the laptop screen cast shadows across her face, highlighting the faint lines of exhaustion under her eyes. She'd been at this for hours, tracing the mystery number, digging into Dr. Otim's financial records, and piecing together fragments of data that didn't quite add up.
Mark sat across from her, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the floor. The weight of everything—his mom's death, the investigation, the pressure of supporting Jacqueline as CEO—seemed to press down on him like a physical force.
"Mark," Anushka said softly, breaking the silence. "Why are you so sure about this? About your mom, I mean. What makes you think it wasn't… natural?"
He looked up, his eyes dark with emotion. "Because she wasn't just my mom," he said, his voice low. "She was Alice Bendilani. The woman who built an empire from nothing. The woman who never backed down from a fight. And then one day, she's gone. Just like that. No warning, no explanation. Just… ulcers? Cancer? It doesn't make sense."
Anushka nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I get that. But why Dr. Otim? What makes you think he's involved?"
Mark hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Because he was always around. Before she died, he'd visit her at odd hours, always looking over his shoulder. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"
Anushka didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned back to the laptop, her fingers tapping lightly on the keys. "It does," she admitted after a moment. "But we need more than suspicion. We need proof."
Mark leaned forward, his voice urgent. "That's why I need your help, Ruhi. You're the only one who can do this. You're the only one who sees the patterns no one else can."
Anushka's cheeks flushed at the compliment, but she quickly brushed it off. "I'm just good with computers," she said, shrugging. "But if there's something here, I'll find it."
Mark's expression softened, and for a moment, he looked almost… grateful. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I know I'm asking a lot. But this… it's not just about me. It's about my family. About my mom's legacy."
Anushka met his gaze, her own resolve hardening. "I get it," she said. "And I'll do everything I can to help. But Mark… if we're going to do this, we need to be careful. If Dr. Otim is involved in something shady, we don't know who else might be."
Mark nodded, his expression serious. "I know. But we can't just sit back and do nothing. Not when there's a chance someone hurt her."
Anushka didn't argue. Instead, she turned back to the laptop, her fingers flying across the keys. "Alright," she said after a moment. "I've got a lead. The last ping from that mystery number was in a remote part of the district. It's not much, but it's a start."
Mark stood up, his eyes narrowing. "Then let's go."
Anushka hesitated, glancing at him. "Mark, we can't just—"
"We don't have a choice," he interrupted, his tone firm. "If there's even a chance this is connected to my mom, I have to see it for myself."
Anushka studied him for a moment, then sighed, closing the laptop. "Alright. But we're not going in blind. We need a plan."
Mark nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," she said, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "If this goes sideways, I'm blaming you."
Mark chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Fair enough."
As they headed for the door, Anushka couldn't help but feel a knot of worry tighten in her chest. Something about this felt… off. Like they were stepping into something much bigger than they realized. But before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps in the hallway made them freeze.
Emily appeared in the doorway, her arms crossed and her expression sharp. "Going somewhere?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes narrowed.
Mark exchanged a quick glance with Anushka before answering. "Just… running an errand," he said, his voice carefully neutral.
Emily didn't buy it. "An errand," she repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism. "Right. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with whatever you two have been whispering about all day."
Anushka stepped forward, her smile easy but her eyes guarded. "Emily, it's not what you think. We're just—"
"Save it," Emily interrupted, holding up a hand. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm not stupid. And if you're about to do something reckless, you'd better tell me. Because if you don't, I'll find out anyway."
Mark sighed, running a hand over his face. "Em…"
"Don't 'Em' me," she snapped, her voice rising. "This is my family too, Mark. If something's wrong, I deserve to know."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Mark nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're right," he said quietly. "But not here. Not now. I'll explain everything later, I promise."
Emily didn't look satisfied, but she didn't push it. Instead, she stepped aside, her gaze lingering on Anushka as they walked past. "You'd better," she muttered under her breath.