The following weeks were a haze of job applications and apartment hunting. Sophia had moved into Zoe's spare room temporarily, but she was determined not to overstay her welcome. Each rejection email felt like another blow, but she forced herself to keep going.
One afternoon, hunched over her laptop in a coffee shop, Sophia overheard a conversation that made her pause.
"Did you hear about the Blackwood scandal?" a woman whispered to her companion. "Apparently, he's been cooking the books for years."
Sophia's heart raced. She pretended to focus on her screen while straining to hear more.
"I'm not surprised," the other woman replied. "Men like that think they're untouchable. But karma always catches up."
As the women left, Sophia sat back, her mind whirling. If there was truth to this rumor, it could be the key to her comeback. But how to prove it?
That evening, Sophia paced Zoe's living room, outlining her plan.
"You want to investigate Marcus?" Zoe asked, eyes wide. "Soph, that's dangerous. He's powerful, and he's got a team of lawyers."
Sophia nodded, a fire in her eyes that Zoe hadn't seen in years. "I know. But think about it, Zoe. I spent five years by his side. I know things – patterns, habits, little details that might not mean anything to an outsider."
Zoe looked skeptical. "But you're not a journalist anymore. You haven't written an article in years."
"Maybe not," Sophia admitted. "But it's time I remembered who I used to be. Who I still am, underneath all the designer clothes and fancy parties."
Over the next few days, Sophia threw herself into research. She dug up old contacts from her journalism days, called in favors, and spent hours poring over financial reports and news articles.
A breakthrough came from an unexpected source. Sophia ran into Marcus's former assistant, Emily, at a local café.
"Sophia?" Emily looked surprised. "I... I heard what happened. I'm so sorry."
Sophia smiled, an idea forming. "Emily, can I buy you a coffee? I'd love to catch up."
Over lattes, Emily's reserve melted away. She spoke of the pressure at Blackwood Enterprises, the late nights, the whispered conversations behind closed doors.
"There were always these meetings," Emily confided. "Off the books. Mr. Blackwood would clear his schedule, but I was never allowed to know who he was meeting."
Sophia leaned in. "Emily, this is important. Do you remember any dates? Any patterns?"
Emily hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Actually, yes. It was always the last Friday of the month. And afterward, there would always be these large transfers... but I never saw where the money came from or where it went."
Sophia's pulse quickened. This was it – the thread she needed to start unraveling Marcus's web of deceit.
That night, Sophia sat at her makeshift desk, staring at her notes. The task ahead was daunting, but for the first time in years, she felt truly alive.
Her phone buzzed – a text from Marcus. "Dinner next week? To discuss the transition. For old times' sake."
Sophia's first instinct was to ignore it, but then she paused. This could be an opportunity. She took a deep breath and typed her reply: "Sure. Name the time and place."
As she set her phone down, Sophia caught her reflection in the window. The woman staring back at her wasn't the polished arm candy Marcus had crafted. This was someone new – or perhaps someone rediscovered. Someone ready to fight.
"Game on, Marcus," she whispered to her reflection. "You have no idea what's coming."
The next morning, Sophia woke with a renewed sense of purpose. She showered, dressed in a simple but professional outfit – her own clothes, not the designer labels Marcus had always insisted upon – and headed out.
Her destination: the offices of the New York Sentinel, where she had interned fresh out of college. It was a long shot, but she needed allies, and more importantly, she needed resources.
As she waited in the lobby, Sophia's nerves threatened to overwhelm her. What if they laughed her out of the building? What if her skills were too rusty?
"Sophia Reeves?" A familiar voice called. She looked up to see James Chen, her old mentor, smiling at her. "I couldn't believe it when I saw your name on my schedule. It's been years!"
Sophia stood, shaking his hand firmly. "James, thank you so much for seeing me. I... I have a story. A big one. And I need your help."