The next morning dawned grey and heavy, the very world seeming to steel itself for the battle ahead. I arrived at the office early, having barely slept, my mind running over and over our plan. Zoe was already there, her laptop open and a cup of coffee waiting for me on my desk.
"You're onto your second coffee already?" I asked, working my way to lighten the mood.
She smiled, but the concern didn't quite make it out of her eyes. "Had to. We've got a mountain to climb today. How did things go with Ethan last night?
I took a sip, grateful for the warmth as I recounted our conversation, feeling a strange mix of relief and tension. "He's on our side, but there's a lot he's not telling me. I think he's worried about what Carmen's capable of. I told him we're in this together, but I could sense a hesitation."
Maybe it's not you he's worried about, Zoe said thoughtfully. Carmen has a way of manipulating those closest to her. If she's gone to this much trouble to sabotage our business, just think what she might do if Ethan gets involved directly.
A knock at the door broke my reverie. Mia entered, a little better today than she had been the previous night, yet still carrying that weight of her confession. She clutched a notebook to her chest, her eyes darting around the room in a nervous search for something.
"I have everything you asked for," she said, taking a seat across from us. "The emails, the transaction records, even the texts Carmen sent. I saved it all."
Zoe and I looked at each other. Just exactly what we needed-proof that Carmen was behind the sabotage, a breadcrumb trail to her machinations. Dangerous, but possibly turning the tables if tread correctly.
As I went over the papers repeatedly, one name popped into view; one that quickened my heartbeat: *Ethan Calloway.* I skimmed through, a growing feeling in my stomach as the truth began to set in and make sense of Carmen's scheme.
It wasn't just about sabotaging my business. Carmen was setting Ethan up to look complicit.
Zoe," I whispered, sliding the document across the table. She read it, her face paling as the implications set in.
She's setting him up," Zoe whispered. "She's making it look like Ethan's been funneling money through your accounts to manipulate you into…, she let her voice trail off, her head shaking in denial. This is serious. If this gets out, it won't just ruin him-it'll make it look like he's been using you as part of some kind of sick game.
I wanted to shield Ethan, protect him from Carmen's wrath. Another part of my brain prevailed though: he needed to understand the scope of what was happening. And if Carmen was willing to destroy him just to get back at me, then she was more dangerous than I'd realized.
***
That evening, I was standing outside of Ethan's office. I hadn't called ahead because I knew he'd probably be tied up in back-to-back meetings, or dusting off reporters. But the stakes had changed, and he needed to know.
The receptionist took me through the glass doors, and I saw him standing in the conference room, pacing across it, his face tense while he talked into his phone. His eyes gentled at the sight of me, and he brought the call to a quick end, motioning for me to take a seat.
"Chloe," he said, with curiosity and concern deepening his voice. "What's going on?"
I said nothing, just handed it to him and watched his eyes scan through. I felt the shift in his posture, the stiffening of the shoulders as realization began to seep in.
"This… this is Carmen's doing?" he repeated, low, almost as if not believing.
I nodded. "She's trying to make it sound like you've been manipulating my business, using me to cover up embezzlement. If this gets out, your reputation, your company… it's all at risk."
Ethan's jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed as he digested this. "This isn't the first time she's tried to destroy me," he admitted, the bitterness lacing into his tone. "But I never thought she'd go this far.
I took a deep breath and tried to gather the guts to ask what had been bothering me. "Ethan… why does she seem so determined to take you down? I mean, I get that she's ruthless, but this feels… personal.
He looked away, seeming to search for words. Finally, in a voice little above a whisper, he said, "Carmen and I… we were engaged once. I was young, ambitious, and thought we were in love. But over time, I saw the lengths she'd go to for control-the ways she manipulated people. When I broke it off, she swore she'd make me regret it.
A pang of sympathy ran through me as finally I understood why he'd been so wary of relationships-of vulnerability. Carmen hadn't been a part of his life; she was someone he'd trusted, someone who had left deep scars.
Ethan," I said softly, "you don't have to do this by yourself. We'll out her, show the world what she's up to. But it's going to take more than just documents. We need her to slip up."
He turned to me, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "How?
"I'll set something up with her," I said, the plan materializing as the words came out of my mouth. "If we can get her to confess to what she's done, we'll have her in a corner. But it has to be subtle-she can't know that we're onto her."
Ethan thought for a moment, a dangerous sparkle igniting in his eyes. "You're playing with fire, Chloe."
I didn't back down, returning his gaze evenly. "So are you. But we don't have a choice.
The next day, I set up the meeting with Carmen, carefully wording it so the message came across casual, reaching out to "clear the air." I can almost feel her gloating in response; her tone is all too confident.
Ethan and I went through every eventuality, covering each contingency for every curve that might have been thrown. The café where we were supposed to meet-well, I couldn't shake the feeling of premonition that seeped in when I stepped inside. Carmen was already inside, a sharp and predatory smile opening when she waved me over.
Chloe," she said, the honey dripping from her voice. "So glad you called. I was starting to think you were avoiding me."
I forced a smile, sat down opposite her. "I thought perhaps it was time we had a little more. frank discussion.
Her eyes shone, as if she could already taste the victory. "I couldn't agree more. Always did like the way you run a business, you know. Shame it all got so… messy."
I kept my voice even. "Messy? Funny, I thought someone might've been… pushing things in that direction.
Her smile grew wider, and a flicker of amusement danced in her face. "Oh, Chloe, you are so clever-and yet not clever enough. But that's just it-businesses have their highs and lows, right? Sometimes people are just a little too careless with their assets."
There it was-the bait I'd been waiting for. I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "You know, Carmen, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were insinuating I'd been mismanaging things."
She laughed, the sound cold and hollow. "Oh, I don't have to suggest anything, my dear. I've seen how fragile little empires crumble. All it takes is a little push from the right person."
My heart was racing, her words hanging heavy between us. She was flaunting her power, her hold over my business. But I wasn't going to let her win.
"You seem very invested in my business, Carmen. Almost as if there's something personal about it," I said, my tone light, yet pointed.
She leaned back into her chair and as the smile faded away, she muttered, "Let's say I just like knowing where the real power is
Ethan stepped from behind his shadows then; his features impassive as he walked towards the table. Carmen's face bleached of colour; for one second, her confident façade slipped before she masked her true emotions once more.
"Ethan," she said and there was silk in her tone, smooth and dangerous.
He smiled coldly. "I couldn't resist. I had to see for myself just how low you'd stoop."
Carmen's gaze darted from one to another, the realization rising in her eyes. "You think you can turn this around? That's cute. But I've been playing this game a lot longer than either of you do."
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, his expression steely. "Perhaps, but I've picked up a thing or two. And you're not untouchable, Carmen. Not anymore, at any rate.
The confidence in her expression faltered, and I could see the cracks forming. She had her back to the wall, the weight of her own machinations weighing heavy on her.
"Whatever you think you're doing, it won't work," she spat, her voice losing its polished veneer.
I met her gaze evenly. "We'll see. You're not the only one who knows how to play this game."
As she stormed out, the weight of what we'd just accomplished settled over me. I turned to Ethan, who was watching her disappear with a mixture of satisfaction and lingering tension.
"She's going to retaliate," I said softly.
He nodded, his jaw set. "Let her try. We're ready for whatever she throws our way."
But as we left the café, a chilling realization settled over me. The fight with Carmen
was far from over, and I wasn't sure how far she'd go to get what she wanted.