Xavier's office felt suffocating despite its spacious design. Elizabeth sat in the chair opposite his desk, her nerves raw. Across from her, Xavier was pouring over the latest intel Clara had delivered just an hour earlier.
"This can't be right," Xavier muttered, his voice taut with disbelief. "If these documents are real, then Thomas has been planning this for years."
Elizabeth leaned forward, her heart pounding. "What do you mean? What's he done now?"
Xavier ran a hand through his hair, the weight of the situation etched onto his face. "Thomas didn't just fabricate those offshore accounts he's linking to me. He's tied them to several high-profile illegal dealings—money laundering, bribery. If this leaks, it won't just ruin my career—it could destroy Cole Enterprises entirely."
Elizabeth's blood ran cold. "That's impossible. We have the evidence against him. The authorities are already investigating."
Xavier shook his head. "He's always been two steps ahead, Elizabeth. He knew the investigation was coming, and now he's trying to burn everything down with him. If he can't have the company, no one can."
Just then, Clara burst into the office, a laptop tucked under her arm and her face pale. "We have a bigger problem," she said, her voice tight.
"What now?" Xavier asked, standing.
Clara placed the laptop on his desk and tapped the screen. "This was sent anonymously to one of the media outlets we've been working with. It's scheduled to go live in less than twelve hours."
Elizabeth and Xavier crowded around the screen. The file contained a damning exposé, complete with fabricated emails, falsified bank statements, and incriminating photos tying Xavier—and by association, Elizabeth—to Thomas's alleged crimes.
"This is bad," Clara said. "If this goes public, no one will care what evidence we have against him. The narrative will be out of our control."
Xavier's jaw tightened, his mind racing. "Who sent this?"
Clara hesitated. "That's the thing. The source is anonymous, but I ran a trace. It wasn't sent from Thomas's usual networks. This came from someone closer—inside Cole Enterprises."
Elizabeth's heart sank. "You mean… someone on the board?"
Clara nodded grimly. "It looks that way. Thomas has a mole, and they're feeding him everything he needs to destroy you."
Xavier's fists clenched at his sides. "I trusted those people. Who would betray me like this?"
Clara didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out a smaller file from her bag and handed it to Xavier. "I found something else. You're not going to like it."
Xavier flipped open the file, his face darkening with each page. Amelia leaned closer, catching a glimpse of what he was reading. It was a financial report, dated years earlier, with Thomas's name barely visible in the fine print.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Xavier set the file down, his expression unreadable. "This isn't just about the company anymore. If this report is real, then Thomas has been using Cole Enterprises as a front for criminal activity for almost a decade. And if it's exposed, I won't be the only one implicated. The fallout will take down everyone, including our employees and shareholders."
Elizabeth's stomach churned. "We can prove it wasn't you. We can clear your name."
Xavier met her gaze, his eyes shadowed. "Maybe. But not before the damage is done. Thomas has set a trap so intricate, I'm not sure we can escape it unscathed."
A sudden knock interrupted them. Victoria stepped into the room, her usually composed demeanor replaced with urgency.
"We have a problem," she said, her voice clipped. "Thomas just called a press conference. It's scheduled for tonight."
Xavier frowned. "What's he playing at now?"
Victoria hesitated, glancing at Elizabeth. "He's claiming he has evidence that will expose both of you. He's dragging Elizabeth into this, Xavier. If he goes public with this, it could destroy everything."
Elizabeth felt a wave of dread wash over her. "What evidence? We've been careful—there's nothing he can use."
Victoria's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't know, but whatever it is, he's confident enough to risk everything. He's not just playing defense anymore. He's going on the offensive."
Xavier paced the room, his mind racing. "We can't let him control the narrative. If he's holding a press conference, then we'll hold one first. We'll show the real evidence against him and dismantle his claims before he can make them."
Clara frowned. "That's risky, Xavier. If we misstep, we'll look desperate."
Xavier stopped, his gaze hardening. "We don't have a choice. If we wait, he'll bury us."
Elizabeth stepped forward, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "Then let's fight. Together."
Xavier looked at her, his expression softening. "Are you sure? This will put you in the crosshairs."
"I'm already in the crosshairs," she said firmly. "And I'm not backing down now."
Hours later, Xavier and Elizabeth stood before a podium, cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions. The room was packed, the tension palpable.
Xavier cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. "Thank you all for coming. I won't waste your time. Tonight, I'm here to reveal the truth about the actions of Thomas Cole, actions that have endangered not just this company, but everyone connected to it."
Elizabeth watched as Xavier began to present their evidence, his voice steady and authoritative. For a moment, she felt a flicker of hope.
But as the presentation reached its climax, Xavier's phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated, glancing at the screen. His face paled.
"What is it?" Elizabeth whispered, sensing the shift in his energy.
Xavier turned to her, his voice barely audible. "It's a message. From Thomas.
Elizabeth's blood ran cold. "What does it say?"
Xavier's eyes darkened as he read the text aloud.
"Nice try, brother. But you forgot one thing—I still have the ace up my sleeve. You'll see it soon enough."
Before Elizabeth could respond, the sound of a breaking news alert filled the room. The reporters scrambled for their phones, their faces lighting up with shock as the news flashed across their screens.
Xavier turned back to the podium, his heart pounding. But before he could say another word, a voice called out from the crowd.
"Mr. Cole, how do you respond to the video Thomas just released?"
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat. "What video?"
The reporter held up their phone, the screen displaying a grainy clip. In it, Xavier was sitting in what looked like a darkened room, his voice clear and unmistakable:
"I don't care what happens to the company. As long as Thomas goes down, I'll do whatever it takes—even if it destroys everything."
The room erupted into chaos. Elizabeth's heart sank as she turned to Xavier, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"I never said that," he whispered.
But as the reporters swarmed forward, demanding answers, Elizabeth knew the damage was already done. Thomas had struck his most devastating blow yet, and they were standing on the edge of ruin.