Layla barely slept that night. The weight of what she'd uncovered in the Project Vanguard files pressed heavily on her chest, like a constant reminder of the precarious ground she was treading. Aiden's plans were ruthless and far-reaching, and now that she had the evidence, her own involvement seemed unavoidable. The question was: What would she do with it?
Her mind buzzed with possibilities. Should she give the files to Ryan and hope he used them wisely? Or should she expose Aiden outright? Every choice carried risk, and every risk could lead to her downfall.
But she didn't have the luxury of waiting. Aiden would eventually realize the files were missing. If he suspected her, it wouldn't just be her career on the line—it could be her life.
---
The Shadow of Suspicion
The next morning, Layla arrived at work earlier than usual, hoping to stay ahead of Aiden. She walked into the office, her heels clicking against the polished floors, only to find Aiden already there, waiting for her.
"Miss Carter," he said smoothly, his eyes sharp. "A word?"
Layla's pulse quickened. She followed him into his office, forcing her expression into calm professionalism.
Aiden gestured for her to sit, but she chose to remain standing.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" he asked, leaning back in his chair and studying her with a predator's gaze.
"No, sir," she replied evenly. "Should there be?"
His lips curved into a faint smirk. "You've been... distracted lately. I can't afford any weak links in my organization."
Layla clenched her hands behind her back. "I assure you, I'm fully committed to your vision."
"Good," Aiden said, standing abruptly and towering over her. "Because loyalty is everything to me, Miss Carter. Betray me, and there won't be a corner of this world you can hide in."
His words were a warning, but his tone was almost casual, as though he were discussing the weather.
"I understand," Layla said, her voice steady despite the knot tightening in her stomach.
Aiden stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Do you? Because I'd hate to think you were keeping anything from me."
Layla forced a small smile. "I know my place, Mr. Donovan."
Aiden held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. "Good. Now, let's get to work."
---
Ryan's Demands
As soon as Layla was back at her desk, her phone buzzed.
Ryan: We need to talk. Urgent.
Layla hesitated, then texted back: Layla: Not safe. Later.
Ryan's reply was immediate: Ryan: Don't make me come to you.
With a sigh, Layla agreed to meet him during lunch, choosing a quiet café on the edge of town where they wouldn't be overheard.
When Ryan arrived, his usually composed demeanor was cracked by tension. He slid into the booth opposite her, his piercing blue eyes scanning her face.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
Layla took a deep breath. "I found something. Aiden's plans. He's not just targeting you—he's planning to dismantle the entire market. If this goes through, no one will be able to stop him."
Ryan's jaw tightened. "Do you have proof?"
"Yes," Layla admitted. "But I can't just hand it over to you. I need to know what you'll do with it."
Ryan's expression darkened. "What do you think I'll do? Stop him."
"It's not that simple," Layla said, leaning forward. "If Aiden finds out I took these files, it's over for me. And if you misuse them, I'm just trading one tyrant for another."
Ryan's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not Aiden, Layla. You can trust me."
She wanted to believe him, but her instincts told her otherwise.
---
An Unexpected Visitor
That evening, as Layla returned to her apartment, she noticed something was off. The lock on her door was slightly scratched, and the faint scent of cologne lingered in the air.
Chapter 6 (Continued): The Edge of Discovery
She stepped inside cautiously, her keys gripped tightly between her fingers as a makeshift weapon. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything out of place. The coffee table was slightly shifted, a drawer in her desk half-open, and the faint sound of something creaking made her freeze in place.
"Who's there?" she called out, trying to keep her voice steady.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a shadow emerged from the hallway, and Layla instinctively raised her hand to strike.
"Easy," Ethan said, his hands raised in surrender. "It's just me."
Layla's heart raced as she lowered her keys. "What the hell are you doing in my apartment?"
Ethan leaned casually against the wall, his expression infuriatingly calm. "Making sure you haven't gotten yourself killed. And, judging by the state of your locks, I'd say I'm right to worry."
She glared at him. "You can't just break into my place. If you have something to say, call me like a normal person."
Ethan smirked. "Normal doesn't work in your world anymore, Layla. You're in over your head, and Aiden knows something's off. He's watching you."
Her stomach churned. "How do you know that?"
"I know him," Ethan said, his tone growing serious. "He's paranoid, and he doesn't take risks lightly. If he even suspects you've crossed him, you're done."
Layla crossed her arms. "So, what do you want me to do? Roll over and play loyal while he destroys everything in his path?"
Ethan stepped closer, his expression softening. "I'm saying you need to be smart. If you're going to take him down, you can't do it alone."
---
The Enemy's Game
The next day, Layla couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan was right. Aiden's mood had grown even colder, his interactions with her sharp and calculated. He wasn't the kind of man to let suspicion slide.
During a morning briefing, Aiden assigned her to oversee the final stages of a key acquisition for Langston's crumbling empire. It was a move she hadn't anticipated, and it meant she'd be directly involved in the destruction she was trying to prevent.
"Don't disappoint me, Miss Carter," Aiden said, his voice carrying a warning as he handed her the dossier.
Layla nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I won't."
As she returned to her desk, she thumbed through the documents, searching for a way to delay or derail the plan without exposing herself. The acquisition was set to gut Langston's smaller holdings, leaving him unable to fight back against Aiden's larger schemes.
Layla's phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. It was a text from Ryan:
Ryan: We need to act now. Send me the files.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. If she handed Ryan the files, she might gain an ally, but it would also tie her to his actions—and she still wasn't sure she trusted him.
Instead, she typed: Layla: I need more time.
---
An Unlikely Ally
That evening, as Layla prepared to leave the office, Aiden approached her desk. His expression was unreadable, but his tone was deceptively casual.
"Walk with me," he said, not waiting for her response.
Layla followed him out of the building and into the cool night air. They walked in silence for a few blocks before Aiden spoke.
"You've been doing good work lately," he said, his voice unusually soft. "But I can't shake the feeling that you're holding something back."
Layla's heart pounded. "I'm just trying to keep up with your expectations," she replied carefully.
Aiden stopped and turned to face her. The streetlight above cast shadows across his sharp features.
"My expectations are simple," he said. "Loyalty. Transparency. Anything less is unacceptable."
His words hung in the air like a threat, and Layla forced herself to meet his gaze.
"I understand," she said.
Aiden studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. "Good. I'd hate to lose someone as valuable as you."
As he walked away, Layla felt the weight of his words settle over her. Aiden was testing her, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up the act.
---
A Desperate Plan
Back in her apartment, Layla paced the floor, the tension inside her reaching a breaking point. Ethan's warning, Ryan's pressure, and Aiden's suspicion were all closing in on her, and she needed a plan—fast.
She retrieved the files from the USB drive and began piecing together a strategy. If she could expose Aiden's plans without implicating herself, she might stand a chance of surviving this.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from Ethan.
"What now?" she asked, her voice edged with frustration.
"You're not going to like this," Ethan said. "But I think it's time you let me in. Fully."
Layla hesitated. She hated the idea of relying on Ethan, but he had resources and connections that could be useful.
"What's your angle?" she asked.
"My angle," Ethan said, "is keeping you alive. And if we're going to bring Aiden down, we need to do it together."
Layla sighed. "Fine. But if you cross me, I swear—"
"I won't," Ethan interrupted. "Now, tell me everything you've got on Project Vanguard."