Ethan arrived at Layla's apartment within the hour, his usual confident swagger replaced by an air of urgency. He tossed his leather jacket onto her couch and sat down, his piercing gaze fixed on her laptop as if it held the answers to all their problems.
"All right," Ethan said, leaning forward. "Show me what we're dealing with."
Layla hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. This wasn't just about trust; it was about the weight of the decision she was making. By sharing the Project Vanguard files, she was drawing a line in the sand, committing to a course of action she couldn't undo.
Finally, she opened the folder containing the files and turned the laptop toward Ethan. His eyes scanned the screen, his expression hardening with each passing second.
"This is worse than I thought," he muttered.
Layla nodded. "Aiden's not just targeting Langston. He's planning a full-scale takeover of the energy market. If he succeeds, he'll control everything."
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "And you're sure no one else knows you have this?"
"Not yet," Layla replied. "But it's only a matter of time. Aiden's already suspicious."
Ethan looked at her, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Then we need to move fast."
---
Ethan's Proposition
Ethan leaned back, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. "There's a way to use this against him, but it's risky. We need to find someone with enough influence to expose him—someone who can't be easily silenced or bought off."
Layla frowned. "And how do we find someone like that? Aiden has connections everywhere."
Ethan smirked. "That's where I come in. I know a few people who might be willing to help, but convincing them won't be easy. They're not exactly fans of whistleblowers."
Layla crossed her arms. "So, we're supposed to trust strangers with something this big? What's stopping them from turning on us?"
Ethan shrugged. "Nothing. But if we sit on this, Aiden wins. You said it yourself—he'll control everything. Are you willing to let that happen?"
Layla sighed, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. "Fine. What's the plan?"
Ethan's smirk returned. "Leave that to me. Just keep playing your role at Donovan Enterprises and make sure Aiden doesn't suspect anything. I'll handle the rest."
---
Aiden's Countermove
The next morning, Layla arrived at the office to find an air of tension hanging over the place. Employees moved quickly through the halls, their expressions tight with stress. Something had shifted, and it wasn't good.
As Layla approached her desk, she noticed an envelope sitting neatly on top of it. Her name was written on the front in Aiden's precise handwriting.
She opened it carefully, her pulse quickening as she read the contents:
Miss Carter,
Your recent performance has been noted. Please join me in the boardroom at noon for a discussion regarding your future with Donovan Enterprises.
– A.D.
Layla's stomach dropped. Aiden wasn't one for vague meetings, and "discussions about the future" rarely meant anything good in his world.
She quickly texted Ethan: Layla: Aiden's called a meeting. Something's wrong.
His response came almost immediately: Ethan: Stay calm. Don't let him see you sweat. Whatever happens, stick to the script.
Layla took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her.
---
The Boardroom Showdown
At noon, Layla walked into the boardroom to find Aiden seated at the head of the table, flanked by two of his top executives. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a sharpness that made her skin crawl.
"Miss Carter," he said, gesturing for her to sit.
Layla took her seat, keeping her expression neutral. "You wanted to see me?"
Aiden leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You've been with Donovan Enterprises for some time now, and your contributions have not gone unnoticed. However, I've been hearing whispers—rumors that concern me."
Layla's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. "What kind of rumors?"
Aiden's lips curved into a faint smile. "That you might be... conflicted about where your loyalties lie."
"I'm not sure I understand," Layla replied, her voice steady.
Aiden studied her for a moment, then leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps I'm mistaken. But let me be clear: loyalty is everything in this business. Without it, there's no room for trust—and without trust, there's no future here."
Layla nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "Understood."
Aiden's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Good. That will be all for now."
---
Ethan's Update
As soon as Layla left the boardroom, she made her way to a quiet corner of the office and called Ethan.
"He knows something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Did he say anything specific?" Ethan asked.
"No, but he's watching me. I can feel it."
Ethan cursed under his breath. "We're running out of time. I've got a meeting with a potential ally tonight. If they're on board, we'll have a plan in place by tomorrow."
Layla sighed. "Just be careful. Aiden has eyes everywhere."
"I always am," Ethan said. "You just focus on keeping your head down. We'll get through this."
---
A Turning Point
That evening, Layla sat in her apartment, staring at her laptop. The Project Vanguard files were still open, their implications looming over her like a storm cloud.
She thought about Aiden's words in the boardroom, the subtle threat behind his smile. He wasn't just testing her—he was warning her.
Her phone buzzed, and she saw a message from Ethan:
Ethan: Got the green light. We move tomorrow. Be ready.
Layla closed her eyes, the enormity of what they were about to do sinking in. Tomorrow, everything would change.