The silence in Adrian's office was deafening. Emma sat across from him, a freshly brewed cup of coffee untouched in her hands. Her fingers tapped nervously against the porcelain as Adrian leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk, eyes fixed on her.
"Start from the beginning," he said, his voice low and edged with tension.
Emma took a trembling breath. "It's Sofia. She's not just involved-she's the missing link. Every leak, every move our rivals made traces to her. But it's not so straightforward." Adrian's jaw contracted; his face hardened. "Sofia?" he repeated; even anger coated his disbelief. "She is my sister. How could she-
"She says it's about your father," Emma cut in. "She thinks you let him walk into a trap that got him killed. And she's not working alone, Adrian. She said Arcadia's rot runs deeper, that others are pulling strings. Adrian, I think she's telling the truth."
Adrian stood abruptly, pacing to the window. The city sprawled beneath him, glittering and indifferent. "She's blinded by anger. Sofia never understood what our father was dealing with, the pressure, the stakes-"
"She's not wrong about one thing," Emma said softly. "This isn't just about her vendetta. It's bigger than us."
He turned to face her, his expression a mix of vulnerability and defiance. "And the men in the garage?"
"They weren't just after me. They were sent to clean up loose ends—including Sofia." Emma hesitated, weighing her next words. "Adrian, we need to stop thinking of Sofia as just your sister. Right now, she's a threat—and maybe our only lead."
Hours later, sitting at opposite ends of the table in the dimly lit conference room, were Emma, Adrian, and Sofia. The tension was thick; it felt like a chore to breathe. Sofia's arms were crossed, and her expression was unreadable.
"You dragged me back here for what? To accuse me again?" Sofia said, sharp but at once defensive.
"No," Adrian replied coldly. "To get the truth. All of it."
Sofia's eyes darted to Emma, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "And you trust her, do you? This outsider?"
"She's done more to protect this company than you have," Adrian shot back, his voice rising. "So start talking.
Sofia leaned back in her chair, her manner almost nonchalant. "Fine. You want the truth? Dad trusted the wrong people, and you let him. Victor Kane wasn't the only one he betrayed, Adrian. He made enemies in every corner of this company-and some of them are still here."
Emma leaned forward. "Names, Sofia. We need names."
"Even if I had them, do you really think it would matter?" Sofia snapped. "This company's a sinking ship. Victor might be gone, but the people he empowered? They're still pulling strings."
Adrian slammed his hand against the table, ringing in his hand slapping loudly through the room. "You don't get to sit here and preach about Arcadia's faults while you're helping our enemies tear it apart!
"Helping them?" Sofia laughed bitterly. "I've been trying to keep them from destroying it outright. Do you think they care about your legacy? About Dad's vision? They'll strip this company for parts the second you falter."
Emma's voice cut through the argument. "So why are you still here, Sofia? Why risk your life in the garage if you've already thrown in with them?"
Sofia's eyes softened, a crack in her tough exterior, her emotion real. "Because as much as I hate what this place has become, I can't let it burn. Not completely."
After hours of heated discussion, a tentative plan began to take shape. Sofia revealed the names of a few key players she suspected of working against Arcadia, but one name jumped off the page: Gregory Holt, a long-serving board member and family friend.
"Holt's been quiet lately," Adrian muttered, pacing again. "Too quiet. If he's involved—"
"We'll need proof," Emma inserted. "Something undeniable. And we need to act quickly before he realizes we're onto him."
Sofia hedged. "He's meeting with his contacts tomorrow night at a private club. I can get you in."
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Why should we trust you?"
"Because I want the same thing you do," Sofia replied. "To stop them. You don't have to like me, Adrian, but you need me."
Emma glanced between the two siblings, their mutual mistrust palpable. "We don't have a choice," she said. "If Holt's involved, this might be our best shot at dismantling their network."
Adrian exhaled deeply, nodding. "Fine. But if this goes south, Sofia—"
"I know," she interrupted. "I'm on my own."
The following night, Emma sat in the dark corner of a highly exclusive club, her heart racing while she watched Gregory Holt greet a succession of shadowy figures. A tiny earpiece linked her to Adrian and Sofia, who were keeping watch from a van parked nearby.
Holt just passed a file to the man on his left," Emma murmured, sipping her drink for appearance's sake. "Can we get a camera on him?"
"We're working on it," Sofia's voice crackled in her ear. "Stay put."
Adrian's voice cut in, tight and commanding. "Emma, if this gets dangerous, you leave. No heroics."
"I'll be fine," she replied, her voice steady despite the churning of her stomach. "Let's focus on getting what we need."
With that, Holt resumed his discussion with his companions; Emma received a text message from Sofia: He's handing off the real intel in the private room upstairs. If you can get close enough to plant the device, we'll have everything.
Emma stood, smoothing her dress and slipping through the crowd toward the staircase. Her heart hammered as she approached the private room, the faint hum of conversation filtering through the heavy door.
She crouched, pulling a small recording device from her clutch and carefully sliding it beneath the door frame. The device clicked into place, its signal blinking green on Sofia's screen.
"We're in," Sofia whispered. "Now get out of there."
But as Emma turned to leave, a familiar voice stopped her cold.
"Ms. Hayes," Gregory Holt said, his tone deceptively cordial. "Fancy seeing you here."
Emma's breath hitched as she turned to face Holt, his sharp eyes glinting with suspicion. "Mr. Holt," she said, forcing a smile. "I wasn't expecting to see you."
"Likewise," he replied, stepping closer. "I'd say this was a coincidence, but we know better than that, don't we?"
In the earpiece, Adrian's voice was urgent. "Emma, get out of there. Now."
Before she could respond, Holt's hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist. "Why don't we step inside and have a little chat?"
Emma's mind raced as Holt led her into the private room, where his associates looked up with surprise and alarm. She had seconds to think, her pulse hammering in her ears.
"What is this?" one of the men demanded, eyeing Emma suspiciously.
Holt smiled thinly. "Just a little uninvited guest. But don't worry—I'll handle it."
Emma took a deep breath, her voice even while fear twisted her gut. "You can try, Mr. Holt. But I'd think twice if I were you."
Before Holt could respond, the door burst open and Adrian strode in, instantly commanding the space. "Let her go," he growled, his gaze locked on Holt.
Holt let Emma go, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Adrian. Always so dramatic."
The tension in the room was electric as Adrian stepped between Emma and Holt, his face a mask of fury and control. "You're done, Gregory. We have everything we need to take you down."
For the first time, Holt's composure faltered. "You don't know what you're dealing with, Adrian," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "This isn't just about Arcadia. You're playing a game you can't win."
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."
Back in the safety of Arcadia's tower, Emma and Adrian debriefed in his office. The recording device had captured enough evidence to implicate Holt and his associates, but the victory felt hollow.
"This isn't over," Adrian said, his voice heavy with determination. "Holt was right about one thing—we're dealing with forces bigger than Arcadia."
Emma nodded, her mind already racing with the next steps. "Then we fight smarter. No more shadows, no more secrets. We expose them all."
Adrian's gaze softened as he looked at her. "You saved us tonight. Again."
Emma met his eyes, a flicker of warmth breaking through the tension. "We're in this together, Adrian. All of it."
With the first light of dawn filtering through the glass tower, Emma felt a new sense of determination. Beneath the polished surface, they were building something unshakeable-and she would fight to protect it.