The grand boardroom of Sterling Enterprises was filled with tension. The air was thick with anticipation as Lucas sat at the head of the table, flanked by his legal team and key executives. Across from him sat the representatives of StoneTech, a company they had been negotiating with for months to finalize a major merger. This deal was supposed to solidify Sterling Enterprises' future and protect them from the threats they had been facing, but cracks had begun to show.
Amelia, seated beside Lucas, couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. Something wasn't right. The representatives from StoneTech were unusually quiet, their expressions unreadable. The energy in the room was far from cooperative—it felt hostile.
Lucas started the meeting with confidence, presenting the final terms of the agreement. "This merger is a win-win for both our companies. Together, we'll dominate the market and eliminate unnecessary competition."
The lead negotiator from StoneTech, a sharp-suited man named Richard Kane, leaned forward with a faint smirk. "Mr. Sterling, while your proposal is impressive, there are... concerns."
"Concerns?" Lucas asked, his calm demeanor masking his growing irritation. "What concerns could you possibly have at this stage? We've already addressed every issue you've raised."
Richard exchanged a glance with his team before sliding a folder across the table. "These documents were brought to our attention this morning. They contain details about your family's... less-than-legal dealings in the past."
Lucas's jaw tightened as he opened the folder. The contents were damning—old records of underhanded transactions and partnerships with shady individuals. Amelia's heart sank as she looked over his shoulder. These were the same secrets they had unearthed in the vault, but how had StoneTech gotten their hands on them?
"This merger cannot proceed," Richard continued, his tone almost gleeful. "Your family's reputation is a liability we cannot afford."
Lucas slammed the folder shut, his temper flaring. "This is nonsense! Those records are decades old and irrelevant to our current operations. You're using them as an excuse to back out of the deal."
Richard's smirk widened. "Whether they're old or new doesn't matter, Mr. Sterling. What matters is perception. And right now, your family's name is poison in the business world."
Amelia noticed Lucas's hands trembling slightly, a rare sign of his frustration. She placed a calming hand on his arm, but it did little to soothe him. He turned to address the room. "If you think you can sabotage this deal with baseless accusations, you're mistaken. My team and I will fight this."
Richard leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "You're welcome to try, but the damage is already done. Your competitors are already spreading rumors. By the time you clear your name, it'll be too late."
Lucas's glare could have burned through steel. "This isn't over."
After the StoneTech team left, the room was silent. Lucas's executives exchanged worried glances, unsure of what to say. Amelia finally broke the silence. "Lucas, this is bad. If StoneTech can get their hands on these records, so can anyone else. We need to figure out how they got them."
Lucas nodded, his mind racing. "Someone leaked this information. Someone close to us."
"Victoria?" Amelia suggested, her voice tinged with fear.
"Possibly," Lucas replied. "But it could be anyone. We've made a lot of enemies."
As they discussed their next steps, Lucas's assistant entered the room with a message. "Mr. Sterling, there's someone here to see you. He says it's urgent."
Lucas frowned. "Who is it?"
The assistant hesitated. "He wouldn't give his name, but he claims to have information about the leak."
Minutes later, a man in his late thirties entered the boardroom. He had a scruffy appearance, with a worn leather jacket and a nervous energy about him. "Mr. Sterling," he began, his voice low. "My name is Daniel. I work in IT at StoneTech. I think your company has been set up."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Set up? Explain."
Daniel glanced around nervously, as if afraid someone might be listening. "I overheard a conversation between Richard Kane and a woman named Victoria. She paid him to sabotage the merger and release those records. She wants your company to collapse."
Amelia's eyes widened. "Victoria's behind this?"
Daniel nodded. "She's been pulling strings for months. But there's more. She's working with someone inside your company. I don't know who, but I heard them talking about it."
Daniel's words sent a chill through the room. Lucas paced the floor, his mind racing. An enemy within his company was worse than he had imagined. Trusting the wrong person could mean losing everything.
"Do you know anything about this mole?" Lucas asked, trying to remain calm.
Daniel hesitated. "I didn't see them, but I overheard a few details. Victoria mentioned that the person was someone with access to confidential files, someone you wouldn't suspect."
Amelia's stomach churned. "This could be anyone. Someone in your inner circle, Lucas. What if it's someone close to us?"
Lucas didn't respond immediately. His eyes scanned the room, as if imagining every face that could betray him. "It doesn't matter who they are. Once I find them, they'll regret ever crossing me."
Daniel handed over a small USB drive. "This has all the messages I could recover. It might help you figure out who the traitor is. But be careful. Victoria doesn't play fair. She's planning something big, and she wants to destroy you completely."
Lucas pocketed the drive. "You've done enough, Daniel. I'll make sure you're protected."
"Thank you," Daniel said, his voice trembling. "But you need to act fast. Victoria is ruthless. She won't stop until she wins."
As Daniel left, Lucas turned to Amelia. "We need to go through these messages immediately. If there's even a hint of who the mole is, I want to know."
Amelia nodded, but her thoughts spiraled. Who could it be? Was it someone they trusted? Someone they worked with every day?
Lucas's phone buzzed again, interrupting the tense silence. It was another anonymous message. This time, it read: "The mole isn't who you think. They're closer than you realize."
Amelia's breath hitched. "What if this is just another game to make us paranoid?"
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "Or what if it's the truth?"
Before Amelia could respond, there was a loud crash outside the boardroom. A security guard burst in, panic etched on his face. "Sir, there's been a breach in the server room. Someone accessed sensitive files and disappeared."
Lucas's face darkened. "What files?"
The guard hesitated. "The same files Daniel gave you."
Amelia gasped. "How did they know?"
Lucas clenched his fists, his mind racing. "The mole knew we'd find out. This isn't just a betrayal—it's a warning. They're one step ahead of us."
As the realization set in, Lucas looked at Amelia, his voice low and determined. "Whoever they are, they're playing a dangerous game. And it's time we played back."