The air in Lucas's office was thick with tension. The betrayal they had been hunting for was closer than anyone had imagined. The mole within the company wasn't just a minor player; they were someone with the power to dismantle everything Lucas had built.
Lucas sat at his desk, scrolling through the recovered messages Daniel had provided. Each line of text confirmed his worst fears: the mole wasn't working alone. They were being directed by Victoria, but their insider knowledge made them far more dangerous.
Amelia entered the room with a steaming cup of coffee, placing it on the table. "Anything yet?" she asked, noticing the exhaustion etched on Lucas's face.
"Plenty," he replied, his voice cold. "But nothing that confirms who it is. The messages mention meetings, stolen files, and plans to sabotage the merger, but no names."
Amelia frowned. "It has to be someone with direct access to your projects, someone in upper management. Could it be someone you've trusted for years?"
Lucas nodded. "That's what worries me. If it is, this betrayal cuts deeper than I thought."
Just then, Lucas's phone buzzed with a notification. It was from the IT department. The breach earlier had left a trace a time stamp and a partial ID of the user who accessed the files.
Lucas opened the report, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the details. "The user ID belongs to one of my senior executives."
Amelia leaned closer. "Who?"
Lucas hesitated, the name forming on his lips. "Oliver Grant."
Oliver Grant had been with Lucas since the early days of the company. He was more than just an executive he was a friend, someone Lucas had confided in and trusted implicitly.
"Oliver?" Amelia whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. "He's been with you for years. Why would he do this?"
Lucas clenched his fists. "I don't know. But we're going to find out."
That evening, Lucas called an emergency meeting with Oliver. The two men faced each other in Lucas's private office, the tension between them palpable.
"Oliver," Lucas began, his voice measured but firm. "I've uncovered evidence that points to you being involved in the recent breaches. I need the truth."
Oliver's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of something guilt or fear in his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lucas. I've been loyal to this company since day one."
Lucas slammed a folder onto the desk. "Don't lie to me, Oliver. This folder contains messages, access logs, and timestamps that link you directly to the stolen files. Victoria's using you, isn't she?"
Oliver's composure cracked. He leaned back in his chair, his face pale. "It's not what you think," he said quietly.
"Then explain," Lucas demanded.
Oliver sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She blackmailed me. Months ago, she found out about my financial troubles—debts I couldn't pay off. She threatened to ruin me if I didn't help her."
Amelia, who had been silently observing, spoke up. "And you thought betraying Lucas was the solution? You could have come to him. He would have helped you."
Oliver's voice broke. "I was scared. She has more power than you think. She said she'd destroy my family, too. I didn't know what else to do."
Lucas's anger simmered, but there was a hint of pity in his eyes. "You've made a grave mistake, Oliver. And now, you'll help us fix it."
Oliver nodded reluctantly. "What do you need me to do?"
Lucas leaned forward, his tone sharp. "You'll act as a double agent. Continue feeding Victoria false information, but keep me informed about her moves. We'll use you to dismantle her plans from the inside."
Oliver hesitated but eventually agreed. "I'll do it. Just promise me you'll protect my family."
"You have my word," Lucas replied.
Oliver left the office, shoulders slumped, while Lucas remained at his desk, lost in thought. The room felt heavier now, as if the air itself bore the weight of betrayal. Amelia sat across from him, her brows furrowed with worry.
"Do you really think we can trust him?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"No," Lucas replied without hesitation. "But we don't have another option. If Oliver truly wants to fix what he's done, he'll cooperate. If not, I'll be ready for that too."
Amelia nodded, though her unease remained. "Victoria is dangerous, Lucas. She's already manipulated Oliver, and she has someone else on her side. What if her network runs deeper than we think?"
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "That's what we need to find out. If Victoria's working with others, it's only a matter of time before they make their next move. We have to stay one step ahead."
Unbeknownst to Lucas and Amelia, their conversation was not entirely private. A listening device, cleverly hidden within the office, transmitted their words to an unknown recipient. The figure on the other end smiled, their face illuminated by the glow of a laptop screen.
"Lucas is smarter than I gave him credit for," the figure murmured, their voice filled with amusement. "But he still doesn't know who he's really dealing with."
Later that evening, Lucas and Amelia began strategizing their next steps. Oliver was called back to share whatever he knew about Victoria's plans. He revealed vague details about upcoming sabotage attempts and a secret meeting Victoria was planning in the coming days.
"She's setting a trap," Oliver said. "She wants you to think you're gaining ground, but it's all part of her bigger plan."
Lucas stared at him, his expression unreadable. "If she's setting a trap, we'll turn it against her."
Amelia interjected. "How do we do that without exposing ourselves? If Victoria realizes we know, she'll change her plans again."
Lucas smiled faintly, though his eyes were hard. "We'll let her think she's in control, but this time, we'll be watching every move she makes. Oliver, you'll attend the meeting and report back to us immediately."
Oliver hesitated. "And if she finds out?"
"She won't," Lucas said firmly. "But if she does, you better hope she's more forgiving than I am."
As Oliver left for the night, Lucas and Amelia reviewed the information he had shared. The tension between them grew as they realized the scale of Victoria's influence.
"We're walking into dangerous territory," Amelia said. "If Oliver falters, this could all backfire."
Lucas nodded. "That's why we have to be prepared for anything."
Suddenly, Lucas's phone buzzed with a message. The number was unknown, but the text sent chills down his spine:
"You should have left this alone. Now, everything you've built will burn, starting with the people you trust the most."
Amelia read the message over his shoulder, her face pale. "What does that mean?"
Before Lucas could respond, the office lights flickered, and a sharp cracking sound echoed through the room. The power went out, leaving them in darkness. A faint, glowing red dot appeared on Lucas's desk—a warning or a target, they couldn't tell.
Amelia whispered, "Lucas… someone's watching us."
Lucas clenched his fists, his voice low and determined. "Let them watch. They'll regret it soon enough."