The day began with an unsettling calm. Lucas sat at his desk, his mind replaying the events of the previous night. The threatening text and the mysterious red light on his desk had made one thing clear Victoria was escalating her attack. But what would her next move be?
Amelia entered the room, carrying a folder. "I've been reviewing our accounts and recent transactions. There's something off. A significant amount of money has been funneled out of one of our subsidiaries."
Lucas frowned, taking the folder from her. The numbers confirmed her claim. "She's trying to destabilize us financially now. If this continues, the board will start questioning my leadership."
Amelia nodded. "And that's exactly what she wants. She's isolating you from within."
Before Lucas could respond, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed an unknown number. He hesitated before answering, knowing full well who it might be.
"Hello, Lucas," came Victoria's smooth, confident voice. "I trust you've received my message."
"Cut to the chase, Victoria," Lucas said, his voice steady. "What do you want?"
Victoria chuckled softly. "So impatient. Fine. Here it is I want you to step down as CEO of your company. Hand over control to me, and I'll consider leaving your precious family alone."
Lucas's grip on the phone tightened. "You're delusional if you think I'd ever agree to that."
"Oh, Lucas," she sighed. "You really don't understand the position you're in, do you? I've already started dismantling your empire. By the time I'm done, you'll have nothing left to fight for."
Amelia, who was listening closely, whispered, "Don't let her bait you."
Lucas ignored her, his tone sharp. "You underestimate me, Victoria. I've faced worse threats than you."
Her laughter rang out, cold and mocking. "Perhaps. But have you ever faced the possibility of losing everything you love? Because that's exactly what's going to happen if you don't comply. You have 48 hours to make your decision."
Before Lucas could reply, the line went dead.
Amelia looked at Lucas, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "We can't let her get away with this. What's our next move?"
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "We need to find out how she's siphoning money from our subsidiaries. If we can cut off her access, we'll slow her down."
Amelia nodded. "I'll get our best accountants on it. But Lucas, this isn't just about the company. She's coming after you personally."
"I know," Lucas said, his voice low. "That's why we need to hit back harder."
As the day progressed, Lucas reached out to his closest allies within the company. He called an emergency meeting, outlining Victoria's actions and her potential plans.
"We're under attack," he told the room. "Victoria wants to take everything from us, but I won't let that happen. I need each of you to be vigilant. Report any suspicious activity immediately."
One of the senior executives, a loyal friend named Richard, stood up. "Lucas, you've always had our backs. Now it's time for us to have yours. Whatever you need, we're here for you."
Lucas nodded, grateful for their support. But he couldn't shake the feeling that someone in the room might be working with Victoria.
Lucas glanced around the boardroom, his mind working overtime. The executives had pledged their loyalty, but he couldn't ignore the nagging thought that one of them might be a mole. Victoria's ability to anticipate his moves so accurately wasn't a coincidence.
"Thank you all for your support," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I'll need updates from each department by tomorrow morning. Dismissed."
The room began to empty, but Lucas's eyes lingered on a few individuals who left a bit too quickly, avoiding his gaze.
Once the room cleared, Amelia approached. "You don't trust them, do you?"
Lucas shook his head. "I don't. Someone's feeding Victoria information. Until we figure out who, we can't move freely."
Amelia crossed her arms. "Then we should set a trap. Let's feed them false information and see if it gets back to Victoria."
Lucas nodded. "Good idea. We'll plan it carefully. But first, we need to get ahead of her next move."
Lucas and Amelia spent the next several hours poring over the financial records of their subsidiaries. Every number, every transaction was scrutinized.
"There," Amelia said, pointing to a suspicious transfer. "That account—it's been receiving small amounts over months. It doesn't belong to any of our known vendors."
Lucas's brow furrowed. "Let's trace it. If we can find where the money is going, we might find a lead to Victoria."
Amelia quickly made calls to their cybersecurity team, instructing them to track the account. Within an hour, they had results.
"The account is registered to a company called Red Thorn Enterprises," the lead investigator said. "But it's a shell company. Its true owner is hidden behind layers of offshore accounts."
"Victoria," Lucas muttered.
"Not just her," the investigator added. "We found another name linked to the account. Someone inside your company James Caldwell."
Lucas froze. James was a senior executive who had worked with the company for over a decade. He was known for his sharp mind and dedication. But now, his name was connected to Victoria's schemes.
"Are you sure?" Lucas asked, his voice cold.
The investigator nodded. "The transactions tie back to him. We'll keep digging, but he's our strongest lead."
Amelia placed a hand on Lucas's arm. "What do we do now?"
Lucas's jaw tightened. "We can't confront him directly. If he knows we're onto him, he'll run or warn Victoria. We need to gather more evidence and catch him in the act."
The next day, Lucas called an emergency meeting with his core team, including James. He presented a fake scenario—an investment opportunity with a high-profile client.
"This deal is highly confidential," Lucas emphasized, locking eyes with James. "Only this team knows about it. If it leaks, we'll know who's responsible."
James nodded, his expression calm, but Lucas noticed a flicker of something in his eyes unease, perhaps?
As the team dispersed, Lucas turned to Amelia. "If James is the mole, Victoria will know about this deal within hours."
Amelia nodded. "And when she does, we'll have our proof."
Late that night, Lucas's phone buzzed with a new message. It was from an unknown number, but he knew who it was.
The message read:
"Nice try, Lucas. You're getting predictable. But don't worry—I have my own surprises. Check your office."
Lucas's heart pounded as he rushed to his office with Amelia following close behind. As they entered, the sight before them made Amelia gasp.
On his desk was a single black envelope, sealed with red wax. Beside it lay a small recording device. Lucas hesitated before pressing play.
Victoria's voice filled the room, cold and mocking. "Did you think I wouldn't see through your little trap? While you've been chasing shadows, I've been moving pieces. James was just a distraction. The real traitor is someone much closer to you."
Lucas's blood ran cold as Victoria's voice continued.
"Turn around, Lucas. The answer is right behind you."
He spun around, his eyes landing on Amelia. Her face was pale, her expression unreadable.
"Lucas…" she began, her voice trembling. But before she could finish, the lights in the room went out, plunging them into darkness.