The silence in the darkened office was suffocating. Lucas stood still, his breath shallow as he tried to process Victoria's chilling words. Was Amelia really the traitor? He didn't want to believe it, but the timing of the power outage and Victoria's cryptic message made him question everything.
"Amelia?" Lucas called softly, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"I'm here," Amelia replied firmly, her voice steady. "And no, Lucas, I didn't betray you. I don't know what game Victoria is playing, but I won't let her destroy us."
Before Lucas could respond, the office door slammed open. Flashlights from Lucas's security team illuminated the room, and the two of them were escorted to safety.
Back in the secured meeting room, Lucas sat across from Amelia. He studied her, looking for signs of deceit, but all he saw was determination.
"Amelia, if Victoria's lying, why would she target you specifically?" Lucas asked.
Amelia shook her head. "Because she knows I'm your strongest ally. Breaking our trust is her way of weakening you. And let's not forget—she thrives on creating chaos."
Lucas nodded slowly, his instincts telling him that Amelia was telling the truth. "Then we need to fight back. If she's targeting you, we'll turn her weapon against her. But first, I need to be sure there's no mole in my circle."
Amelia stood, her voice resolute. "Let me prove my loyalty, Lucas. I'll take the fight to her. She thinks she can frame me? I'll expose her lies and make her regret underestimating me."
Amelia began by tracing the source of the black envelope left in Lucas's office. Using the company's cybersecurity team, she analyzed fingerprints and DNA samples. While the results would take time, Amelia didn't wait passively.
Next, she made a bold move—she contacted Victoria directly.
"Victoria, it's me," Amelia said over the phone.
Victoria's voice was cold and mocking. "Well, well, Amelia. Finally decided to admit the truth? Or are you here to plead for forgiveness?"
"Neither," Amelia replied calmly. "I want to make a deal."
Victoria chuckled. "Interesting. What could you possibly offer me?"
"Information," Amelia lied, her voice steady. "Lucas is planning a counterattack. I can give you details if you agree to leave me out of your games."
The line went silent for a moment before Victoria spoke again. "Meet me tomorrow at the old Ravenwood Hotel. Bring proof."
Amelia hung up, her heart racing. She knew walking into a trap was risky, but she needed to get close to Victoria to uncover her plans.
The next day, Amelia arrived at the abandoned Ravenwood Hotel. She dressed plainly, carrying a briefcase filled with fake documents she had prepared overnight.
Victoria greeted her with a smug smile. "Amelia, how brave of you to come alone."
"Cut the theatrics, Victoria," Amelia said. "Here's what you want."
She handed over the briefcase, watching closely as Victoria opened it. Inside were fabricated blueprints for a nonexistent project, designed to mislead her.
Victoria's eyes narrowed. "And how do I know this isn't another one of Lucas's traps?"
"Because I'm done being his pawn," Amelia said, keeping her voice steady. "You wanted a mole? You've got one."
Victoria smirked, but before she could respond, Amelia's hidden recording device captured the entire exchange. Amelia had everything she needed to prove Victoria's manipulation.
Amelia's plan almost worked perfectly—until Victoria caught her glancing at the small recording device clipped to her blouse.
"You clever little snake," Victoria hissed, lunging toward Amelia.
Amelia darted back, grabbing the briefcase and making a run for the exit. Victoria's guards blocked her path, but Amelia was prepared. She threw a small smoke grenade she had concealed, creating enough chaos to escape.
She sprinted through the dimly lit corridors, her heart pounding as she dodged Victoria's men. The sound of footsteps echoed behind her, growing louder with every second.
Amelia's breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself harder, her feet pounding the cold concrete floors. Her mind raced, but there was no time to think, only to move. The hallways of the old Ravenwood Hotel seemed endless, each turn leading her deeper into the maze. She could hear the footsteps of Victoria's men growing louder, closer, as they gained on her.
Her body screamed for rest, but there was no time to stop. Every few steps, she glanced over her shoulder, seeing shadows moving swiftly in the dark. They were getting closer, but Amelia wasn't about to let them catch her. She pushed through the pain in her legs, forcing herself to run faster.
The sound of footsteps seemed to multiply now, echoing from both directions. Amelia realized they had split up, trying to corner her. She cursed under her breath. "Think, think, think!" she muttered, her mind scrambling for an escape.
Up ahead, she saw a door slightly ajar, light spilling from the room beyond. She veered toward it, praying it led to some kind of exit. Her fingers brushed the door handle just as she heard a shout behind her. A guard had seen her move toward the door and was closing in quickly.
With one last burst of energy, Amelia yanked open the door and darted inside, slamming it behind her. She quickly locked it, breathing heavily as she leaned against the cold metal. She could hear the muffled voices of the men outside, pounding on the door, trying to force their way in.
Amelia scanned the room, which appeared to be some kind of old storage area. There was a single window high above the ground, but it was too far to reach. Her options were limited. She needed to get out—fast.
The pounding on the door grew louder, and Amelia's pulse quickened. She couldn't let them catch her here. As she turned to look for another way out, something caught her eye. In the corner of the room, hidden behind a stack of old crates, was a small trapdoor leading down into the darkness.
Without hesitation, she rushed over, pulling the trapdoor open. She didn't know where it led, but it was her only chance. Amelia jumped down into the unknown, hoping the shadows would be enough to keep her hidden.
The moment her feet hit the ground, she heard footsteps behind her. She glanced back and saw the faint light from the open door creeping into the room. They were coming for her.
She sprinted forward into the dark, the air cold and musty as it surrounded her. She could barely see anything in the pitch-black space, but she kept running, her heart pounding in her chest.
And then, suddenly, she stopped.
Ahead of her, she saw a shadow tall, looming.
Amelia froze, her breath caught in her throat. The figure stepped forward, and as the light from the trapdoor filtered down, she recognized the face.
It was Lucas.
"Amelia, we need to go," Lucas said urgently, his hand reaching for her.
But before she could respond, a loud noise echoed from above. The trapdoor slammed shut, and the room went dark.
"What's going on?" Amelia whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
And just as she reached for Lucas, she heard another voice—a voice she didn't expect to hear.
"You shouldn't have come here, Amelia."
It was Victoria.