Tasha's villa stood grand and welcoming as the car pulled up. The moment she stepped out, a flurry of servants rushed toward her, their smiles eager. Tasha raised a hand, her voice calm but firm. "Not tonight, everyone. Please, leave us." They hesitated, then retreated, murmuring polite greetings.
Eva, standing by the car, looked uneasy. "Tasha, call me if you need anything," she said softly, her eyes darting toward Tom.
Tasha frowned. "Stay, Eva. Just for tonight. I shouldn't be alone after… everything."
But Eva shook her head, her smile forced. "I have some business." She glanced at Tom one last time, her expression unreadable, then stepped into the car and left with the driver.
Inside the living room, Tasha's heels clicked softly against the polished floor. She sank into the plush sofa with a tired sigh, glancing at Tom. "Can't this wait? I need a bath. And maybe a drink."
Tom's face was serious, his voice firm but not unkind. "No, it can't wait. We need to talk now."
Tasha groaned, leaning back but staying put. "Fine."
Tom leaned forward. "Tasha, I work for a protection agency. A secret one. We were contacted to help rescue you after you were kidnapped."
Tasha frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Who contacted you?"
"Your eldest sister," Tom said without hesitation. "The police officer. She pulled strings to reach us."
Tasha relaxed slightly, nodding. "That makes sense. She's always been the connected one in the family."
Tom's expression darkened. "I also found out who took those loans in your name."
Tasha blinked, confusion and dread clouding her features. "Wait… someone actually took the loans? I thought the whole thing was a mistake! I figured the loan sharks mixed me up with someone else."
"They didn't," Tom said firmly. "The person behind it is someone close to you."
Tasha's voice hardened, her anger bubbling to the surface. "Who? Tell me, Tom. I'll ruin them for this!"
Tom didn't flinch. "Eva."
The word hung in the air like a dagger. Tasha's breath hitched, her face a mix of shock and disbelief. "What? No. You're wrong. Eva would never—"
"I don't have time to argue," Tom interrupted, his voice steady but not unkind. "I'm going to deal with the loan sharks and make sure they don't come after you again."
Without waiting for a response, Tom turned and walked out, his stride purposeful, his presence commanding.
Tasha sat frozen, her mind spinning. Eva? Her best friend? Her trusted personal manager? The betrayal was too much to process.
Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, dialing a number with practiced precision. When her contact in crime analytics picked up, Tasha's voice was cold, determined.
"I need you to check something for me. Look into Eva's accounts. See if she's received any large sums of money recently."
The voice on the other end agreed without question. "Give me half a day. I'll get back to you."
Tasha hung up, her jaw tightening. She stared at the empty room. "Eva… why?" she whispered, her voice breaking.