Tasha sat stiffly in her office chair, her eyes fixed on Eva, who squirmed in her seat across the desk. The air was thick with tension.
"Do you have anything to say to me?" Tasha asked, her voice calm but sharp enough to cut.
Eva's eyes darted nervously. "I… I don't know what you're talking about."
Tasha leaned forward, her expression cold. "I'll ask again. Do you have anything to say?"
Eva fidgeted and shook her head. "I really don't—"
Tasha cut her off, her tone icy. "Don't bother lying. I know you took out loans in my name. I had your accounts checked. The evidence is clear."
Eva's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face drained of color, and she sank back in her chair.
Tasha's gaze hardened. "What I don't understand is why. You didn't need that kind of money. So, tell me, Eva. Why?"
Eva hesitated, then lowered her head. Her voice trembled, but her words were laced with bitterness. "Because I've hated you for years, Tasha. I'm the one who built your brand, managed everything behind the scenes, and yet you get all the credit. You're the star, and I'm just… invisible."
Tasha stared at her, disgust and disbelief in her eyes. "That's your reason? You risked my life because you were jealous?"
Eva's voice cracked. "I… I didn't mean for it to go this far. I'm sorry, Tasha. Please, forgive me."
Tasha's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Sorry doesn't cut it. You're fired. You'll never work for me again."
Eva's head snapped up, panic flooding her face. "Fired? Tasha, no! If this gets out, I'll never get another job. Please, I'm begging you. I'll fix it. Just don't ruin me!"
Tasha's voice dropped, cold and unyielding. "You already ruined yourself, Eva. And it doesn't stop here. I called my sister."
As if on cue, the office door opened, and two police officers walked in, followed by Maya, Tasha's eldest sister.
Eva's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, crawling toward Tasha. "Please, Tasha! Don't do this! I'll do anything—just don't let them take me!"
Tasha looked down at her, disgusted. "Get her out of my sight."
Maya didn't hesitate. "Take her," she ordered the officers.
The officers grabbed Eva by her arms, dragging her to her feet as she sobbed and screamed for forgiveness. Tasha watched, her face expressionless, as Eva was hauled out of the office.
As the door clicked shut behind the officers, Tasha sat back in her chair, her face still tense. Maya lingered, watching her younger sister with a mixture of guilt and hope.
"So," Maya said quietly, breaking the silence. "Are we even now?"
Tasha didn't look at her at first, her fingers tapping the desk absentmindedly. Finally, she sighed and met Maya's gaze. "I can start considering it. But it's going to take time."
Maya nodded, her expression softening. "That's fair. More than fair. I just… I'm sorry, Tasha. For all of it. For letting our stepmother treat you like she did. For not stepping in when I should have." Her voice cracked slightly. "Even the thought of you forgiving me one day is more than I deserve."
Tasha's jaw tightened, the old wounds still raw. But she changed the subject, her voice quieter now. "Do you have a way to contact the man who saved me?"
Maya frowned. "You mean the agent? 'The Skyline,'?"
Tasha nodded, a flicker of frustration crossing her face.
"He wouldn't even tell me his real name. It's been over a week since I've seen him. All I got was an anonymous email saying the syndicate issue was handled, along with a bill and an account number to pay."
She leaned forward. "That's it. No check-in. No goodbye. Nothing."
Maya hesitated. "The agency he works for… they're not like regular ones. They're high-level, off-the-grid. I only knew about them because of a contact on the inside. " She paused, studying Tasha. "But if you want me to, I'll try to get in touch with them again."
Tasha considered it for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Do that. I just need to… thank him. Or something."
Maya stepped closer, a small, tentative smile on her face. "I'll do my best." She reached out to hug Tasha, but Tasha pulled back sharply, her eyes cold.
"Don't," Tasha said firmly. "We're done here. You can leave now."
Maya froze, her hand dropping to her side. Her face twisted with pain, but she didn't argue. "I'm sorry, Tasha," she said softly, her voice heavy with regret. "For everything."
Tasha didn't reply, her gaze fixed on the floor. Maya hesitated for a moment longer, then turned and walked toward the door, her steps slow and heavy.
As the door closed behind her, Tasha exhaled, her body sinking into the chair.