The garage smelled faintly of motor oil and metal, the quiet hum of the estate barely audible from within its thick walls. Sophie's footsteps echoed on the concrete as she walked toward Ethan, who was leaning against his car with a tension that radiated in the taut line of his shoulders.
He glanced up as she approached, his expression grim. "We have a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Sophie asked, her voice low but urgent.
Ethan motioned for her to follow, leading her to a small workbench at the back of the garage. A laptop sat open, the screen displaying a series of emails. The subject lines alone made Sophie's stomach twist: Grove Holdings Transaction Records, Media Inquiry: Harper Assets, Anonymous Tip: Corruption Allegations.
"Where did you get these?" Sophie asked, her heart pounding.
"They were leaked," Ethan said, his voice clipped. "Someone's feeding the media breadcrumbs. It's not enough to blow the whole thing wide open, but it's close."
Sophie's mind raced. "Who would do this?"
Ethan shook his head. "It could be anyone—an old rival, a disgruntled associate, or someone on the inside. What matters is that Maxwell is going to find out. And when he does, he'll stop at nothing to silence whoever's behind it."
A chill ran through Sophie. "Does he know it's me?"
"Not yet," Ethan said, his gaze locking with hers. "But if he finds out you've been digging, you're as good as finished."
The enormity of the situation weighed on Sophie as she paced the length of the garage. The risk of exposure was greater than ever, and the walls of the Harper estate felt like they were closing in.
"What do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Ethan exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "We need someone who can take the heat off us. Someone with enough influence to make Maxwell think twice."
"And who would that be?" Sophie asked, crossing her arms.
Ethan hesitated, his expression unreadable. "Victor."
Sophie's breath hitched. "Victor? You want to bring him into this?"
"You trust him, don't you?" Ethan countered. "And he's already digging into Maxwell's business. If anyone can handle this, it's him."
Sophie's chest tightened. Victor had been a steady presence in her life, but dragging him into the Harpers' web felt like a dangerous gamble. Still, she couldn't deny that Ethan had a point. They needed an ally, and Victor was the only person she could count on.
Hours later, Sophie sat in her room, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She stared at her phone, Victor's number glowing on the screen. After a moment's hesitation, she hit call.
"Sophie," Victor answered, his voice calm but concerned. "What's going on?"
She took a deep breath. "I need your help."
"Tell me everything," Victor said, his tone steady.
Sophie recounted the events of the past few days, from the leaked emails to Ethan's warning. She spared no detail, her voice trembling as she spoke. When she finished, the silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
"This is serious," Victor said finally. "Maxwell's reach is far, Sophie. If he suspects you're involved—"
"I know," Sophie interrupted, her voice cracking. "But I don't have a choice. I can't let him get away with this."
Victor was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "I'll help you, but we need to be strategic. Maxwell is dangerous, and he'll retaliate if he feels threatened."
Sophie's chest tightened. "What do we do?"
"I'll make some calls," Victor said. "There are people who've been waiting for an opportunity to bring Maxwell down. If we play this right, we can use the leaks to our advantage."
Sophie exhaled shakily. "Thank you, Victor."
"Stay safe," he said, his voice firm. "And trust no one."
The next day, Sophie moved through the estate with a newfound sense of purpose. She kept her expression neutral, her demeanor calm, but beneath the surface, she was a storm. Victor's assurance had given her a sliver of hope, but the danger still loomed.
In the afternoon, she crossed paths with Charlotte in the foyer. The matriarch's sharp eyes studied her, and Sophie forced a polite smile.
"Busy day?" Charlotte asked, her tone casual but her gaze calculating.
"Very," Sophie replied smoothly. "The final arrangements are taking more time than I expected."
Charlotte nodded, her smile faint. "You're handling it well. Not everyone can manage the pressure of a Harper wedding."
Sophie's chest tightened, but she kept her expression composed. "Thank you."
As Charlotte walked away, Sophie felt a shiver of unease. The woman's presence was suffocating, her every word laced with unspoken threats.
That evening, Sophie met Ethan in the study, their conversation hushed as they discussed Victor's plan. Ethan paced the room, his movements restless.
"Victor's right," Ethan said, his voice low. "We need to control the narrative before Maxwell does."
Sophie nodded, her mind racing. "But how do we do that without exposing ourselves?"
Ethan paused, his gaze meeting hers. "We leak just enough to keep the media focused on Maxwell. If he's too busy defending himself, he won't have time to come after us."
The plan was risky, but it was their best shot. Sophie exhaled, her resolve hardening. "Let's do it."
Late that night, Sophie sat alone in her room, the glow of her laptop illuminating her face. She typed out an email, attaching a few carefully selected documents from the leaked files. Her heart pounded as she hovered over the send button.
This is the beginning of the end, Maxwell.
With a deep breath, she pressed send. The email disappeared into the ether, a silent declaration of war.
As she closed her laptop, Sophie felt a mix of fear and determination. The storm was building, and there was no turning back. But for the first time, she felt a flicker of hope. She wasn't alone in this fight—and she wouldn't stop until Maxwell Harper's empire crumbled.