The following morning, Lena arrived at the office earlier than usual. Sleep had eluded her the previous night as her mind replayed Damien Lowell's visit.His calm demeanor and subtly disguised warning were etched into her memory. The stakes were greater than she had anticipated; this risk felt increasingly tangible with each passing day.
She occupied herself by examining reports, however, her mind was clouded with doubts.Was Lowell the true mastermind behind the fraud? And if so, how far would he go to protect himself?
As she sifted through her notes, Mira approached her desk, holding a cup of coffee.
"Morning," Mira said, placing the cup beside Lena. "You looked like you could use this."
Lena smiled faintly. "Thanks. It's been... a lot."
Mira nodded knowingly and lowered her voice. "Word is, Lowell's been under Grayson's radar for a while. Be careful around him. He plays dirty."
Lena's stomach twisted. "Do you think he knows we're looking into him?"
"Probably," Mira said, leaning in. "But don't underestimate Grayson. He's dealt with tougher enemies than Lowell. "Simply maintain your focus and fulfill your responsibilities."
Lena valued the comfort of those words; however, she could not dispel her apprehension.
Subsequently, that morning, Ethan called Lena to his office. He sat at his desk, his intense stare directed at the computer screen.
"Please close the door," he instructed, not bothering to glance up.
Lena complied and stood by his desk, waiting.
Ethan finally turned to her. "I've scheduled a private meeting with Lowell this afternoon. I want to see how he reacts when confronted directly."
Lena hesitated. "Do you think that's a good idea? He already seems suspicious."
"That's the point," Ethan replied, his tone firm. "People reveal more when they're under pressure. But I need you to stay close. Take notes, observe his body language—anything that might give us an edge."
Lena nodded, her nerves tightening. "Understood."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, studying her. "You're handling this well, Lena. Most people would've cracked by now."
"Thank you," she stated (her voice remained steady). "However, I'm merely fulfilling my job responsibilities."
"Your job," Ethan remarked, a subtle smile (dancing across) his lips, "has become significantly more intricate than you initially anticipated."
The afternoon descended swiftly and the tension in the office was (almost) tangible.Lena followed Ethan to the conference room where Damien Lowell was already waiting.
Lowell stood as they entered, his expression calm but his eyes calculating. "Ethan," he said smoothly. "I wasn't expecting this meeting to be so... intimate."
Ethan ignored the comment and took his seat. "Let's get straight to the point, Damien. I've noticed irregularities in Argus Developments' accounts payments to shell companies, missing funds. Care to explain?"
Lowell's smile remained unwavering (a testament to his composure). "I'm not entirely certain what you're suggesting; however, any inconsistencies are probably attributable to accounting errors." Although he maintained a calm demeanor, the underlying tension was palpable because of the nature of the conversation. This moment, filled with unspoken implications, left an indelible mark on the discussion.These things happen in large projects."
"Accounting errors?" Ethan repeated, his tone icy. "These 'errors' amount to millions of dollars. That's not negligence—that's theft."
Lowell's demeanor solidified (although he preserved his calm). "If you are (indeed) implying that I have acted improperly, I would recommend that you furnish some evidence. However, until that point, I would appreciate it if we could keep this interaction professional."
Lena, seated beside Ethan, scribbled notes furiously. She couldn't help but notice how Lowell's hand clenched slightly when Ethan mentioned theft.
Ethan leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "Professionalism isn't the issue here, Damien. Integrity is. And until I have answers, every project under your supervision will be audited."
Lowell's jaw (tightened) and for the first time, a flicker of anger crossed his face. "Do what you must, Ethan. However, I won't stand for baseless accusations."
The tension in the room was electric; because Lowell stood and straightened his jacket, he commanded attention. "If that's all, I have work to do," he stated, although his tone suggested something more.
Ethan's silence was his only response.
After Lowell left, Ethan turned to Lena. "What did you notice?"
Lena took a deep breath. "He was calm at first, but when you mentioned theft, his demeanor changed. He's hiding something."
Ethan nodded. "I thought so. Keep documenting everything. We're going to expose him."
That evening, Lena stayed late, reviewing the audit documents Ethan had requested.While she was engaged in her work, her phone vibrated (with a message from an unfamiliar number): "Exercise caution regarding your steps. However, one must wonder why such a warning is necessary. This is particularly intriguing because it implies potential danger. Although the sender remains anonymous, the urgency of the message is palpable. But, what could it mean?Not everyone plays fair."
Her heart pounded as she stared at the message. Was it a warning? A threat?
Before she could process it further, a knock at her office door made her jump.
"Lena?" Ethan's voice called.
She quickly locked her phone and opened the door. "Yes?"
Ethan frowned, noticing her pale expression. "Are you okay?"
"Just tired," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly but didn't press the issue. "Take a break. You've done enough for today."
Lena nodded and gathered her things, but as she left the office, the warning text echoed in her mind.
On her way home, Lena replayed the day's events.Lowell's meticulously calculated responses, Ethan's unwavering determination and now this enigmatic text it all seemed like fragments of a puzzle she couldn't fully piece together.
Upon reaching her apartment, she quickly locked the door behind her and collapsed onto the couch; her mind was racing. She found he
rself in deeper than she'd anticipated and the threat felt more imminent than ever before.