The message from the unknown number weighed heavily on Chloe's mind. Sitting alone in the dimly lit library, she turned the phone over and over in her hands, her thoughts racing. Whoever sent it clearly knew more than they should, and the cryptic warning left her with an unsettling feeling of being watched.
She glanced toward the door, half-expecting Sebastian to storm in with his usual commanding presence, but the house was eerily quiet. She decided she couldn't wait for him to take the lead this time. If someone was threatening her, she had to find out who.
---
Chloe's Plan
The next morning, Chloe set her plan into motion. She returned to the conservatory, where she knew Mrs. Hargrove would be tidying up.
"Mrs. Hargrove, can I ask you something?" Chloe began, keeping her tone casual.
The older woman looked up from her work, her expression curious. "Of course, Mrs. Kane."
"Do you know if any new staff were hired recently? Or anyone who might have had access to the private areas of the house?" Chloe asked.
Mrs. Hargrove frowned, setting down her duster. "Not that I'm aware of. The household staff has been with Mr. Kane for years. They're all very loyal."
Chloe nodded, biting her lip. "What about visitors? Business associates, deliveries—anything unusual in the last few weeks?"
The housekeeper thought for a moment. "There was a tech team here last week. Something about upgrading the security system."
Chloe's heart skipped a beat. "Do you know which company they were from?"
Mrs. Hargrove shook her head. "Mr. Kane arranged it himself. But I can check the records if you'd like."
"Please do," Chloe said, forcing a smile.
---
Sebastian's Countermove
Meanwhile, Sebastian was in his office, his focus razor-sharp as he reviewed the details of the media leak. Ethan had sent over a report that listed possible sources, but the information was frustratingly vague.
"I need more than this," Sebastian growled into the phone, pacing his office.
"We're working on it," Ethan replied, his tone calm but firm. "These kinds of leaks are hard to trace, especially when someone's using proxies."
"Someone had access to private photos," Sebastian snapped. "This isn't just a random leak—it's sabotage."
Ethan sighed. "I understand, but it's going to take time. In the meantime, I suggest you focus on damage control."
Sebastian ended the call with a sharp click and stared at the stack of documents on his desk. If he couldn't rely on his team to uncover the culprit, he'd have to take matters into his own hands.
He pulled up the security logs from the past few weeks, his eyes scanning the entries for anything unusual. His jaw tightened when he saw it: a series of unlogged access points during the time the security system was being "upgraded."
Sebastian's mind raced. If someone had tampered with his system, it could explain the leaks—and the photos.
---
Separate Leads
Later that day, Chloe and Sebastian crossed paths in the hallway, each carrying a sense of purpose that the other immediately noticed.
"You're up to something," Sebastian said, narrowing his eyes at her.
"So are you," she shot back, crossing her arms.
He smirked. "Care to share?"
"Not really," Chloe replied, holding her ground.
Sebastian tilted his head, studying her. "You're going to get yourself into trouble."
"And you're not?" she countered.
For a moment, their tension dissolved into an unspoken understanding. They were both chasing the same enemy but unwilling to let the other take the lead.
"Just… be careful," Sebastian said finally, his voice softer.
"You too," Chloe replied, her tone matching his.
---
Chloe's Discovery
That afternoon, Mrs. Hargrove handed Chloe a folder containing the records of the tech team's visit. Chloe's eyes widened as she read the company name: Apollo Systems. She'd never heard of them before, but something about the logo on the invoice felt off.
She decided to dig deeper, pulling out her laptop and searching for the company online. The results were sparse, with only a single website that looked hastily thrown together. Suspicious, she noted the contact information and made a call.
The man who answered sounded professional, but Chloe couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
"We handle high-end security installations," the man said when she inquired about their services.
"For KaneTech?" she asked, her heart pounding.
There was a pause. "I'm sorry, ma'am, we can't disclose client information."
Chloe hung up, her suspicions confirmed. Whoever this company was, they weren't legitimate.
---
Sebastian's Confrontation
While Chloe pursued Apollo Systems, Sebastian paid a visit to one of his most trusted employees, Dominic, the head of KaneTech's cybersecurity team.
"I need you to find out who accessed the house's systems during the so-called upgrade," Sebastian said, handing over the security logs.
Dominic frowned as he scanned the data. "This is… strange. There's a gap in the logs, almost like someone wiped them."
"Can you recover it?" Sebastian asked.
"I'll try," Dominic said. "But whoever did this knew what they were doing."
Sebastian clenched his fists. Someone had infiltrated his life and put Chloe in danger. He wouldn't let it slide.
---
Paths Converge
That evening, Chloe and Sebastian found themselves in the library, each armed with new information.
"I think I found the company behind the security breach," Chloe began, handing him the folder on Apollo Systems.
Sebastian glanced at it, his jaw tightening. "I had Dominic look into the logs. Someone deliberately erased their tracks."
Chloe nodded, her fear mirrored in his expression. "Whoever they are, they're watching us."
Sebastian's eyes darkened. "Then it's time we show them who they're dealing with."
For the first time, they were on the same side, united by a common enemy—and determined to uncover the truth.
---