The air in the office felt heavy, as if the walls were closing in on me. We'd only just gotten our footing after the chaos with Victor Dalton, but peace, it seemed, wasn't meant for us. A quiet knock at the door broke my focus. I glanced up to see David, Sebastian's brother, standing there. His face was pale, his usual calm expression replaced by something close to panic.
"Lila," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "We've got a serious problem."
He tossed a thick folder onto my desk. The edges were crumpled, as if he'd been gripping it tightly. I hesitated before opening it, the weight of whatever was inside already pressing down on me. When I finally looked, the name "Marcus Langston" stared back at me in bold letters.
"Who is he?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease spreading through me.
"Trouble," David muttered, running a hand through his hair. "He's known for tearing companies apart. Takes them over, sells off the pieces, and leaves nothing but rubble."
I didn't have time to respond before Sebastian walked in. He took one look at the folder and frowned.
"Langston," he said, his tone low and clipped.
"You know him?" I asked, pushing the folder toward him.
Sebastian nodded, his expression darkening. "He's a predator. And if he's coming after us, it's not a coincidence. Someone's pulling his strings."
The mention of "someone" sent a chill down my spine. We weren't just facing Marcus Langston—we were still dealing with the ghosts of Victor Dalton's empire.
"We need to figure out why he's targeting us," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "And fast."
Sebastian's jaw tightened. "I'll handle it," he said, but there was something in his voice that made me pause.
The next few days were a blur of meetings, phone calls, and sleepless nights. Every time I thought we'd found a solution, another complication popped up. The stress was suffocating, but I couldn't afford to let it show.
Late one evening, as I sat at my desk reviewing documents, there was another knock at the door. This time, it was Olivia West.
I froze. "What are you doing here?" I asked, standing to face her.
She held up a small USB drive. "Helping you," she said simply.
I didn't trust her. Not after everything she'd done. "Why would you want to help me?"
She sighed, stepping closer. "Because Marcus Langston isn't just after you. He's after anyone connected to Victor's mess. Including me."
Her words hung in the air. I studied her face, searching for any sign of deception, but all I saw was exhaustion.
"This isn't a trick?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"No," she said firmly. "It's not. Use it or don't—it's up to you."
With that, she left, leaving me alone with the tiny drive and a mountain of questions.
When Sebastian came in later, I handed him the drive without a word. Together, we plugged it in and watched as a flood of information filled the screen. It was everything we needed to take Marcus down—proof of his illegal dealings, his plans to dismantle our company, and more.
"This could change everything," Sebastian said, leaning back in his chair. But his expression was cautious. "Do you trust her?"
"No," I admitted. "But I don't think we have a choice."
Sebastian's eyes met mine, and for a moment, the weight of everything seemed to lift. We were in this together, no matter what.