Claire tried to pull away from Elias Blackwood's grip, but his fingers dug into her arm like iron.
"Let go of me," she ordered.
Elias smiled. "Get in the car, Miss Hart. My cousin would like a word with you."
"Cousin?" Claire's stomach dropped. "You mean Damian?"
"The one and only." Elias opened the car door. "After you."
Claire clutched her bag tighter. The proof inside was her only defense.
"I'd rather walk," she said.
Elias leaned closer. "That wasn't a request."
A horn blared nearby. Claire turned to see Olivia's red car racing toward them. It screeched to a stop, and Olivia jumped out.
"Claire! Get away from him!"
Elias's eyes narrowed. "Well, if it isn't Olivia Carter. Still sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?"
Claire looked between them, puzzled. "You two know each other?"
Before either could answer, two men in black suits appeared beside the car. One grabbed Claire's bag.
"No!" Claire cried, hanging on with all her power. The strap snapped, and the bag fell to the ground. Papers spilled across the path, scattered in the wind.
Elias cursed, letting go of Claire to grab at the flying papers. Claire dashed toward Olivia's car.
"Drive!" she yelled as she jumped in.
Olivia slammed on the gas. The car shot forward, leaving Elias and his guys scurrying for the papers.
"How do you know Elias Blackwood?" Claire demanded once they were safely away.
Olivia's knuckles were white on the driving wheel. "It's complicated."
"Uncomplicate it."
Olivia sighed. "I used to work for Blackwood Enterprises."
Claire felt like she'd been hit. "What? When?"
"Three years ago. Before your dad's company crashed."
"And you never told me?" Claire's voice shook with anger and hurt.
"I was trying to protect you." Olivia turned down a side street. "The Blackwoods aren't just rich and powerful—they're scary. Especially Elias. He's concerned with taking over the company from Damian."
Claire stared out the window, mind racing. "Those men who followed me—they were looking for Dad's evidence against the Blackwoods."
"What evidence?"
"Proof that they sabotaged Hart Industries." Claire's eyes widened. "The papers! They're gone!"
"Not all of them," Olivia said, pointing to Claire's pocket. A folded paper peeked out—her father's letter.
Claire pulled it out with shaking hands. "Dad knew the Blackwoods were behind everything. He left proof in that safe deposit box."
"And now Elias has it," Olivia said sadly.
"Not if I can help it." Claire pulled out her phone and called the bank. "This is Claire Hart. I need to know if there are copies of my father's papers in the system."
After a quick chat, Claire hung up, her face pale. "The originals were the only copies."
Olivia pulled over in front of her apartment building. "I'm sorry, Claire."
"We need to get those papers back," Claire said, her voice tightening.
"Are you crazy? You can't just walk into Blackwood Tower and demand them. They'll eat you alive."
Claire clutched her father's letter. "Then I'll find another way in."
Inside Olivia's flat, Claire paced while her friend made coffee.
"There has to be something we can use," Claire mumbled. "Something Dad left behind."
Olivia gave her a mug. "Maybe it's time to let this go."
"Like you let go of the fact that you worked for the people who destroyed my father?" Claire snapped.
Hurt flashed across Olivia's face. "That's not fair."
"None of this is fair!" Claire sank onto the couch. "Dad killed himself because of what they did to him. I can't just forget that."
Olivia sat beside her. "I was young and needed the money. I didn't know what they were doing until it was too late."
"What did you do for them?"
"I was just an assistant in the legal department." Olivia paused. "That's how I met Elias."
Something in her voice made Claire look up. "You and Elias were—"
"It was a mistake," Olivia said quickly. "He used me to get information. When I found out, I quit."
Claire's phone rang—an unknown number. She answered carefully.
"Miss Hart." The voice was deep, cold. "I believe we have something to discuss."
Claire's heart skipped. "Mr. Blackwood?"
"Damian Blackwood, yes. I understand you've been looking for me."
Claire stood, her legs shaking. "Where are my father's papers?"
"Safe. For now." His voice was like silk over steel. "I'm offering you a deal."
"I don't make deals with thieves."
He chuckled. "Bold words from someone in your place. Here's my offer: Come work for me, and I'll make sure those papers stay private."
"Work for you? Why would I do that?"
"Because if you don't, I'll make sure everyone knows your father was not only a failure but a thief who stole company secrets."
Claire's blood boiled. "That's a lie!"
"Truth is whatever I say it is, Miss Hart. You have until tomorrow to decide. A car will pick you up at 9 a.m."
The line went dead. Claire threw her phone on the couch.
"What did he want?" Olivia asked.
"He wants me to work for him. It's blackmail."
"Don't do it, Claire. Once you're in their world, you'll never get out."
Claire looked at her father's letter. "I don't have a choice. If I refuse, he'll destroy Dad's image totally."
A text message lit up her phone screen—another unknown number.
Not all Blackwoods are the same. Meet me at Harbor Bridge, midnight. Come alone. I can help you get the proof back. —E
"E?" Claire showed Olivia the message.
Olivia's face paled. "Elias. Don't trust him, Claire. He's worse than Damian."
"But if he has the papers—"
"He's playing you." Olivia grabbed her hands. "Promise me you won't go."
Claire nodded, but inside, her mind was already made up. If there was even a small chance of getting those papers back, she had to take it.
That night, after Olivia fell asleep, Claire slipped out of the room. The bridge was empty except for one figure leaning against the railing, face hidden in shade.
As Claire approached, the figure turned. Her steps faltered.
It wasn't Elias Blackwood waiting for her.
It was Damian.
"Miss Hart," he said with a cold smile. "How predictable you are."
Claire turned to run, but two guys blocked her way.
"Did you really think Elias would help you?" Damian walked toward her slowly. "My cousin has many talents, but loyalty isn't one of them."
"What do you want?" Claire demanded, backing away.
"The truth." Damian's eyes were like dark ice. "Did you really believe your father was innocent?"
"I know he was."
Damian pulled a folded paper from his pocket—one of the documents from her father's safe. "Then explain why Richard Hart was transferring company funds to offshore accounts months before his company collapsed."
Claire stared at the paper in shock. "That's not possible."
"The evidence suggests otherwise." Damian held out the paper. "Your father wasn't wrecked by me, Miss Hart. He ruined himself."
Claire snatched the paper, scanning the numbers with increasing terror. It looked real, but it couldn't be. Her father would never steal.
"This is fake," she insisted.
"Like father, like daughter." Damian's voice hardened. "Always seeing what you want to see."
Claire crumpled the paper in her hand. "My father was a good man."
"Good men don't embezzle millions from their own companies." Damian stepped closer. "Now, about my offer—"
A gunshot cracked through the night. One of Damian's men fell with a cry.
"Get down!" Damian grabbed Claire, pulling her behind a concrete block as more shots rang out.
Through the chaos, Claire saw a person running toward them—Olivia, gun in hand.
"Claire, run!" Olivia shouted.
Damian's grip tightened around Claire's arm. "Your friend is full of surprises."
Before Claire could react, a bullet hit the barrier inches from her head. Damian swore and dragged her toward his car.
"Let me go!" Claire fought against him.
"You want to die here?" Damian growled. "Because that's what will happen if you stay."
The shooting stopped quickly. Claire looked back to see Olivia surrounded by men in black suits—not Damian's men.
Beside them stood Elias Blackwood, smiling as he took the gun f
rom Olivia's hand.
"Hello, cousin," he called to Damian. "I believe you have something that belongs to me."
Claire's blood ran cold as Elias's eyes switched to her.
"Or should I say, someone?"