Chapter 23: A NEW ALLY

The lingering tension from my encounter with Rachel hung heavy in the air as I sat at my desk, staring at the phone that had just rung with that cryptic message. My mind buzzed with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. Who could possibly want to help me take down Daniel, and why?

As the evening settled, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was on the brink of something major. I glanced at the clock—7:00 PM. The unknown caller’s message had instructed me to meet at a quiet café downtown, a place I knew well from before my life had become a whirlwind of corporate battles and personal betrayals.

Arriving at the café, I found a secluded booth in the back, the dim lighting providing a veil of privacy. My nerves were on edge as I scanned the room, waiting for my mysterious contact. The café was nearly empty, save for a few scattered patrons. The wait felt eternal.

Finally, a figure entered—a tall, sharply dressed man with an air of confidence and purpose. His face was obscu