Chapter 5

Miss Evelyn was on her way home when her phone buzzed with another message from the anonymous sender. The message read, “If you agree to help us, the company will not collapse as I warned earlier.”

She paused, her mind racing with thoughts about the identity of this mysterious person. Evelyn was determined to protect the company at all costs. Her boss had poured his heart and soul into building Radiant Treasures, and she couldn’t stand by and watch it crumble. She quickly typed a reply, “What kind of help are you asking for?” The response was swift: “Meet me in two days.”

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit office, Mr. Harrington leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “You’re doing a great job,” he told his personal assistant. “I think this secretary will fall for our trap and become a traitor within Radiant Treasures.”

Mr. Harrington, the CEO of Glimmering Vision, a less popular jewelry company in the city, harbored a deep-seated hatred for the CEO of Radiant Treasures. Their rivalry dated back to their university days when Mr. Sterling had stolen Harrington’s girlfriend, who later became his wife. The bitterness of that betrayal had never faded, and now their competition had shifted from personal to professional.

“It’s a small world, isn’t it?” Mr. Harrington mused. “We were once rivals for a woman’s affection, and now we’re rivals in business.”

Seraphina and Ava were walking through the school courtyard, their heads held high. As they passed a group of students sitting on the grass, Seraphina’s gaze landed on a girl with worn-out shoes and a frayed backpack.

“Look at her,” Seraphina sneered. “How did she even get into this school? Must be one of those scholarship cases.”

Ava chuckled, though her laughter was more subdued. “Yeah, probably. It’s pathetic”

The girl looked up, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She quickly lowered her head, trying to avoid Seraphina’s piercing gaze.

“Hey, you,” Seraphina called out, her voice dripping with disdain. “What’s your name?”

The girl hesitated before answering softly, “It’s Emily.”

“Emily,” Seraphina repeated, her tone mocking. “Do you even belong here? This school is for people who can afford it, not charity cases.”

Emily’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t respond. Seraphina smirked, satisfied with the reaction she had provoked.

“Let’s go, Ava,” she said, turning away. “I can’t stand the sight of these freeloaders.”

As they walked away, Ava glanced back at Emily, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. “Do you ever think you’re too harsh, Sera?”

Seraphina shrugged. “If they can’t handle it, they shouldn’t be here. It’s survival of the fittest.”

Miss Evelyn was engrossed in her work when her phone buzzed. It was a call from Mr. Harrington’s personal assistant. She hesitated for a moment before answering, knowing what this call would entail.

“How many products are there now?” the assistant asked, his tone brisk and businesslike.

“Five hundred,” Evelyn replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

“Good. Make sure the security is lax tonight. I’ll be coming to exchange the products.”

Evelyn’s heart sank. She had no choice but to comply. They were paying her handsomely, and she couldn’t risk the company’s downfall. Even if they were losing customers, the building and infrastructure were still there. They could rebuild, she told herself.

Mr. Sterling, the CEO of Radiant Treasures, had no idea that his trusted secretary was betraying him. He often called her to inform her where he had hidden the high-quality products, ensuring they were ready for important clients. His trust in her was absolute, and it pained Evelyn to deceive him.

As night fell, three masked men entered the company premises. The security guards were inexplicably asleep, and the men moved with practiced ease. They had somehow obtained a spare key, allowing them to unlock the door without raising any alarms.

One of the men pulled out his phone and called the personal assistant. “We’re in. Show us the way.”

The assistant guided them through the building, following the directions Evelyn had provided. They reached the storage area and found the products. Their instructions were clear: replace only a hundred high-quality products with inferior ones.

They worked quickly and efficiently, swapping the items with practiced precision. Once the task was complete, they left as silently as they had arrived, taking the valuable products with them.

Evelyn sat in her office, staring at her phone. She felt a deep sense of guilt and sadness. Mr. Sterling had always been kind to her, and betraying him felt like a knife to her heart. But she reminded herself of the stakes. If the company fell, many more people would suffer.

The next morning, Mr. Sterling called Evelyn into his office. “Evelyn, I need you to prepare high-quality products for our clients today. They’re in the usual place.”

Evelyn nodded, forcing a smile. “Of course, Mr. Sterling. I’ll take care of it.”

As she walked back to her desk, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. She was caught in a web of deceit, and she feared it was only a matter of time before everything unraveled.

Later that day, as the clients arrived, Mr. Sterling greeted them warmly. “Thank you for coming. We have some of our finest products ready for you.”

Evelyn stood by, her stomach in knots. She watched as the clients examined the products, her heart sinking with each passing moment. She prayed they wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

One of the clients, a discerning older woman, picked up a necklace and inspected it closely. “This is exquisite,” she said, smiling. “Your company never disappoints, Mr. Sterling.”

Mr. Sterling beamed with pride. “Thank you. We strive to provide the best for our clients.”

Evelyn let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. For now, the deception remained hidden. But she knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. And when it did, she would have to face the consequences of her actions.

As the day wore on, Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. She returned to her desk, trying to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to the events of the previous night. She knew she had to find a way out of this mess, but she felt trapped.

That evening, as she was about to leave, her phone buzzed with a message from Mr. Harrington’s personal assistant. “Good job last night. We’ll be in touch for the next phase.”

Evelyn’s heart sank. She couldn’t keep doing this. She needed to find a way to protect the company without betraying Mr. Sterling’s trust.

The next morning, Mr. Sterling called her into his office. “Evelyn, I need to discuss something important with you.”

She entered his office, her heart pounding. “Yes, Mr. Sterling?”

He looked at her with concern. “I’ve noticed some discrepancies in our inventory. I trust you completely, but I need to get to the bottom of this. Can you help me investigate?”

Evelyn felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She nodded, forcing a smile. “Of course, Mr. Sterling. I’ll do everything I can to help.”

As she left his office, she knew she had to make a decision. She couldn’t continue betraying the man who had shown her nothing but kindness. She needed to find a way to expose the truth and protect the company from further harm.

That night, she sat in her apartment, contemplating her next move. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she was determined to make things right. She picked up her phone and dialed a number she had hoped never to call.

“Hello?” the voice on the other end answered.

“It’s Evelyn,” she said, her voice steady. “We need to talk. I can’t do this anymore.”

“ How dare you tell me that you can't do this anymore. You must do it else I'll make sure you suffer and I'm warning you not to tell anyone else you're doomed” the voice yelled at her.