Chapter: The Interview with Lauren and James I sat behind my desk, my fingers lightly tapping against the wooden surface as I waited. Lauren was on her way, and I needed to approach this carefully. If she was the one who leaked my project, I couldn’t afford to let her slip through my fingers.A knock came at the door. “Come in,” I called, straightening my posture.Lauren walked in, her expression composed but slightly nervous. “You wanted to see me, ma’am?”I motioned for her to sit. “Yes. Close the door behind you.”She did as I said, then took a seat across from me. I watched her carefully. I had known Lauren for over two years—she was smart, efficient, and always professional. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t betray me.I took a deep breath, keeping my voice calm but firm. “Lauren, I want you to be honest with me. Have you had any unusual contact with competitors lately?”Her eyes widened slightly. “Competitors? No, ma’am.”I nodded, studying her. “You were one of the last people
Chapter: The Web of Lies(Mira’s POV)I sat across from Alex in my office, my fingers tapping against the desk as he filled me in on his interview with James. The moment he said James had pointed fingers at Lauren, I let out a dry chuckle.“You know what’s funny?” I said, leaning back in my chair. “Lauren did the exact same thing. She swore James was acting weird. Now tell me, Alex, what are the odds that both of them are suspicious of each other?”Alex exhaled, shaking his head. “It’s either a setup or one of them is lying to save their own skin.”I nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking. But there’s another possibility… what if neither of them did it?”Alex narrowed his eyes. “Then someone else is playing us all.”I rubbed my temples. This was starting to feel like a game—one I had no patience for. “I don’t like this, Alex. Whoever leaked that information wants to make sure we can’t pinpoint the source. They want us chasing shadows.”He nodded. “That’s exactly what’s happening. If it was
Chapter: The Truth Unfolds(Mira’s POV)The room felt heavier than before, the silence thick and suffocating. My hands curled into fists as I stared at Lauren, waiting for her to speak. She had just admitted she would talk, but now she sat frozen, her lips pressed together, as if she were debating whether to go through with it.“Lauren,” I called, my voice steady but firm. “You said you would talk. So talk.”She let out a shaky breath and finally met my gaze. “It was the chairman of the board,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper.I frowned. “What about him?”Lauren swallowed hard before continuing. “The last time James and I got caught up in fraud, it was him who saved us. He pulled strings, covered everything up, and made sure we didn’t get fired or investigated. But it wasn’t out of kindness. He only did it because he knew he could use us later when he needed leverage.”I narrowed my eyes. “Leverage for what?”“To bring you down.”The air in my lungs turned ice cold. I coul
Chapter: The Reckoning(Mira’s POV)The Next day i called for a board meeting The tension in the boardroom was suffocating. Every executive and board member sat at the long, polished table, their eyes darting between each other, sensing that something monumental was about to unfold. Some adjusted their ties nervously, others whispered in hushed tones. But there was one man who sat at the head of the table, exuding arrogance—the chairman.He had no idea what was coming.I had walked into the boardroom with my head high, my steps deliberate. Every ounce of pain, betrayal, and anger I had buried inside me was simmering at the surface, ready to erupt.The chairman looked at me, his lips curling into a condescending smirk. He leaned back in his chair as if this was just another meeting where he could belittle me and get away with it.“Mira,” he began, voice dripping with false authority, “I have no idea why you insisted on this meeting. If it’s another attempt to prove yourself, let me re
Chapter: A Small Victory to Celebrate(Mira’s POV)The moment I stepped into my house, relief washed over me like a warm wave.Josh was in the living room, curled up on the couch with his tablet, completely engrossed in whatever game he was playing. His little fingers moved swiftly over the screen, his brows furrowed in deep concentration.I stood there for a moment, just watching him.This was why I fought so hard. This was why I refused to back down.“Mom!” He looked up and beamed the moment he noticed me.I walked over and ruffled his hair before pulling him into a hug. “Hey, baby. How was your day?”“It was okay. I finished my homework already,” he said proudly.“That’s my boy.” I smiled, brushing his cheek before deciding it was time to tell him the good news.I sat beside him, taking a deep breath. “Josh, you’re not going to boarding school anymore.”His eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait… what?”“You heard me.” I nodded, watching his face carefully. “You’re staying home with me.
Aaron’s Office ShowdownAaron sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of files while trying to ignore the growing headache pressing against his temples. The past few weeks had been stressful. His company was struggling, facing unexpected financial hits and internal instability. Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, his assistant walked in.“Sir, the Chief Director is here to see you,” she announced cautiously.Aaron frowned. The Chief Director rarely showed up unannounced. Something was off.“Let him in,” he said, closing the file in front of him and leaning back in his chair.A few moments later, the Chief Director, an older man with silver-streaked hair and a sharp gaze, walked in. His expression was unreadable, but Aaron could sense the weight of his presence. He gestured toward the chair in front of him.“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Aaron asked, trying to sound casual.The Chief Director sat down, placing a folder on the desk. He adjusted his suit jacket and ex
Taking Back ControlThe office was finally peaceful. No more chaos, no more betrayals—just me, my work, and the steady hum of productivity. I focused on my new project, checking every little detail carefully. Things were falling into place, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was back in control.Just as I was about to take a sip of my coffee, my manager walked in with a smirk on his face, holding a document in his hand.“You wouldn’t believe this,” he said.I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”“A direct mail from Aaron’s company,” he said, waving the paper slightly. “Do you want to read it?”Aaron? The name alone made my mood sour. There was no way he would have the guts to contact me himself. If anything, he’d use someone else to do his dirty work.“Let me see,” I said, taking the document from him.I skimmed through the contents, and before I could stop myself, I let out a loud laugh.Co-CEO?They really thought I would agree to that? After everything I had
Stepping out of her comfort zone I stared at my closet, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line.All I had were work clothes.Blazers. Pencil skirts. Crisp white shirts. A few modest dresses that screamed corporate boss rather than night out.I sighed. “Well, this is a disaster.”Josh, sitting on my bed with his legs crossed, let out a loud laugh. “Mom, you’re so funny right now.”I turned to him with a playful glare. “Oh? And what exactly is funny about this?”He grinned, eyes twinkling. “You, freaking out over what to wear to a club.”I scoffed. “I am not freaking out.”Josh raised a brow, clearly not convinced.I groaned and grabbed my phone, dialing Alex. He picked up immediately.“Yo,” he answered. “You ready for tonight?”“No,” I huffed, flipping through the clothes in my wardrobe again. “I have nothing to wear.”There was silence for half a second before he burst into laughter.“Oh no,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “The great Mira doesn’t have the perfect o
Mira’s heart raced as she clutched Josh’s hand tightly, her fingers trembling from fear. The woods were silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was cold—too cold—and the night seemed to stretch on endlessly. She looked around, trying to find any sign of help, but the dense trees and thick fog obscured everything beyond a few feet.Josh was quiet beside her, his small frame shivering. He had been through so much already, and now Mira had to protect him, even if it meant risking her own life.She pulled him closer to her, trying to shield him from the chill, but her thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened before they ended up here.Two men had burst into their house, guns pointed at Josh, taking them both against their will. The flashbacks were vivid—Mira had screamed, had fought, but it was useless. They shot two of Alex’s security guards and dragged her and Josh out of the house. Her worst fears had come to life in that instant, and now they were h
Alex’s POVAlex paced around his office, his mind running wild with anxiety and frustration. Mira and Josh were gone, and the more he tried to track them down, the more the trail seemed to fade. His men were searching every inch of the city, every corner of their contacts, but there were no signs of them—no leads, no calls, just complete silence.His fingers tightened around the edge of his desk, the weight of the situation pressing on him harder than anything he had ever experienced.Who would do this? Who would dare take Mira and Josh?The questions rattled through his mind. He had powerful enemies, sure, but none of them would have the audacity to go after his family—his real family, the ones who mattered. And if it was someone who had been watching from the shadows, how did they even know how much Mira meant to him now?Just as his thoughts spiraled deeper into confusion, his phone buzzed sharply, interrupting his frustration. The unknown number that flashed on his screen gave him
Mira’s POVJosh’s cries were the only sound keeping me from losing my mind.He clung to me, his little fingers digging into my arm as he sobbed, his body trembling against mine.“M-mom, I’m scared,” he whimpered, his voice breaking.I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to be strong. If I broke down now, it would only make things worse.“I know, baby. I know,” I whispered, tightening my grip on him. “But you have to stay calm, okay? No matter what happens, don’t say anything. Don’t cry too loud. Just… just listen to me.”He nodded against my shoulder, sniffling, trying his best to be brave.The men in the front of the car barely paid attention to us, speaking in hushed voices to each other as they drove. I couldn’t see their faces clearly, but their towering frames and rough voices were enough to terrify me.The car smelled like smoke and sweat, and the air was suffocating. My hands were tied behind my back with thick rope, making it impossible to hold Josh properly, but I
Mira’s POVA loud bang shattered the silence. My body froze. That sound—I knew it too well. It was the same sound I heard the night I was attacked years ago.Before I could react, the door burst open, and two hefty men stormed in. My heart slammed against my ribs.Josh.They had guns. And they were pointed straight at him.“Mommy?” Josh whimpered, his little hands gripping his toy car.“No!” I screamed, stepping in front of him. “Please, don’t—”One of the men grabbed me roughly, yanking me backward. Josh shrieked as the other man lifted him off the ground like a sack of rice.“Let go of my son!” I thrashed against my captor, kicking and clawing, but his grip was like iron.“Shut her up,” one of them growled.Something hard slammed against my temple. Pain exploded in my head, and my vision blurred.No. No. No.I felt myself being dragged outside. The cold air hit my skin, but it did nothing to clear the fog in my head.Then I saw them.Alex’s security guards. Two of them. Lying lifele
Mira’s POVThe second I answered the call, a voice on the other end spoke before I could say anything.“I’ve been expecting your call.”I exchanged a quick glance with Alex, who immediately leaned closer, listening intently. My grip tightened around the phone.“Who is this?” I asked cautiously.The man chuckled. “The guy you’ve been searching for.”Alex immediately caught on. He mouthed Aaron’s financial adviser?I kept my voice steady. “You worked for Aaron?”“Yes. And I know everything you want to know,” he said. “But there’s one condition.”I could already guess what was coming.“I need to remain anonymous,” he continued. “No names, no connections, nothing that ties back to me.”I hesitated. This was huge—someone on the inside willing to talk. But could I trust him? What if he was baiting me into a trap?Alex motioned for me to put the call on speaker, and I did.“You don’t want your name involved?” Alex asked. “Then why reach out?”The man sighed. “Because I know what Aaron is cap
Mira’s POVAs we stepped outside, the cold night air was a welcome relief from the suffocating tension inside. I had barely taken a few steps toward the car when I heard someone call my name.“Mira!”I turned just in time to see one of Aaron’s cousins rushing toward me. She was a little out of breath, her eyes darting around as if making sure no one was watching her.Before I could ask what was going on, she slipped a small piece of paper into my hand. “Call him,” she whispered urgently. “He has a lot you’d want to know.”I frowned and looked at the number scribbled on it. “Who is this?”She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. “Someone who knows things about Aaron. Things you should know.”That caught my attention. “What kind of things?”She shook her head. “I don’t want to get involved. Just call him. And Mira…” She smiled slightly. “I’m happy you got out of that marriage. And that you’re with Alex. He suits you better.”I blinked in surprise. Of all the reactions I had gotten ton
Mira’s POVThe morning of the family event came faster than I wanted. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have attended at all, but Aaron had sent a reminder message, probably hoping to intimidate me into showing up. I wasn’t the same woman he used to control. If anything, this was the perfect opportunity to make a statement.I focused on getting Josh ready first, helping him with his little tuxedo. “You look so handsome,” I said, adjusting his bow tie.Josh grinned. “I know,” he said confidently. “But why do I have to wear this? It’s too tight.”“Because it’s a formal event,” I said. “Besides, you match with Alex.”At that moment, Alex walked in, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo. He took one look at Josh, then at me, and smirked. “Did we all just decide to ignore the dress code?”I turned back to the mirror and admired my red dress. It was bold, fiery, and a complete rebellion against the expected white. “I guess so,” I said, shrugging. “White isn’t really my color.”Josh laughed. “Dad’s
Mira’s POVThe house was quiet when I walked in, the kind of silence that made the weight of the day feel even heavier. The plans, the secrets, the moves I had just started to make—it was all swirling in my mind like a storm. But there was one thing I needed to do before I could let the chaos take over. I needed to talk to Alex.I found him in the living room, leaning back on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone. His usual calm was there, but I could tell something was bothering him. Maybe it was the pressure of everything happening with Aaron or the shadows from his past that still seemed to haunt him.“Hey,” I said softly, sitting next to him. “We need to talk.”He looked up at me, his gaze steady. “What’s going on?”I took a deep breath, my thoughts scattered. But I started from the beginning, telling him everything that had happened with the two investors—how they’d come to me, their plans for a hostile takeover, and how they’d been waiting for the right moment.“They said they’
Mira’s POVOlivia had left earlier with a promise to get back to me with some information. When she called me back, her voice was different, a little more unsure than usual.“Mira, I’m not sure about this. It feels like everything is moving so fast, and I can’t help but wonder if we can trust these men.” Olivia’s words lingered in the air as I leaned back in my chair. The weight of the situation had started to settle over me.I knew exactly what she meant. It felt too good to be true that these men—who had been a part of Aaron’s inner circle, who had supported him for so long—were suddenly on my side. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if this was going to happen, I needed to take control and handle it the way I always did: strategically.“Olivia, show me the reports,” I said, my voice firm but calm.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Olivia responded. “Okay, I’ll have someone bring them to you. Just… Mira, make sure you’re really ready