CHAPTER 014

CHAPTER 014

The air in my room was suffocating—the kind of weight that clung to your chest and wouldn’t let go. It was dark; the only light from my laptop, and the only sound was he faint hum of the laptop fan. Megan’s email was open, and her message was brief and to the point. She never asked questions, never had. That’s why I trusted her.

My finger hesitated momentarily, and I clicked the first link. A news article popped up, its bold headline sending a chill through me: “The Missing Whistleblower and Pharma Giant.”

I scanned the text, and my heart sank. Robert Gaines. I didn’t know his name, but I knew his story. At one point, Gaines was a former employee of Flint Pharmaceuticals who had filed complaints about unethical business practices. He vanished just weeks later. No trace. No leads. The article said the case had gone cold, but his family had desperately pleaded for answers. Rowan’s name was barely mentioned, just a shadow at the story's edge, and the company denied involvement. But it was there. That was enough to make my stomach turn.

I took a shaky breath and clicked on the following file Megan had sent. It was another headline from around the time my father’s company was sold: “Flint Pharmaceuticals Buys Rival Amid Controversy.”

The pieces didn’t fit. How could Rowan have been negotiating deals and pretending to swoop in and save my father’s failing business? The dates didn’t align. It was like he had been planning this for years before I came into the picture.

I rubbed my temples and leaned back in my chair. My father always said that selling the company was his only option. He’d insisted it was the safest way to keep us safe. What if it wasn’t desperation? If Rowan had forced his hand, what then?

The phone buzzed, dragging me out of another spiraling thought. Megan’s name flashed on the screen.

"Did you see the files?" Before I could say hello, she asked.

I whispered, 'I did.' "Megan, what does this mean? The acquisitions, the missing man... Isn't it all connected?"

Her tone was cautious; she paused. “I’m sorry, Sarah, it’s not just a bad business deal.” It’s messy, Rowan’s company. He’s tied to things that don’t make the news, and that’s for a reason. If he finds out you’re digging into this—"

I cut her off. "I need to know, Megan. I can’t stop now."

She sighed. "Just be careful. "Call me if you need anything—anything."

I murmured 'thanks' and hung up.

The room felt colder now. The silence was heavier, and the light from the laptop screen seemed harsher. I froze and clicked on another file. The screen was filled with a scanned document, the text formal and unassuming. But the signatures at the bottom were unmistakable: my father’s and Rowan’s.

My heart pounded as I zoomed in and read the date. My father didn’t tell me the company was in trouble until months later. He pushed me into marriage with Rowan months before. It hit me like a punch to the gut. Rowan hadn’t saved my father’s business; he’d bought it outright.

Anger bubbled to the surface, and my chest tightened. Why didn’t my father tell me? If Rowan already had all the power, why sell me into a loveless marriage?

I couldn't look at the glowing screen any longer, so I shut the laptop. I was a mess of betrayal and confusion. Who had I married? Yes, the Rowan I thought I knew was cold. Manipulative. But this was something else. This was calculated. Cruel.

I heard a faint creak outside my window, and my breath caught. I froze, straining to listen. Again, the sound came, deliberate and slow. Standing, every nerve in my body was on edge; my heart was racing.

The floorboards beneath me groaned softly as I inched toward the window. The curtains were drawn, but there was a shadow moving just outside. My stomach dropped. Someone was there.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Megan’s number with trembling hands. She picked it up after it rang twice.

"Sarah? What’s wrong?" She asked, her voice groggy.

I whispered, barely steady, 'There’s someone outside.'

"Are you sure?"

I glanced at the window again, hissing, 'Yes.' The shadow moved, becoming more prominent. "They're standing right outside."

Megan’s voice sharpened. You have to get out of there. "Where can you go?"

She couldn’t see me, but I nodded. I whispered, 'I’ll figure it out.' "I’ll call you back."

I hung up, clutching the phone tighter. I looked at the desk, and the first thing I could use as a weapon was a heavy book. I grabbed it and crept towards the window, holding it tightly. My chest thundered with each beat of my heart, louder than the last.

It slowly became clearer; through the fog of the cool night air that fogged the window, the figure outside was unmistakable. Their posture was eerily calm; they stood perfectly still. I uncovered the curtain enough to poke out, and my breath hitched.

The figure didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. They seemed to know I was watching.

I stepped a few feet back, adrenaline coursing through me, and I grasped the book against my chest like a lifeline. What did they want? Did Rowan know I was investigating? Or was this something worse?

The figure suddenly turned, walked away, and disappeared into the darkness before I could decide what to do. I stood there, frozen, my mind running through questions I didn’t have answers to.

My knees buckled, and I sat on the edge of the bed. Its secrets were still uncovered, and the laptop sat on the desk. I looked at it, Rowan’s name mocking me. What game was he playing? How much longer could I dig before I found something I couldn’t handle?

Outside, the shadow had faded, but its dread, no. I felt truly alone for the first time. Whatever Rowan was tied to, to whatever darkness, it was bigger than I'd supposed. And now it was closing in.