Chapter 136: Lines of DeceptionMiguel sat at his desk, his mind heavy with tension since the beginning of the day. First, it was the threatening messages to Ximena, which were unsettling; now he had another angle to contemplate-a batch of documents from Henry.The subject line had read:"For the Protection of Ximena," an unsolicited move by a man who had long kept himself aloof from the politics of business.Miguel passed the documents along to Ximena with a simple message: "Take a look at these when you have a minute."Within minutes, Ximena knocked on his door frame; her eyes were already filled with incredulity. She came in and closed the door behind her, looking at his expression for explanation. "You just sent me those documents from Henry?" she asked, brow furrowed while holding up her phone.Miguel nodded, gesturing her to his desk. "Yes. He says they contain critical details about Vega's takeover strategy, supposedly information he thinks we'll need to counter Vega's next mo
Chapter 137: Shadows in the DarkEvery word in the email's subject was a promise of retribution, spelling out in detail what was envisioned to happen if Antonio's Group continued to resist the influence of Vega.Miguel's hands clamped down on his desk as if to restrain himself. But his gut was screaming at him, to act now.He strode toward Ximena's office in rapid, determined steps. She was still hunched over her desk going over files under the muted office lights."Ximena," he said low but urgent.She looked up; instant concern flickered in her eyes as she took in his tense expression. "What's wrong?"He showed her the email, watching her face change from shock to steely determination. "So Vega's threatening me now?" she muttered, her tone barely containing the anger. Miguel nodded, his voice equally strained. "It would appear he is becoming desperate. I do not want you here alone-not with these threats hanging over us. We are increasing your security detail immediately."She shook h
Chapter 138: Shadows of BetrayalMiguel could feel the tension radiating through the air as he and Ximena prepared for their next meeting with Antonio’s Group’s core team. Every step toward unmasking the truth was like peeling away from hidden agendas and shadows.They'd tightened every security measure they could, yet it gnawed on him thinking that someone on the inside could be working against them.As they turned toward the conference room, Ximena stopped, staring off into space."The whole thing with Vega.... it's changed everything. I hate that we have to question people we once trusted."Miguel nodded, catching the tumult in her voice. "I know. But until we are sure, we can't take any chances. Vega has made it clear that he will exploit any weakness he finds."They entered the conference room, Ximena taking her seat at the head of the table with confidence belied by the tension in her features. A few board members filed in, one of them Henry who paid silent respect to Ximena b
Chapter 139: Boundaries of TrustMiguel couldn’t shake the tension lingering after the latest meeting with Henry. Whereas the older board member did give some critical information, the web of suspicion around them seemed to only thicken. It would seem with every new revelation to deal with that the walls of Antonio's Group closed in; the thin line between friend and foe increasingly harder to define. Determined to protect Ximena and the company, Miguel knew they'd have to tread carefully with every decision.Longer meetings and quieter strategy sessions in the privacy of Ximena's office had run the day. As night fell, she leaned back in her chair, massaging her temples. "I can't shake the feeling that we're running out of time," she admitted, her tone thick with frustration.Miguel watched her closely, his chest constricting where the fatigue was etched across her features. "We'll get through this," he told her with a calm, yet resolved tone. "But we cannot afford to miss one det
Chapter 140: Breaking the CircleThe tension in Antonio’s Group grew tighter with each passing day. The threat of Henry's betrayal hung in the air; Miguel couldn't help but look over his shoulder, even in private. Miguel paced back and forth across the floor of Ximena's office while his mind reeled with schemes on how to handle their multiplying suspicions. Ximena sat with her elbows propped on her desk, sharp-eyed, going over Clara's findings once again."We need more than suspicion," Ximena said without looking up. Her voice was steady, but her hands had tightened on the edge of the desk. "If we confront Henry without solid proof, we risk tipping off Vega and worse, we could lose whatever leverage we still have."Miguel nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "You're right. But we cannot afford to let this fester. If Henry's feeding Vega information, then we need to take action well before the quarterly report. We need proof, hard and clear."Ximena sank back in her chair, her gaze
Chapter 141: Trust ShatteredAcross from Henry sat Miguel, impassive. The older man leaned back in his chair, his impassive demeanor belying the tension in the room.Standing across the room by the window, Ximena clasped her arms tightly over her chest as she glared at the man she once considered a part of the trusted board membership.The evidence against him lay sprawled across the desk between them, staring in its simplicity yet damning in implications. "We know you've been accessing confidential files," Miguel began, his voice measured. "Files that were altered to mislead us and weaken Antonio's Group. Do you deny it?"Henry adjusted his tie, with a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "This is a serious accusation that you're making, Miguel, and I would advise you to be very careful with claims that you make without real evidence."Ximena took a step forward, her voice slicing. "We have all the evidence we need. Clara traced the access directly to your office. And these f
Chapter 142: A Calculated RiskBack at the Antonio's Group the next day, Miguel leaned back in his chair, still reeling over the tense café meeting he had with Amanda. Ximena paced restlessly across the room, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "I still don't trust her," she said, her voice a bit shrill. "She just comes out of nowhere, asking for a job, and suddenly she has all the answers? It doesn't sit right with me."Miguel nodded. His fingers drummed against the desk. "I understand. But Amanda's information corresponds too well with what we already know about Vega's financial moves. If she's lying, it's a damned calculated lie." Ximena stopped pacing, swinging to face him. "And if she's not lying? What's to stop Vega from retaliating the minute we act on her intel?"Miguel took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. "Nothing. Yet, if we don't do anything, Vega wins by default. We've come too far to turn back now." Ximena shook her head. For a moment, frustration flas
Chapter 143: A Dangerous PropositionXimena had barely settled into her chair when the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor drew her attention. She looked up to find Tania sauntering into the office, swaggering with confidence around her like a shield. Miguel glanced from Ximena to Tania, an eyebrow furrowing in silent question as to what was bringing her this time. "Good morning," Tania said, a breezy light, through her eyes darted between them, shining with a glint of determination."What do you want, Tania?" Ximena asked icily, leaning back in her chair, arms crossed. Tania smiled slightly, undaunted by Ximena's overt hostility. "Relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. As a matter of fact, I think you'll want to hear what I have to say." Miguel straightened, already wary. "We're listening."Tania leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if the walls could hear her. "I can help you take down Vega." Ximena allowed a bitter laugh to escape from her lips and shook her he
Chapter 165: The Final ReckoningThe night was unusually still, the quiet broken only by the occasional distant car passing by. Ximena had fallen into a light sleep, her body exhausted from the strain of the past few days. But the sudden sound of a floorboard creaking in her apartment jolted her awake.Her heartbeat made a sudden jump to her throat and she glanced toward the living room. The darkness caused by the streetlights outside only appeared to make things even more quiet.The man standing in the doorway leading into the living room was plain to see.Tania.She was standing there, gripping the gun firmly, her eyes were wide open and looked like they had gone mad. Ximena looked paralyzed with a cold feeling running around her body.“Well, well, here we are meeting in person,” Tania spat out her words and was clearly angry. “I knew this would be the moment every time. You never thought that I could do them, did you?”Ximena’s heart beat faster, but she did not allow her tone to
Chapter 164: A Dangerous EncounterMiguel’s fists connected with the first thug’s jaw with a sickening thud, sending the man stumbling back, his head snapping to the side. Ximena watched from her car, her breath caught in her throat. The sound of the scuffle was echoing down the alley, but she couldn't hear anything except for the pure power and perfection in Miguel's movements.He moved like a force of nature: his muscular frame twisting and turning, his every strike landing with purpose. The men surrounding him tried to overpower him, but Miguel was relentless, fury behind each punch.The night air crackled with energy, and Ximena felt a weird mix of terror and awe. She'd never seen this side of him before, yet it didn't faze her.It was the man she'd married once; the man who would go to any length to protect what he loved.In one leap, one of the thugs pounced on him with a crowbar. However, Miguel was quicker, dodging and managing to sweep a leg to drop him to the ground. In o
Chapter 163: The Return of TaniaShe stared at the photo in her hand, her heart racing wildly. How had they gotten this photo? Who watched her? She felt her stomach clench as the creeping feeling of vulnerability clawed at her.Miguel had been supportive, but even his presence could not erase the gnawing anxiety that had settled deep inside her. She could still feel the weight of his comforting words from earlier, but they did little to quell the storm brewing in her mind.Tania had kept silent for too long, and now it was as if the calm had been no more than the quiet before the storm.Miguel had insisted on staying the night, refusing to let Ximena face this alone. Now, as they sat together in her living room, Miguel was talking about taking extra precautions for her safety, adding security to her apartment, increasing surveillance around the office, but Ximena wasn't fully listening.She had heard the same promises before, and while she appreciated them, she couldn’t help but fe
Chapter 162: Shadows ReturnThe next morning, Ximena was back to work, sitting at her desk, her hands fastened on the lid of the portable computer, her fingers drumming the wooden top of the laptop. He had seen her typing away again, probably trying to complete the quarterly reports so that the board meeting in the morning would not consume all the time. Her head was not in the numbers; she was constantly thinking about the peculiarities that had been bothering her all week.The first time she’d noticed it, she thought that perhaps she was imagining it. He had seen a black sedan parked across the street from her building for two consecutive days and the face of the driver was hidden behind the tinted glass. It could have been nothing, but then there were the phone calls; two in the last two days; both of which rang only twice before the line went dead as soon as she picked up.She tried to dismiss it as a mere fluke and went on to telling herself that there was really no need for
Chapter 161: A New NormalXimena sat down comfortably in her chair and looked at the numbers that target the company’s financial performance in the following quarter. The numbers, as he could see, were fine, were good, in fact, were more than good. The Group was on its way up again in Antonio’s life. Things were finally getting a little less insane, and Ximena was able to concentrate.This lack of drama seemed to them in some way wrong, even unnatural. Living on a daily edge, ready to face the next storm, she found the lack of tumult... dangerous. But was this not what she had wanted?Her phone was ringing on the desk and she had to remove herself from her line of thinking. A message from Clara lit up the screen: “Meeting at 11:30. Coffee on the way.”Ximena, still smiling, thanked her. “Thanks, lifesaver.”Clara was not wrong, after a year, the world seemed to have returned to its normal state.Miguel came to see her later in the morning that same day with a box of pastries and a
Chapter 160: Shadows Closing InMiguel paced back and forth, his frustration evident in the sharp clicks of his shoes against the polished floor. “She’s up to something. She always is. But I can’t risk dismissing this if it’s tied to Vega.”Ximena crossed her arms over her chest, easing back into her chair. "You're giving her too much credit. This is Tania we're talking about; a master manipulator. She wants you to believe she's our ally just so she can stay close."Miguel stopped pacing and faced her. "What if this time she's telling the truth?"What if she isn't?" Ximena shot back. "Every time we let her in, she leaves chaos in her wake."______________________________________Late that afternoon, Gregorio joined them in Ximena's office. His arrival brought much-needed clarity, though his face was as tense as theirs."I did some digging after Tania's sudden appearance," Gregorio began, placing a file on the desk. "And it seems she's not bluffing entirely."Ximena's eyes slitted a
Chapter 159: A Desperate MoveTania hesitated for a moment before turning on her heel and walking away, her laughter echoing in the empty street.Miguel turned to Ximena, his jaw tight. “Are you okay?”Ximena nodded, though her hands were still trembling. “Let’s just go.”…………………………………..Ximena was staring out the window of Miguel's car. Her reflection fluttered with the streetlights as they speed-crossed the city.Miguel has his hands clutched tight over the wheel. His knuckles were white. He glanced over to her and his jaw clenched. "You haven't said a word since we left. What is going on inside that head of yours?""What's the word of the day?" Ximena replied in a quiet tone. "That I don't want to play this any longer? That I'm tired of being a target?"Miguel let out a soft breath, his eyes remaining on the road. "You are not alone in this, you know that, right?"Ximena looked at him. "Do I? Because lately, it's feeling like I'm fighting for myself."Miguel was thinking of a come
Chapter 158: Countdown to ChaosSleep was out of the question. Ximena’s instincts told her this was more than another scare tactic.By the time the sun rose, she was already seated at her dining table with her laptop open and a steaming cup of coffee beside her. The clock ticked ominously as if counting down to an unseen disaster.Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. Miguel’s name lit up the screen.“Morning,” she said, trying to mask her exhaustion.“Did you sleep at all?” Miguel’s voice was tinged with concern.“Not really,” she admitted, rubbing her temples. “The message... I can’t stop thinking about it.”“Neither can I,” Miguel said. “But we have a plan, Ximena. We’re ahead of them.”“Are we?” Ximena asked, doubt creeping into her voice. “Or are we just reacting to whatever they throw at us?”Miguel caught himself and responded in a lower tone. "Meet me at Antonio's Group. Gregorio probably has more news for us."______________________________________The middle o
Chapter 157: Tightening the GripXimena sat at her desk, staring blankly at her calendar. She'd spent all morning moving meetings around, trying to make sense of a schedule that had begun to feel utterly meaningless under the mounting threats.A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Clara peeked in, the shine gone now from her face since the events of the past couple of days."Miss Antonio, Gregorio is here," Clara said quietly.Ximena nodded, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Send him in.”Gregorio entered, his ever-practical briefcase in hand. “Morning, Miss Antonio. Miguel should be joining us shortly. We’ve got some developments you’ll want to hear about.”Ximena gestured for him to sit. “Developments?”Before he could answer, Miguel strode into the room, his expression grim but focused.“Let’s hear it,” Miguel said, taking a seat beside Ximena.Gregorio opened his briefcase, pulled out a few files, and laid them across the desk. "We have located Vega's