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 144: A Dangerous GambleTania stepped through the glass doors of Vega’s towering headquarters, her expression calm and composed, even as her pulse hammered in her chest. A floor of immaculate marble reflected harsh overhead lighting; every sound in the large lobby seemed magnified: the clinking of heels, the quiet hum of distant conversations, the faint rustle of papers being shuffled. She held her head high, squared her back, and masked the rising unease beneath her exterior. Every step felt like a gamble, a delicate dance where one misstep could expose her.“Ms. Roberto,” the receptionist greeted, her polished smile just as rehearsed as Tania’s demeanor. “Mr. Vega is currently in a meeting. Please have a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here.” Tania offered a tight smile in return. “Of course. Thank you.”She entered the waiting area and sat in one of the plush armchairs. This was a modern sleek decor with glass walls and chrome accents, impersonal-almost clinical.
Chapter 145: The Final StrikeTania’s breath came in ragged gasps as she darted through the crowded streets, her pulse thundering in her ears. Behind her, the noise at Vega's headquarters became even more muffled, but she didn't dare take her foot off the pedal. Her heels hit the pavement, her hold on her purse solidifying; the external drive containing Vega's secrets rested well and truly safe inside. Down a quiet alley she went, now allowing herself to stop and lean her back against the wall.Her chest heaved, air sucking in as her mind whirled through a mess of fear and relief. She had done it, just barely. "Don't look back," she muttered, forcing herself to move again. The streets blurred together as she headed towards Miguel and Ximena's office, clutching the stolen files to her like a lifeline.When Tania burst into the boardroom at Antonio's Group, Miguel and Ximena looked up in surprise. In an instant, suspicion etched itself into Ximena's face, while concern furrowed M
Chapter 146: Picking Up the PiecesXimena paced her office, but the tension in her shoulders just wouldn't leave now that Vega was finally behind bars. The last weeks had been a whirlwind that had shaken Antonio's Group, but had left them victorious. But despite the relief after seeing Vega's empire dismantled, Ximena couldn't shut out the feeling of unease that gnawed at her."Why do I feel like this isn't over?" she whispered to herself, her eyes straying to the hustle and bustle of the city outside her window. A knock at the door swept her from her musings. "Come in," she called out, rectifying her posture to an upright position. Miguel entered the room, his face stern yet composed. He carried a file under his arm, his demeanor a mix of friendliness and determination."You didn't come to celebrate," he said, his tone soft, yet playful. Ximena managed a small smile. "There's still so much to be done. Vega might be out of the picture, but the damage he created won't vanish in o
Chapter 147: Exposing IntentionsXimena’s gaze remained fixed on the papers scattered across her desk, her fingers gripping the edge tightly. She had spent the last hour reviewing updates from Clara and speaking with trusted board members, but no amount of progress in rebuilding Antonio's Group could shake her frustration. Tania's meddling had cast a shadow over her achievements, and the whispers about her leadership weren't something she could ignore. A sharp knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. "Come in," she said curtly.Miguel came in; his face showed reserve, but his eyes showed worry. "I just spoke to Clara. She talked about the rumors milling around about you." Ximena blew out a deep breath, slumping back in her chair. "So now you know. And let me guess, Clara didn't have to say who started them, did she?" Miguel closed the door behind him and crossed the room to stand beside her desk. "It's Tania, right?"“Who else?” Ximena replied, her voice tinged with bit
Chapter 148: Shadows of DoubtXimena sat in her office, her fingers drumming nervously against the polished mahogany desk. The gentle hum of the air conditioner filled the space as she stared at the towering stack of papers that lay before her. No matter how hard she tried, her mind strayed to the uneasy sense that had been growing in her now for days. Something wasn't right."Miss Antonio, are you okay?" Clara's voice cut into her reverie as she entered the room carrying a clipboard.Ximena blinked, forcing a tight smile. "I'm fine. Just tired." Clara nodded, but the furrows in her brow didn't disappear. "Let me know if you need anything before I head out for the night." "Thanks, Clara."As the door clicked shut, Ximena let out a long sigh. She wasn't fine. The strange sensation of being watched had been creeping up on her for weeks.First, it was the unfamiliar car parked outside her apartment. Then, the same car appeared near Antonio’s Group on multiple occasions. She shoo
Chapter 149: Seeds of DoubtMiguel leaned against the railing of the balcony, looking out at the glittering city skyline. But his mind was miles away from this view. Ximena had been in his mind all day, the distant tone in her voice when they had spoken last, gnawing at him. He let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.He had tried everything to rebuild her trust, but the walls she had built around herself seemed higher than ever. "This isn't how it's supposed to be," he muttered. A buzz from his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. It was an invitation to a company event the next evening.He had not planned on going, but immediately the image of Ximena got him to change his mind. ---The next afternoon, Ximena entered Antonio's Group, holding her purse tight in her fist. Clara greeted but the words did not even reach Ximena.The sinister sensation of the last night was still present, and the dark figure she had seen stood forcefully in her memory."Good morning, Miss An
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