Sixty

CHAPTER 60

Morning at Antonio’s residence was as quiet as usual. Cassandra sat in the living room with a cup of coffee that was nearly untouched. Her thoughts lingered on the confrontation with Ben the night before. His scornful gaze, veiled warnings, and the way he kept watching her left Cassandra feeling more unsettled than ever. However, amidst the unease, Cassandra realized that all of this was just part of the game she had to play.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, prompting Cassandra to turn. Ben appeared, his expression as neutral as always. This time, he approached directly without preamble.

“There’s something we need to discuss,” he said firmly.

Cassandra carefully set down her coffee cup, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. “Are you interrogating me now, Ben?” she asked sarcastically.

“I just want to make sure you understand where we stand,” Ben replied coldly. “Antonio trusts the people who work for him. But I’m not sure you’re on that list.”

Cassandra leaned closer, holding his gaze. “In that case, you should speak directly to Antonio about this. I’m sure he’d love to hear your thoughts.”

Ben let out a short, mirthless laugh. “You’re good with words, Cassandra. But this game won’t last much longer.”

Cassandra stood up and approached Ben. “If you have a problem with me, just say it. Don’t waste my time with vague threats.”

Ben stared at her for a moment before smirking. “Let’s see who falls first, Cassandra.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and left, leaving Cassandra simmering with restrained anger.

A few hours later, Cassandra decided to return to Antonio’s study. This time, she made sure Ben wasn’t nearby before entering. The room was just as she had left it. Cassandra immediately went to the desk and opened the hidden drawer she had found before. She carefully examined the notebook again, searching for entries she might have missed.

One page listed familiar names—officials and businessmen Cassandra had heard were associated with Antonio. However, there was nothing new or specific enough to serve as additional evidence.

Just as she was about to give up, something caught her eye at the back of the book: a small key tucked between the final pages. The key was unlabeled, but Cassandra was certain it was significant.

“What are you hiding, Antonio?” she muttered, slipping the key into her pocket.

That evening, Cassandra decided to visit Alexander again. She felt the need for another perspective on her next steps. When she arrived at the hospital, Alexander was sitting up in bed with a laptop resting on his lap.

“Cassandra,” Alexander greeted her with a smile. “You look more anxious than usual. What’s going on?”

Cassandra sat in the chair beside his bed. “I found something,” she said, pulling the small key from her pocket. “I don’t know what this key unlocks, but I’m sure it’s important.”

Alexander took the key and examined it closely. “It’s probably for a safe or a secured room,” he guessed. “Antonio must be hiding something very confidential.”

“That’s what I think,” Cassandra replied. “But I have to figure out what this key unlocks before Antonio returns.”

Alexander looked at her seriously. “You need to be careful. If Antonio finds out you’ve been tampering with his belongings, he won’t hesitate to stop you.”

Cassandra nodded. “I know the risks, Alex. But this is the only way to expose everything.”

They discussed the matter late into the night. Alexander tried to offer his best advice, though he knew Cassandra would take any risks necessary to achieve her goal.

The following morning, Cassandra began searching Antonio’s house for places the key might fit. She checked each room, staying calm to avoid drawing the attention of Ben or the other staff.

Finally, she discovered a small door in the basement that seemed unusual. The key fit perfectly into the lock. Carefully, Cassandra turned the key and opened the door. Inside, she found a small room filled with documents, storage boxes, and electronic devices.

Cassandra quickly started examining the contents. She found contracts, financial transactions, and records linking Antonio to various crimes. One document detailed the murder of Michael Foster, including the payment made to the executor.

“This is more than enough,” Cassandra murmured, taking photos of each document with her phone.

However, before she could finish, the sound of footsteps approached the basement. Cassandra quickly turned off the lights and hid behind one of the shelves.

Ben appeared in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room suspiciously. “Who’s here?” he called out sharply.

Cassandra held her breath, doing her best to remain completely silent. Ben stepped inside, methodically checking the room. After several tense minutes, he finally left, closing the door behind him.

Cassandra waited a moment before emerging from her hiding spot. Knowing her time was limited, she quickly exited the room and locked the door again. With the documents in her possession, she felt closer to uncovering the truth—but also closer to danger.

That night, Cassandra returned to her room with mixed emotions. She had secured vital evidence, but she knew the next steps would be even more perilous. Meanwhile, the growing tension with Ben made her feel increasingly threatened.

As she pondered her next move, a soft knock at the door startled her. Cassandra immediately stood and opened it. Ben was standing there, his expression more serious than usual.

“We need to talk,” he said bluntly.

Cassandra frowned. “I don’t know what else you want to discuss, Ben. I thought we were done this morning.”

Ben stepped inside uninvited, closing the door behind him. “You think I don’t know what you’re up to, Cassandra? You might be clever, but I’m smarter. You’re searching for something that doesn’t belong to you.”

Cassandra remained calm, though her heart raced. “If that’s an accusation, you’ll need proof. Otherwise, I’ll consider this an unnecessary interruption.”

Ben stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re playing with fire, Cassandra. And I’ll make sure Antonio knows who you really are.”

Cassandra stared at him intently. “If you really know Antonio, you’d know he wouldn’t appreciate empty theories without evidence. So stop wasting my time.”

Ben smirked before turning and leaving the room. Cassandra locked the door behind him, trying to steady her nerves. She knew her time to act was running out. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.