Chapter 22: Shadows in the Boardroom

The walls of Byrne Enterprises seemed to close in on Isabella as the pieces of her plan began to shift in ways she hadn’t anticipated. The anonymous note from the previous day still burned in her thoughts. Who else was after Ryan? And what did they want from her?

Sitting in her office, she tried to focus on the mountain of work in front of her. The Hathaway deal was proving to be a labyrinth of lies, and every uncovered discrepancy only raised more questions. But it wasn’t just Hathaway she had to worry about. Ryan’s growing suspicion, the mysterious message, and Lara’s warning all loomed over her like a dark cloud.

I’m not walking away, she reminded herself. Not until he pays for what he did to my family.

Later that morning, Isabella attended a meeting scheduled by Victor. It was unusual for Victor to call her directly, and the cryptic tone of his email had her on edge.

When she arrived at the conference room, she noticed an unfamiliar figure seated across the table—a man with sharp features, neatly combed black hair, and a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Victor stood to address the room. “Everyone, meet Dominic Chase. Mr. Chase is an independent financial investigator hired by Mr. Byrne to assist with the Hathaway situation.”

The announcement caught Isabella off guard. Ryan never mentioned bringing in an outsider. She shot him a questioning look, but his expression was as impassive as ever.

Dominic extended his hand to Isabella. “Miss King, I’ve heard a lot about you. Your work on Hathaway is impressive.”

She forced a polite smile and shook his hand. “Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”

But inside, her mind was racing. Another investigator? This can’t be a coincidence.

The meeting progressed with Dominic presenting a summary of his findings so far. His analysis was meticulous, even uncovering details Isabella had deliberately left vague in her reports.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Dominic. “You’ve given us a lot to think about, Mr. Chase. But I’ll need more specifics before we move forward.”

“Understood,” Dominic replied smoothly. “I’ll coordinate with Miss King to finalize the details.”

Isabella stiffened but nodded. “Of course. Let me know when you’re ready.”

After the meeting, Isabella cornered Victor in the hallway.

“Why bring in Dominic Chase?” she demanded, her voice low but firm. “I had the Hathaway situation under control.”

Victor raised an eyebrow. “This wasn’t my decision. Mr. Byrne requested him personally. He believes an independent perspective will expedite the process.”

Isabella clenched her fists. Of course Ryan didn’t trust her entirely. He was testing her—probing for weaknesses.

She returned to her office, her thoughts a whirlwind. She couldn’t let Dominic derail her plans. If he dug too deep, he might uncover things that would destroy everything she’d worked for.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts. Dominic stood in the doorway, holding a file.

“Mind if I come in?” he asked.

Isabella hesitated but nodded. “What can I do for you?”

Dominic stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He placed the file on her desk and sat across from her.

“I wanted to discuss something privately,” he began, his tone unreadable. “The Hathaway case is... complicated, and I’ve noticed some unusual patterns in the data you’ve provided.”

Her pulse quickened. “Unusual how?”

“For starters, some of the connections you’ve made are almost too precise. It’s as if you already knew where to look.”

Isabella forced a laugh. “That’s my job—to anticipate problems before they arise.”

Dominic leaned back, studying her. “I’m not accusing you of anything, Miss King. But I do find it intriguing.”

“Then maybe you should focus on Hathaway instead of me,” she said, her tone sharper than intended.

Dominic’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Touché. But let’s not forget—we’re on the same side here.”

He stood and walked to the door, pausing before he left. “By the way, I couldn’t help but notice the anonymous note in your desk. Interesting choice to keep it.”

Isabella’s blood ran cold. By the time she composed herself to respond, Dominic was already gone.

Ryan Byrne sat in his office, reviewing Dominic’s preliminary findings. The man was good—too good, perhaps. He had unearthed details that even his internal team hadn’t caught.

But it wasn’t Dominic that occupied Ryan’s thoughts. It was Isabella.

There was something about her that didn’t add up. She was brilliant, no doubt, but her instincts were almost... unnatural. And then there was her behavior. She was confident yet cautious, as if she were playing a game only she understood.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening. He had spent his entire career learning to read people, to predict their moves before they made them. But Isabella King was a mystery he couldn’t quite solve.

“Victor,” he called, and his assistant appeared within moments.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get me everything you can find on Isabella King. I don’t care how deep you have to dig—just find me something.”

Victor hesitated, sensing the gravity of the request. “Understood, sir.”

As Victor left, Ryan turned his chair to face the city skyline. His mind was a storm of suspicion and curiosity. He didn’t know what Isabella was hiding, but he was determined to find out.

That evening, Isabella returned to her penthouse, exhaustion weighing on her. She poured herself a glass of wine and sank into the couch, trying to calm her nerves.

Her reprieve was short-lived. Her phone buzzed with a new message:

Dominic isn’t who he says he is. Be careful.

Her heart skipped a beat. She stared at the screen, the wine glass trembling in her hand. Another warning? From who?

Before she could respond, her intercom buzzed. She walked to the panel and saw Dominic standing in the lobby, his expression calm but unreadable.

“Miss King,” he said through the speaker. “We need to talk.”

Isabella hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her not to let him in, but she couldn’t afford to show fear.

She pressed the button to unlock the door.

“Come in,” she said, her voice steady.

As Dominic stepped into her penthouse, the tension between them was palpable. Isabella stood her ground, determined to uncover his true intentions before he uncovered hers.