Chapter 53

NADIA'S POV

Without wasting a second, I grabbed my phone and dialed Max’s number. My hands were slightly shaky, but I ignored it.

It rang twice before he picked up.

“What is it?” Max’s voice was sharp and impatient.

“Keep your voice down!” I whispered, sitting on the edge of my bed. “I overheard something earlier, and it’s important.”

“What did you hear?” Max demanded.

“My mom was talking to Mrs. Johnson,” I began, lowering my voice even more. “She mentioned Richard and Tammie’s wedding. It’s going to happen soon.”

Max paused for a moment. “Did she say when? Has the date been fixed?”

“I… I’m not sure,” I admitted. “She didn’t mention a specific date. Just that it’s happening soon.”

There was another pause on his end, and I could almost feel his frustration through the phone.

“Figure it out,” he snapped. “I don’t care how you do it, Nadia, but you need to find out the details and make sure this wedding doesn’t happen. That’s an order.”

An order? My blood boiled at his tone.

“Max, I…”

But he didn’t let me finish.

“Do whatever it takes. And don’t call me again until you have something useful to tell me.”

Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at the phone in disbelief.

“How dare he?” I muttered under my breath, tossing the phone onto my bed. The nerve of Max, ordering me around like I was some kind of servant!

I crossed my arms, fuming. But then, as the anger simmered, a smile crept onto my face.

“Fine,” I murmured to myself. “I’ll do it, but not just for Max. This is for me too.”

Destroying Richard and Tammie’s wedding would serve my own purposes. It wasn’t just about following Max’s orders.

I had my own reasons for wanting to see their so-called perfect union crumble.

Before I could dwell on it further, my phone buzzed. Picking it up, I saw Stanley’s name on the screen. My elder brother.

“Stanley?” I said, answering the call quickly.

“Nadia,” his voice was calm but had a serious undertone. “I need to talk to you.”

“What about?” I asked, my heart beginning to race.

He hesitated, and in that moment, I knew something was wrong.

“Nadia, listen carefully…”

MAX'S POV.

I pushed open the side door of the company building, stepping into the slightly lit hallway with deliberate quiet. My heart was pounding against my ribs, but I kept my face calm, my demeanor composed.

It was well past working hours, and the office was nearly deserted except for the occasional security guard patrolling the premises. That was the plan.

“Good evening, Mr. Max,” a voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see one of the security officers giving me a salute. His sharp gaze lingered on me for a beat too long.

“Good evening,” I replied, my tone measured.

“It’s late, sir,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Didn’t expect to see you back here.”

“I forgot my phone in my office,” I said smoothly, forcing my tone to remain casual. “Just came back to get it. Won’t take long.”

The suspicion in his face faded, replaced with a respectful nod. “Of course, sir. Take your time.”

I nodded in return and walked past him, my back straight, my steps deliberate. I could feel his gaze on me as I moved down the hallway.

Respect…earned through my position…was a useful shield tonight, but I couldn’t afford to relax just yet.

When I reached my office, I slid the key into the lock, the soft click echoing unnervingly in the empty space.

I stepped inside, the familiar scent of polished wood and leather wrapping around me like a false sense of comfort.

Shutting the door, I moved quickly to my desk, crouching down to open the bottom drawer. My hands trembled slightly as I slid the hidden compartment open, revealing the contract file I’d been hiding for months.

“There you are,” I murmured, staring at the plain cover. My mind raced.

The security guard. The cameras. They’d seen me enter. If anyone found this file or even suspected I had taken something out, there would be questions…questions I couldn’t answer.

I needed a solution. Fast.

I began unbuttoning my shirt, my fingers moving with a mix of haste and precision. I slipped the file under my undershirt, flattening it against my chest.

The paper’s edges scratched against my skin, but I ignored the discomfort. Once the file was secure, I buttoned my shirt back up, straightened my tie, and took a deep, steadying breath.

“Stay calm,” I whispered to myself. “No one will suspect anything.”

Stepping out of the office, I locked the door behind me and started down the hallway, my pace brisk, my shoes clicking softly against the tiled floor.

The stillness of the air and the faint hum of the air conditioning felt oppressive, suffocating.

“Mr. Max?”

I froze, my breath hitching. Slowly, I turned to see the chief security officer approaching from the far end of the hallway.

“Evening,once again” I said, forcing a smile that I prayed looked natural.

“Good evening, sir,” he replied with a respectful nod. “Everything alright? Thought you’d left hours ago.”

“Yes, I did,” I said smoothly, keeping my tone even. “But I forgot my phone in my office. Just came back to get it.”

The officer nodded, his expression neutral but thankfully devoid of suspicion. “Understood, sir. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” I replied, starting to walk away again.

Each step brought me closer to the exit. My pulse was finally beginning to steady when, without warning, I felt it…the contract file shift under my shirt. The file slipped free and fell to the ground with a soft, damning thud.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart slamming against my chest.

“What was that?” the chief security officer called from behind me.

Panic surged through me as I turned to face him.

Then I knew that I'm in trouble not just trouble but will be going to prison for trying to steal from the company.