Chapter 54

"That Was Close"

“Sir, excuse me!

The deep voice startled me, echoing through the dark hallway. I stopped dead in my tracks, my breath hitching. Slowly, I turned around and saw the Chief Security Officer of the company standing a few feet away.

His torchlight pointed at the floor where my wallet lay, the brown leather gleaming faintly. My heart thumped painfully in my chest.

This wasn’t good. Not good at all.

Is that your wallet that just fell off?”

“Oh! Yes,” I said, forcing a laugh and stepping toward him. “That’s mine. I didn’t even realize it fell.”

The officer crouched down, as he picked up the wallet, and straightened, his torchlight shifting to my face. The beam made me squint, but I held still, forcing my body not to fidget. He was watching me closely now, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read me.

“Long night, huh?” he asked, his tone casual but probing.

“Yeah, long night,” I replied, nodding too quickly. “You know how it is. Just trying to get my phone, get my home and get some rest.”

His torchlight swept over me again. “What else fell? I thought I heard something else hit the floor.”

I froze, fighting the urge to glance at the dark corner where I’d kicked the contract file just moments ago. “No, no, just the wallet,” I said quickly. Too quickly.

He raised an eyebrow and took a step forward, shining the torchlight toward the corner. My chest tightened. I clenched my fists to stop them from shaking, trying to sound calm.

“Nothing else fell, I’m sure of it. I’m just really clumsy tonight.” I chuckled awkwardly.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he focused his torch on the shadows near the corner. For a moment, I thought it was over. He was going to see it…the file that shouldn’t have been here, the file I wasn’t supposed to have.

“Excuse me?” I said, my voice trembling slightly.

He looked up at me, his expression neutral. “Are you sure nothing else dropped? It sounded like…”

“I’m sure,” I interrupted, keeping my tone steady. “Just the wallet. Thanks for finding it. I would’ve been in a mess if I lost it.”

He lingered for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Alright. Be more careful next time, sir.”

“Absolutely. Thank you again.”

He turned around and walked off, the beam of his torchlight bouncing as he moved. I stayed rooted to the spot, holding my breath until he disappeared around the corner.

When the hallway was finally silent again, I exhaled shakily. My hands were trembling. My legs felt like they would give out any second.

“That was way too close,” I muttered to myself.

I turned to look at the corner where I’d kicked the file. It was still there, hidden in the shadows. My instincts had saved me, but just barely. If the Chief Security Officer had taken one more step, if his torchlight had hit the right spot…

Shaking my head, I forced myself to move. I walked over to the corner, crouched down, and carefully retrieved the file. The feel of the folder in my hands brought a strange mix of relief and anxiety. I clutched it tightly against my chest as if that would somehow keep it safe.

Straightening up, I glanced around one last time. The hallway was empty, but I still felt the weight of invisible eyes watching me. With quick, silent steps, I made my way to the exit.

The moment I stepped outside, the cool night air hit my face, and I took a deep breath. It felt like I’d been holding it in for hours. My heart was still pounding, but at least I was out of the building.

Walking briskly to my car, I tossed the file onto the passenger seat and slid in behind the wheel. I locked the doors immediately, gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled hands.

“That was close,” I said aloud, my voice shaking slightly.

I sat there for a moment, staring straight ahead. My mind replayed the events over and over, the tension in my chest refusing to ease. If the file had fallen in a brightly lit hallway, if there had been cameras in that area…

“Lucky,” I whispered. “So damn lucky.”

I glanced at the file, sitting there innocently on the seat. It was hard to believe that something so small could cause so much trouble. But I knew what was inside. I knew what it meant.

Starting the car, I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the quiet street. The city lights blurred past me as I drove, but my mind was elsewhere.

“First thing tomorrow,” I said under my breath, “I’m going to the hospital. I have to make sure everything’s okay.”

Her face filled my thoughts again…pale, tired, but still managing to smile at me. I gritted my teeth, gripping the wheel tighter. I couldn’t afford to fail. Not now.

The streets were nearly empty as I drove home. My thoughts spiraled, a mix of relief, guilt, and determination. I’d done what I had to do, but it wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.

When I finally pulled into my driveway, I killed the engine and sat there in silence. The file sat on the seat next to me, a constant reminder of everything I’d risked tonight.

“One step closer,” I said softly. “Just one step closer.”

I grabbed the file and got out of the car, walking to my front door. The house was dark, but that was normal. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, letting the familiar silence wrap around me.

But something felt off.

I stopped in the doorway, my hand still on the knob. The air felt heavier, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite explain. My pulse quickened.

“Is someone here?” I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible.

A creak from upstairs made me freeze. My breath caught in my throat.

“Hello?” I called out, my voice louder this time.

No response. Just the oppressive silence, broken only by the faint sound of my own breathing.

I tightened my grip on the file, my mind racing. Who could it be? What did they want? And how did they get in?