Chapter 68

MAX POV

"Max," the voice on the other end said, a note of urgency in his tone. "We’ve got a problem. Mr. Jacob got his hands on another copy of the contract file."

My stomach tightened, but I kept my voice steady. "Don’t worry about it," I said. "I already signed the contract and collected the money. Jacob’s too late."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Positive," I replied, a smirk forming on my lips. "I made my move before he even knew what was happening."

As I ended the call, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. "Outsmarted you again, Jacob," I muttered.

I walked back into the living room, my confidence radiating. My mother and Anya looked at me expectantly, their curiosity still burning.

I didn’t say a word, letting the happiness of the moment hang in the air.

Inside, though, my mind was already racing. If Jacob had another copy of the contract, things could get complicated when he tries to get the money and find out that it is all gone.

NADIA'S POINT OF VIEW

It was already in the early morning and Alisha, Carl the truck driver and I were outside at the expressway Richard takes to work and to some places.

The three of us were all there as we waited for Richard to get into view.

"Are you sure he's going to come this way?" Alisha's voice broke the stillness of the early morning.

Her tone was high, more like someone with doubt and impatience with doubt as she shifted in the driver's seat of the red car.

I glanced at her, barely looking out her features as my eyes were focused on the road of where Richard will be coming through.

"I told you, Alisha. He always takes this route. It’s the quickest way to his office and to some places he loves."

She sighed, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. "I get that, but we've been here for hours, Nadia. What if he changed his plans today?"

I bit my lip, fighting the frustration bubbling inside me. "He won't, by the way he is invited to a business Japanese ball party anyway forget about it. "

I said firmly before I remembered that Alisha wouldn't know the party I'm talking about because she isn't from wealth. "This is the only road he uses at this hour. We just need to wait a little longer."

Behind us, the truck driver, a burly man named Carl, leaned against the hood of his vehicle, stretching his arms.

"Ladies, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not a patient man," he said, his voice gravelly from years of smoking. "This plan of yours better work."

"It will," I said, my voice sharper than I intended. "Just stick to your position, Carl. We’re counting on you."

He grunted but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back toward the expressway, scanning the horizon like the rest of us.

The expressway stretched ahead, winding up a gentle hill. Trees lined both sides, their dark silhouettes looking like a silent cave.

There must have been hundreds of them…oak, pine, and a few scattered maples. The road and the hill gave the area a very quiet environment, secluded feel, perfect for what we were about to do.

"How many trees are out here, anyway?" Alisha asked, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"Too many to count," I replied absently, my eyes fixed on the road. "But that’s not the point. Focus, Alisha."

She huffed, crossing her arms. "I’ve been focusing all night. I’m just saying, this whole thing feels... I don’t know, risky."

"It is risky," I admitted, my gaze shifting to the makeshift trap we’d set up. With Carl’s help, I’d managed to cut a large branch off one of the trees closest to the road.

We’d tied it securely with a rope, the other end anchored by a heavy rock. All it would take was a sharp pull, and the branch would fall directly onto the road, blocking Richard’s path and his front car screen.

"Why do you think he’ll even stop if the tree falls? Or if the tree's fell on his front screen? It may make him not see where he is driving to." Alisha asked, skepticism dripping from her words.

"Because he’s Richard," I said simply. "He won’t leave a problem unsolved. He’ll stop, get out, and try to move it. That’s when we’ll strike."

Alisha frowned but didn’t argue further. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, staring out at the road. "I hope you’re right," she muttered under her breath.

The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. The sun was beginning to rise, as it shines a faint golden glow over the landscape. The birds had started chirping, their songs breaking the oppressive silence.

"How much longer do we have to wait?" Carl called out from his spot near the truck.

"Until he shows up," I replied without turning around.

"And what if he doesn’t?"

"He will," I snapped, more to convince myself than anyone else.

Alisha groaned, throwing her hands in the air. "I can’t take this anymore, Nadia. What if Richard took a different route? What if he’s already passed? We’ve been here since five in the morning!"

"Alisha, calm down," I said, my voice low but firm. "I’ve explained this to you before. Richard’s routine is predictable. He always takes this route. We just need to stay patient."

"Patient?" she echoed, her voice rising. "We’ve been patient! And for what? A plan that might not even work?"

"Alisha," I said, turning to face her, "we’ve come this far. Are you really going to give up now?"

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she stared out at the road, her fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Carl let out a low whistle. "Tension’s getting thick over there," he remarked.

"Just focus on your part of the plan," I shot back, my patience wearing thin.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, boss lady. Whatever you say."