*Chapter 22: The Unexpected Encounter*
As Sophia walked into the journalist's office, she was taken aback by the unexpected guest. Sitting in the chair across from the journalist's desk was none other than Marcus, Alexander's best friend and confidant.
Marcus's eyes locked onto Sophia's, and he smiled smugly. "Well, well, well," he said. "Look what we have here."
Sophia's instincts told her that something was off. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Marcus leaned back in his chair. "I've been working with Rachel here to uncover some dirt on Alexander's family," he said. "But I think we might have stumbled upon something even bigger."
Rachel, the journalist, nodded in agreement. "Marcus has been a huge help in our investigation," she said. "He's been providing us with valuable information about Alexander's family's business dealings."
Sophia's mind was racing. Why was Marcus working with Rachel? And what did he hope to gain from it?
Alexander's expression was tense. "What's going on, Marcus?" he asked. "Why are you working with Rachel?"
Marcus shrugged. "I'm just trying to do what's best for the company," he said. "And if that means exposing some dirty secrets, so be it."
Sophia wasn't convinced. She knew that Marcus was ambitious, but she also knew that he was fiercely loyal to Alexander. So why was he working against him now?
As they talked, Sophia realized that Marcus might be more involved in the scheme than she initially thought. And she wasn't sure if she could trust him.
"Let's get to the point," Rachel said, interrupting the tension. "We have evidence that suggests Alexander's family is involved in some shady dealings. And we think you might be in danger, Sophia."
Sophia's heart skipped a beat. What did Rachel mean? And what kind of evidence did they have?
As they discussed the details, Sophia realized that she and Alexander were in grave danger. And they needed to act fast to protect themselves.