♣ CHAPTER 18 ♣
Kate couldn't sleep. Her chest was too tight, her head is too loud. The message from the unknown number and the strange phone call with her uncle still played in her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her parents' faces. She needed answers.
At exactly 3:12 AM, Kate slipped out of bed, pulled on a hoodie, and left her room. She moved quietly through the hallways of the penthouse. William's home office was always locked—but she had watched him enough times to know where he kept the spare key.
She stepped in with her heart pounding.
The room smelled like leather and cold air. She moved straight to the filing cabinet. Row after row of folders. She flipped through until she saw the label—Chambers Corporation: 2017–2021.
Her hands trembled as she opened it. Her eyes scanned the first page.
"Internal Risk Report. December 2020."
She flipped to the next page. Then another. It mentioned her uncle's name. It mentioned withheld funds. Stolen shares. Internal tampering.
She gasped.
"I thought you were asleep."
Kate turn around.
William stood by the door. He was barefoot, arms folded, and his face blank.
She froze. "I—"
"Looking for something?" he asked coldly.
Kate held the file tight. "Why do you have this?"
"That's my office. My file. Why are you sneaking around?"
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Her voice cracked.
William stepped in slowly. "Because it wasn't confirmed. I didn't want to drop a bomb without proof."
"You knew my uncle was involved in stealing from my parents' company and you said nothing?"
"I said I wasn't sure."
"That's not your decision to make!" she shouted.
William walked closer. "It is when you're rushing into a fire without armor."
"They were my parents!"
"And you think I don't know what that means to you?" William growled. "You think I enjoy watching you get dragged deeper into this mess?"
"Then help me!" she yelled. "Don't keep secrets!"
"I was trying to protect you."
"I don't need your protection, William. I need the truth."
He stared at her for a long second. "If you want the truth, then stop sneaking behind my back."
"And if you want my trust," she whispered, "stop treating me like I'm fragile."
They stared at each other. Their Breath came heavy. Their Hearts louder than silence.
William finally said, "You should go to bed."
Kate clutched the folder. "I'm taking this."
He nodded once. "Fine. But don't do this alone."
—
The next morning, Kate entered her company office sharp and alert. Her assistant, a young lady named Joyce, met her at the door.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Morning, Joyce."
"I've set up your schedule," Joyce said, handing her a tablet. "You have a board meeting at eleven, review with finance at one, and the investor report summary by four. Also—your uncle's assistant came by early this morning. He said Mr. Thomas asked him to deliver some papers. I left them on your desk."
Kate's heart skipped. "Did he say what they were?"
"No. Just said it was urgent."
"Okay. Thank you, Joyce."
—
Later that afternoon, Kate reviewed the files left by her uncle. Something felt off. The font. The seals. But everything looked clean on the surface. She sent the documents to the board directors as instructed.
An hour later, her phone buzzed. She picked it up quickly.
"Kate?" It was one of the board members. Mr. Duncan. "Did you review the files before you sent them?"
"I did," she said, sounding confused.
"Then we have a serious problem. These documents are fake."
"What?"
"The numbers don't match our reports. The signatures are off. Kate... we just presented false records to our investors."
Her stomach twisted. "That's not possible. I triple-checked—"
"You missed something. Or someone swapped them."
She shot to her feet. "How much damage?"
"Half a billion."
Kate gasped. "No. No. That can't be—"
"You need to fix this. Now."
He hung up.
Kate stood frozen. Then stormed out of her office.
—
Back at the penthouse, she burst into William's office again. He looked up from his desk.
"Kate?"
"You were right," she said breathlessly. "He swapped the documents. My uncle. I sent fake ones to the board."
William stood. "What?"
"My company... we lost half a billion. Investors are pulling back."
William's face darkened. "When did he send those files?"
"This morning. Through his assistant."
William picked up his phone immediately. "We're not letting this slide."
She shook her head. "I feel so stupid."
"Stop. You're not stupid."
"I should've seen it. I knew he was hiding something. I knew it!"
William walked up to her. "We'll fix this. You're not alone in this fight."
"I can't trust anyone right now," she whispered.
"You can trust me," he said softly.
She looked into his eyes. "Then prove it."
"I will."
—
Meanwhile, across the town, Tina and her new boyfriend Raymond laughed over dessert at a cozy Italian place.
"You're glowing," Raymond teased.
Tina grinned. "I think it's the wine."
"Nope. It's me."
She giggled. "Confident, aren't you?"
He leaned closer. "I've never met anyone like you. You're wild. Smart and Real."
Tina blushed. "You're not bad yourself."
They clinked glasses.
But Tina's phone buzzed. She glanced at it. Kate's name.
Her smile faded.
She opened the message: |"I need you. Now."|
"I have to go." Tina said.
"Go…where?"
"My friend needs me, she's in need of my help."
"Who is that your friend?"
"I'll explain to you later, but I have to go." She answered and pecked him on the cheek.
Raymond sighed and watch her off as she run toward the parking lot.
---
Tina rushed into Kate's office, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
"Kate! What happened? I came as fast as I could."
Kate stood by the window, her arms folded tight across her chest. Her eyes were red, but no tears fell.
"He did it, Tina," she said without turning around.
"Who?"
"My uncle. He swapped the documents. I sent the fake ones to the board."
Tina blinked. "What?"
Kate turned slowly. "Half a billion. Gone. Just like that."
Tina gasped. "Oh my God. Are you serious?"
Kate nodded slowly. "Now the board is doubting me. The investors... they're pulling out."
"This is bad."
Kate laughed bitterly. "Bad? It's a disaster."
"Have you told William?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
Kate hesitated. "He said I should've waited. That I should've trusted him."
Tina sighed. "He's not wrong."
"I know."
There was a knock on the door. Kate get tensed. "Come in."
Joyce peeked in. "Ma'am... your uncle's on the line."
Kate's jaw clenched. "Tell him I'm not available."
"Yes, ma'am."
Tina crossed her arms. "What now?"
"I fight back."
"How?"
"I want the CCTV from this morning. I want to see who touched my desk. Then I'll call for a board meeting. I'll tell them everything."
"That's risky."
Kate walked to her chair and sat down. "He wanted to ruin me. Now, I want him to see what it feels like when I don't back down."
Tina touched her hand. "Whatever you do, I'm with you."
Kate nodded. "Thanks."
Tina stood. "Now... how about you get some air before you explode?"
Kate managed a small smile. "Good idea."
But as she picked up her bag, her phone buzzed.
A new message.
"You're making too much noise, Kate. Be careful, or you'll end up just like your parents."
Her fingers froze.
Her face went pale.
"Tina..."
"What?"
"They're watching me."