♣ CHAPTER 33 ♣
In a dark, quiet room, lit by one overhead bulb, a man sat behind a polished table. His suit was sharp. His eyes were colder than stone. He dialed a number on his phone and waited.
The call connected.
"Carlos," the man said.
Mr. Carlos's voice came through the line. "You got news?"
"It's time. Plan A failed. Time for Plan B."
Carlos grunted. "She's getting bold. The board listens to her now. She's even cleaning up my mess."
The man chuckled low. "Then it's time to make a bigger mess."
"Go ahead," Carlos said. "What do you need from me?"
"Silence. I'll handle everything. But when it's done, you better keep your promise."
"You'll get your money. And a seat on the board."
The man smirked. "Good. Tell your girl to stay out of my way. Or she won't like what comes next."
Carlos's voice dropped. "Just make sure William and Kate fall. I don't care how."
The call ended.
---
Liam stepped out of the elevator, holding a stack of documents. He checked the list on his phone.
"Alright," he muttered. "Get the files, deliver them to William, then lunch. Easy."
He turned a corner—and bumped straight into someone. Papers flew. He stumbled back.
"Tina?" he said.
She was on the floor, blinking in surprise. "Liam?"
He crouched quickly to help her up. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking."
"No, it's me," she said, brushing her blouse. "I was texting."
Their hands touched as they both reached for the papers. Their eyes locked. For a moment, the air shifted.
Liam's voice softened. "You okay?"
"I'm... fine," she said, looking away fast. "Thank you."
He helped her stand. Their hands lingered too long.
"Tina," he said quietly, "you smell like strawberries."
She blinked. "What?"
"Sorry. I mean... never mind."
She laughed, but it came out nervous. "Are you always this smooth?"
"No. Only around you."
Tina stared at him, heart thudding. She suddenly stepped back.
"I have a boyfriend," she said.
Liam nodded, jaw tight. "Right. Raymond."
She looked at him. "This didn't happen."
He picked up the last file. "Sure."
Tina nodded, turned, and walked off fast.
Liam stood there, watching her go. "Damn it," he muttered.
---
Later that evening, William paced his office. Liam entered, face unreadable.
"Got the files," Liam said, placing them on the table.
William didn't look at him. "Good. Did you check them?"
"Twice. They're clean."
William nodded. Then paused. "You okay?"
Liam hesitated. "Yeah. Just tired."
William looked up. "You ran into Tina, didn't you?"
Liam's jaw tensed. "Is it that obvious?"
William smirked. "I see everything."
"It was nothing," Liam said. "She reminded me she's taken."
"Smart girl."
"Yeah..."
Just then, Kate rushed in.
"William," she said, breathless. "Something's wrong."
He turned sharply. "What happened?"
"The press. They just dropped a report. False data about our finances. Someone's trying to make it look like we're bankrupt."
William's face darkened. "Where did it come from?"
Kate shook her head. "No idea. But it's detailed. Too detailed. This is internal."
Liam frowned. "You think someone in the company leaked it?"
"Not leaked," William said. "Sabotaged."
Kate stepped closer. "What do we do?"
"I'll call my legal team. Liam, you handle PR."
Liam nodded.
Kate touched William's arm. "There's more. I got a warning. An anonymous email. It said, 'You're next.'"
William's eyes turned sharp. "What?"
"They're targeting me now. They're trying to scare me."
William stepped forward, eyes fierce. "No one touches you. You hear me?"
Kate stared up at him. "You can't protect me from everything."
"I'll damn well try."
Liam cleared his throat. "I'll track the email."
"Good," William snapped. "Find whoever did this. I want names."
Kate stepped back, hands shaking slightly. "This is bigger than we thought."
William looked at her. "They want war. We'll give them war."
The night was cold. Kate sat on the edge of her bed, her phone still in her hand. She stared at the message.
"You're next."
Her fingers tightened around the phone. She dialed fast.
"Hello?"
"Tina," Kate's voice shook. "Someone is after me."
"What? What do you mean someone is after you?" Tina's tone rose in fear.
"I got a message. Anonymous. It said I'm next. After what happened at the company today, I know it's not a joke."
"Kate, are you alone?"
"Yes. William's in the study, trying to fix the damage from the false report. Liam is handling the press. I don't want to worry them more."
"Girl, this is serious. You need to tell William."
"I already did. But there's something else. It feels like someone from inside is doing this. Someone who knows everything."
"Like who? You suspect anyone?"
Kate stood up and walked to the window. "I don't want to believe it, but… it could be Uncle Carlos."
There was silence on the line.
"Tina?" Kate asked.
"I don't trust that man either. The way he looks at you, the things he says, it's all wrong."
Kate bit her lip. "He always wanted the company. My father gave it to me instead. Maybe he's angry."
"He's more than angry. He's dangerous."
"I need to prove it. I need something solid."
"Don't do anything risky, Kate."
"I won't. But I won't sit back and let someone ruin everything my family built."
---
In another building, Mr. Carlos was sitting in his office, feet up on the desk, smiling to himself. His phone rang.
"Talk," he said.
"It's done," the man's voice was cold. "The fake report is out. The press is eating it up."
Carlos grinned. "Good. And the girl?"
"She got the message. She's scared."
Carlos leaned back. "She should be. It's just the beginning."
"What about William?"
Carlos chuckled. "He's smart. But I'm smarter. Let him dance for a while. When he finally thinks he's fixed everything, I'll hit him where it hurts."
The man asked, "And the backup plan?"
"In place. If this fails, we go deeper. Destroy from within."
Carlos ended the call and opened a drawer. Inside were more files—fake documents, sealed contracts, and a flash drive. He whispered, "You wanted war, William. You'll get one."
---
At the same time, Liam sat in the control room, eyes fixed on his laptop screen. William stood behind him.
"Anything?" William asked.
Liam didn't blink. "I traced the email to a private server in Malaysia. But it was rerouted too many times. I need more time."
"Speed it up."
Liam turned. "Kate's scared. You know that, right?"
"I know. That's why I can't let her see me lose control."
"Too late. She already knows you're burning inside."
William looked away. "She's not just in danger. She's being hunted."
"I won't let anything happen to her."
William looked Liam in the eye. "If you fail, she could die. And I won't forgive you."
Liam nodded. "Then I won't fail."
---
The next morning, Kate walked into the office. Heads turned. Some smiled. Some whispered. She didn't care.
She went straight to her uncle's office.
"Uncle Carlos," she said, entering without knocking.
He looked up, surprised. "Kate. Early today."
"I want to talk."
He smiled. "Of course. Sit."
"I won't sit. Tell me something. Why is there a sudden attack on the company's reputation? Why now?"
Carlos blinked slowly. "Attacks happen all the time. Business is a battlefield."
"Don't play dumb with me."
He leaned forward. "Are you accusing me of something?"
"I'm not accusing. I'm warning. If I find out you're behind this..."
Carlos stood. "You'll what? Fire your own uncle?"
"If I have to."
He laughed. "You think this company is yours? You're just a girl with a title. You know nothing about real power."
"I know enough," Kate said. "And I'm learning fast."
Carlos's eyes narrowed. "You better be careful. Business is not a game for little girls."
"Then maybe it's time someone showed you what a little girl can do."
She turned and walked out, slamming the door.
Carlos clenched his fists. "She's getting bold. Too bold."
---
That evening, William found Kate in the balcony, arms crossed, staring at the city.
He came close. "You okay?"
"I went to confront Carlos."
William raised his brow. "Alone?"
"Yes."
"You shouldn't have."
"I had to."
He sighed. "He's not the only problem. Someone's working with him. Maybe someone from inside. Maybe not."
"I know. And I want to help."
William looked at her. "This is dangerous."
Kate faced him. "I'm already in it. Don't shut me out."
He nodded slowly. "Then we fight together."
She smiled a little. "Together."