CHAPTER 20

JACK'S PLOTS

Maria's heart raced as she read the words on the screen of her iPad. The anonymous email was concise yet ominous. She had few hours before the appointed time, and her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety and curiosity. Who could be behind this? And what did they want from her?

She thought of confiding in Alexa or the CEO, Dave but the email's warning echoed in her mind: "Do not disclose this email to anyone."

As the clock ticked closer to 6 pm, Maria felt a growing sense of dread. She grabbed her coat and headed towards the Grande Villa, a luxurious estate on the outskirts of town.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone path leading up to the villa, making it seem even more foreboding.

Upon arrival, she hesitated at the grand entrance. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside. The dimly lit interior was silent, the only sound being the echo of her footsteps.

"Hello?" she called out, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm here. Who's there?"

"Good evening, Maria," a deep voice resonated from the shadows. She turned to see a tall, distinguished man stepping into the light. It was Jack, Dave's father, a man known for his ruthless business tactics and intimidating presence.

"What's going on? Why did you call me here?" Maria asked, trying to keep her voice steady but still trembling.

"Please, take a seat," he gestured to a plush armchair. "We have much to discuss."

Reluctantly, Maria sat down, her mind racing with questions. Mr. Jack took a seat opposite her, his piercing eyes fixed on her.

"I'll get straight to the point," he began. I want you to work for me, to provide me with information about Dave and his operations."

Maria's eyes widened in shock. "You want me to spy on Dave? Why would I do that?"

Mr. Jack leaned forward, his expression cold and calculating. "Because, if you don't, I will ensure that your friend Claire suffers the consequences."

Maria felt a chill run down her spine. "What do you mean? How do you know Claire?"

"l've been keeping an eye on you since you started working at the company's main site," he replied nonchalantly. "Claire's safety depends on your cooperation."

Maria's mind raced. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "This is insane! I can't betray my boss, we just started working together. And threatening Claire… that's just… monstrous."

Mr. Jack's eyes narrowed. "You're in no position to negotiate, Maria. Either you agree to help me, or you face the consequences."

The room fell silent as Maria struggled to process the situation. She couldn't let anything happen to Claire, but the thought of betraying Dave was equally unbearable.

"Why are you doing this?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Jack's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Let's just say I have my reasons. Now, do we have a deal?"

Maria felt trapped. She knew she had no choice but to agree. "Fine," she said reluctantly. "I'll do it. But if anything happens to Claire, I will make sure you regret it."

Mr. Jack chuckled. "I knew you'd see reason. Now, you'll report to me every week. I want detailed information about Dave's plans, his movements, everything."

Maria nodded, feeling a sense of dread settle in the pit of her stomach. "Understood."

"Good," he said, standing up. "I look forward to our cooperation. Remember, Maria, Claire's life depends on your loyalty."

With that, Mr.. Jack turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Maria alone with her thoughts. She sat there for a moment, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over her. How had things spiraled out of control so quickly?

As she left the villa, the sun had completely set, and the night was pitch black. She felt a heavy burden on her shoulders, knowing that she had just made a deal with the devil. She had to find a way to protect Claire and navigate this dangerous game without losing herself in the process.

---

The following week was a blur of anxiety and paranoia. Maria couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and every interaction with Dave felt like a betrayal. She started gathering information, carefully noting down details of Dave's meetings and plans.

One evening, as she sat in her apartment, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Mr. Jack.

"Any updates?"

Maria sighed and typed out a quick response, detailing the latest developments at the company. She hated herself for doing this, but she had no choice.

Just as she hit send, there was a knock on her door. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it to find Claire standing there, looking worried.

"Maria, are you okay? You've been acting so strange lately," Claire said, stepping inside.

Maria forced a smile. "I'm fine, just a bit stressed with work."

Claire studied her for a moment. "If you need to talk, I'm here for you, okay?"

"Thanks, Claire," Maria replied, her voice tinged with guilt. "I appreciate it."

After Claire left, Maria sat down, her mind racing. She needed a plan, a way to outsmart Mr. Jack and protect Claire without betraying Dave.

Days turned into weeks, and Maria continued her double life, feeding Mr. jack just enough information to keep him satisfied while trying to find a way out of the mess. She knew she couldn't keep this up forever.

One evening, as she was leaving the office, Dave called her into his office.

"Maria, I've noticed you've been acting a bit off lately. Is everything alright?" he asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Maria felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him everything, but the thought of Claire's safety held her back. "I'm fine, Dave. Just a lot on my mind."

Dave nodded, though he didn't seem convinced. "If you say so, that's fine then. Just be okay."

Maria forced a smile on her face.. "Thanks… I will keep that in mind".