The Bait

Lena's POV

Lena sat in her office long after Elias had left, the silence pressing in around her. The flash drive sat on her desk like a loaded weapon.

She traced a finger along the edge, thinking about everything that had led them here.

The gala had been a success in distracting the public, but inside the company, tensions were only getting worse. The breaches, the notes, the feeling that someone was always one step ahead, it was suffocating.

And then there was Elias.

His words from earlier still lingered in her mind.

"You do."

She closed her eyes, shaking her head.

She didn't have time for this.

There was too much at stake.

The Trap is Set.

The next morning, Lena walked into the office, her shoulders squared and her focus sharp.

She found Elias already waiting for her in the conference room, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

"Are we ready?" she asked.