chapter 8

Sophia's anonymous warning stayed with her all night, her mind playing out every possible scenario. Elena's network of allies was larger than they'd anticipated, and while Damian had gained the board's favor, Sophia knew it was only the beginning of a larger, more dangerous game.

The next morning, Damian was uncharacteristically late. Sophia paced nervously in his office, checking her phone every few minutes. Finally, the door swung open, and Damian strode in, his expression stormy.

"What happened?" Sophia asked, alarmed by his tense demeanor.

"They broke into my apartment last night," he said, throwing his briefcase onto the desk.

Sophia's stomach dropped. "What? Who?"

"Elena's people," Damian replied, his voice clipped. "They didn't take anything, but the message was clear: I'm being watched."

Sophia's pulse quickened. "Shouldn't we report this to the police?"

Damian shook his head. "No. The last thing I need is a media circus. This stays between us."

Sophia frowned but didn't argue. "What's our next move?"

Damian looked at her, his jaw tightening. "We stay ahead. If Elena wants a war, she'll get one."

---

Sophia spent the day sifting through emails, financial records, and surveillance reports. Damian tasked her with identifying any leaks in their system, someone who might be feeding information to Elena.

By late afternoon, she uncovered a troubling connection: one of the company's senior IT specialists, Peter Lowe, had been accessing files far above his clearance level.

Sophia knocked on Damian's door, entering without waiting for a response.

"I found something," she said, placing a file on his desk.

Damian scanned the document, his expression darkening. "Peter Lowe. I should've known."

"He's been transferring data to an external server," Sophia explained. "I traced the IP address—it's linked to Elena's private network."

Damian leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "If Elena has access to sensitive company data, she could ruin us. Call Peter to my office immediately."

---

Peter arrived twenty minutes later, his demeanor calm but wary.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Blackwood?"

Damian gestured for him to sit, his expression cold. "I'll get straight to the point. I know you've been leaking information to my sister."

Peter's face paled, but he tried to maintain his composure. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Damian slid the evidence across the desk. "Don't insult my intelligence. These logs don't lie."

Peter glanced at the documents, his hands trembling. "It wasn't personal," he stammered. "She—she threatened my family. Said she'd ruin me if I didn't cooperate."

"And yet you betrayed the company that pays your salary," Damian said icily. "You've put everything at risk."

"I didn't have a choice!" Peter pleaded. "Please, you have to understand—"

Damian raised a hand, silencing him. "You're done here. Effective immediately, you're terminated. Security will escort you out."

Peter slumped in his chair, defeated. "She'll come after me now. You know that, right?"

"That's not my problem," Damian said curtly. "You made your bed. Now lie in it."

As Peter was escorted out, Damian turned to Sophia. "Find out exactly what he gave her. I want a full report by tomorrow."

---

Later that evening, Damian called Sophia into his office. The atmosphere was heavier than usual, the weight of the day's events pressing down on both of them.

"You're not just my secretary anymore, are you?" Damian said, his tone softer than she expected.

Sophia hesitated. "I'm not sure what I am anymore. But I know I want to help."

Damian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You've proven your loyalty. But this is only going to get more dangerous. Elena won't stop, and now that she knows we're onto her, she'll escalate."

Sophia swallowed hard. "I knew the risks when I decided to stay."

Damian's gaze softened. "I don't say this often, but I owe you. If you ever want out, say the word."

Sophia shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere."

---

That night, as Sophia walked to her car in the dimly lit parking garage, she felt a chill run down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing.

Still, the unease lingered. She quickened her pace, fumbling with her keys.

"Sophia Grant," a voice called from the shadows.

She froze, her heart pounding. A figure emerged—a man in a tailored suit, his face shadowed.

"Elena sends her regards," he said, his tone eerily polite.

Before she could react, he stepped closer, slipping a small envelope into her hand. Then he disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, leaving Sophia trembling.

She climbed into her car and locked the doors before tearing open the envelope. Inside was a single note:

"Stay out of it, or you'll regret it."

Sophia gripped the steering wheel, her fear turning into resolve. If Elena thought she could scare her into submission, she was wrong.

The game wasn't over—it was just beginning.