Chapter 9

Charles arrived at the rooftop, his eyes scanning the darkness. A figure emerged from the shadows. "Who are you?" Charles demanded. The figure stepped forward, revealing a woman with a scar above her left eyebrow. "My name is Maya. I've been watching you, Charles. I know about Diana. "Charles's grip on his phone tightened. "What do you know?" Maya's eyes locked onto his. "Diana's in danger. Mr. Cruz's plans are unfolding faster than expected. "Charles's jaw clenched. "What plans?" Maya hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I'll tell you, but you must promise to protect Diana." Charles nodded, his mind racing. "I promise." Maya took a deep breath. "Mr. Cruz intends to use Diana to gain control of the company. He'll stop at nothing." Charles's eyes narrowed. "I won't let that happen." Maya's expression turned serious. "You don't understand, Charles. Diana's not who you think she is." Charles's eyes locked onto Maya. "What do you mean?" Maya's voice dropped to a whisper. "Diana's past is a lie. Her true identity is the key to stopping Mr. Cruz." Charles's mind reeled. 

What secrets was Diana hiding?

Charles's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Maya hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I'll tell you, but you must promise to protect her. Mr. Cruz will stop at nothing." Charles's jaw clenched. "I promise. Now, tell me." Maya took a deep breath. "Diana's not just any heiress. She's...". Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Maya's eyes widened. "We have to leave. Now." Charles followed Maya, his heart racing. Maya swiftly led Charles down the stairs, her eyes scanning the shadows. "We can't trust anyone here." Charles followed closely, his mind racing. "What's going on, Maya?" Maya stopped at a small door, producing a key. "This way." Inside, a dimly lit room revealed rows of computer screens and surveillance equipment. Maya began typing furiously. "Accessing Diana's file...now. "A holographic display flickered to life, revealing Diana's profile. Classified Information True Identity: Sophia Elena Vasquez Daughter of rival businessman, Rafael Vasquez, Charles's eyes widened. "Sophia? What does it mean? "Maya's expression turned grave. "yeah, Mr. Cruz is making all possible strive to get the Cruz Enterprise back" Charles's jaw clenched. "We need to get to Diana...Sophia...before Cruz does." Charles's eyes locked onto Maya. "What's the plan?" Maya handed him a small device. "This jammer will disrupt Cruz's security feed. We'll have a 10-minute window." Charles nodded, tucking the device into his pocket. "And what about Diana...Sophia?" Maya's expression softened. "We'll get to her, Charles. But first, we need to take care of Cruz's most trusted man, Victor." Charles's jaw clenched. "Is he the one who's been watching both me and Daniela?" Maya nodded. "Meet me at the warehouse at midnight. Come prepared. "With that, Maya vanished into the shadows.

'All this isn't adding up, how is she Sophia all of a sudden, from Diana Cruz to Sophia Elena, or is there a misunderstanding somewhere to lead us off track, even been the daughter of a rival businessman, then Daniela should know something about this, and she's keeping it from me, then why would she take over his company just like that, or did she have another agenda while entering his company' 

He thought for a long while before getting to his apartment to wait for the next day

Charles arrived, his heart racing. Maya waited, dressed in black, with a backpack. "Ready?" she asked. Charles nodded. "Let's do this." Maya handed him a gun. "Victor's waiting. Take him down quietly." Charles nodded, following Maya into the warehouse's darkness. Victor's menacing figure emerged from the shadows. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here. "Charles aimed the gun. "Victor, you're going down." Victor sneered. "You'll never leave this place alive." Maya sprang into action, taking down Victor's men. Charles and Victor clashed, their fight intense. Charles landed a solid punch, but Victor countered with a vicious kick. Charles stumbled, Maya catching his arm. "Finish him!" she whispered. Charles's eyes locked onto Victor. With a swift kick, Victor crashed to the ground. Maya helped Charles up. "We have 5 minutes before Cruz's men arrive." Charles nodded, panting. "Let's move. We have to protect her" Maya's eyes gleamed with determination. "Together, we will." 

With Victor neutralized, they made their way to Sophia's/Diana's location, ready to face whatever lay ahead. Charles and Maya arrived at Diana's supposed location, their hearts racing. "Where's Sophia?" Charles asked, scanning the empty room. Maya's eyes widened. "She's gone. Cruz must have moved her." Charles's jaw clenched. "Find out where she is now." Maya swiftly hacked into the security system, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "Charles, I've got something," Maya whispered, her eyes locked on the screen. Charles leaned in, his heart sinking. "What is it?" Maya's voice trembled." Cruz has taken Sophia to his private estate. He's planning to announce her as his successor tonight." Charles's eyes narrowed. "We have to stop him." Maya nodded, determination burning within. "Let's move. We have a few hours before the announcement." Charles and Maya sprinted into action, racing against time to save her. Charles and Maya sped toward Cruz's estate, adrenaline fueling their determination. "We need a plan," Maya said, eyes fixed on the GPS. Charles's jaw clenched. "We'll get her out, no matter what." At the estate, they found themselves face-to-face with Cruz's heavily armed guards. "Time for a diversion," Maya whispered, pulling out a smoke bomb. The explosion of smoke and noise cleared their path. They sprinted toward Sophia's likely location. "Sophia!" Charles yelled, bursting into the room. But she was gone. A note lay on the bed: "You'll never save me. -S" Charles's heart sank. "Where is she?" Maya's eyes scanned the room. "There's a hidden passage. I'll check." She disappeared into the shadows.