chapter 15

Grace nodded, her worry evident. "What kind of issue?"

Adrian quickly scanned the details. The message revealed that a major security breach had occurred. Confidential project files were compromised, and it appeared to be an insider job. Worse, the stolen data had the potential to jeopardize a deal Adrian had been negotiating with an elite international partner—a collaboration poised to cement Giga Tech's position as an industry leader.

"I need to go," Adrian said, his voice laced with determination. "This could undo everything we've worked for."

Grace placed her hand over his. "Do what you need to do. I'll be here when you're done."

Adrian drove straight to the Giga Tech headquarters, his mind racing with possibilities. When he arrived, Olivia was already waiting for him in the conference room, a large screen displaying a map of the company's server activity.

"We've traced the breach to a suspicious login from one of our mid-level employees," Olivia began, pointing to the screen. "But the data was rerouted through multiple servers. Whoever did this knows their way around cybersecurity."

"Who's the employee?" Adrian asked sharply.

"His name is Liam Carter," Olivia replied. "But here's the thing—Liam hasn't shown up for work in two days. And according to HR, he submitted his resignation yesterday, effective immediately."

Adrian clenched his fists. "This isn't a coincidence. He was planted here to sabotage us."

Olivia nodded. "It gets worse. The leaked files include details about our collaboration project. If this gets out, our competitors will pounce."

Adrian wasted no time rallying his team. He instructed the IT department to track down Liam's digital trail and secure all other sensitive data. He also ordered a full internal audit to uncover any other potential breaches.

As the hours ticked by, Adrian worked tirelessly, reviewing contracts and damage control strategies. His mind, however, kept drifting back to Grace. He hated that this crisis had pulled him away from her, especially when they were just beginning to rebuild their relationship.

By dawn, Olivia burst into the room with a breakthrough.

"We've found him," she said breathlessly. "Liam booked a one-way flight to Zurich, but he hasn't boarded yet. We've alerted airport security."

Adrian and Olivia rushed to the airport, accompanied by law enforcement. They spotted Liam in the terminal, nervously glancing around. When Adrian approached him, Liam's face turned pale.

"You thought you could betray me and walk away?" Adrian said, his voice cold and menacing.

Liam stammered, trying to deny everything, but Adrian cut him off. "Spare me the lies. I know you were paid to do this. Who sent you?"

Under the pressure of Adrian's relentless questioning and the presence of law enforcement, Liam eventually confessed.

"It was Benson," he admitted, his voice shaking. "He offered me a fortune to steal the project files. He said it was his way of taking back what you 'stole' from him."

Adrian's blood boiled. Benson, once again, had tried to sabotage him. But this time, Adrian wouldn't let him get away with it.

With Liam in custody and the files retrieved, Adrian returned to Giga Tech to oversee the final stages of the project's security overhaul. Despite the chaos, the crisis reaffirmed Adrian's resolve to protect everything he had built.

Later that evening, Adrian returned to Grace. She greeted him with a warm smile, though her eyes betrayed her concern.

"Did you fix it?" she asked gently.

"Yes," Adrian said, pulling her into an embrace. "But it was Benson again. He doesn't know when to stop."

Grace held him tighter. "You're stronger than him, Adrian. You've proven that time and again. Don't let him drag you back into his darkness."

Adrian nodded, her words giving him the strength he needed. "You're right. From now on, I'm focusing on us and our future. Benson's games end here."

As they sat together, planning the next chapter of their lives, Adrian knew one thing for certain: no obstacle, no betrayal, and no enemy would ever stand between him and the life he was determined to build with Grace.

Adrian sat in his office, staring at the city skyline as Olivia updated him on Benson's sudden disappearance.

"He's gone," she said, placing a thick folder on the desk. "Booked a private jet to an undisclosed location. No doubt he's trying to regroup. He doesn't have the resources to fight you right now, but knowing Benson, he'll come back. And when he does, he'll be desperate and dangerous."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "I can't keep letting him operate in the shadows. If I ignore him, he'll strike when I least expect it. This ends now."

Olivia nodded but hesitated. "What do you want to do? We can dig deeper into his connections, follow the money trail, or even—"

"No," Adrian interrupted. "We've played defense for too long. This time, I'll take the fight to him, but smartly. I want every loose end tied up. Find out where he went, who he's talking to, and what he's planning."

Over the next few days, Adrian's team worked tirelessly to track Benson's movements. It turned out Benson had fled to Dubai, seeking refuge among wealthy acquaintances who owed him favors. However, Adrian knew Benson's network was crumbling; most of his allies had distanced themselves after Adrian exposed his schemes during the gala.

"He's running out of options," Olivia reported during a meeting. "But he's still dangerous. We've intercepted communication suggesting he's looking for investors to fund a new venture—something to rival Giga Tech."

Adrian smirked. "Let him try. He doesn't have the credibility to pull it off. But we can't let him get even a foothold."

Instead of directly going after Benson, Adrian focused on dismantling the remnants of his influence. He reached out to key business leaders and investors, ensuring they knew exactly who Benson was and the lengths he'd gone to sabotage others. He also leveraged his newfound reputation to secure exclusive partnerships, making it nearly impossible for Benson to find allies.

Meanwhile, Adrian's legal team worked quietly to build a case against Benson. With the evidence from Liam's confession and the stolen project files, Adrian could ensure that Benson would face consequences whenever he resurfaced.

In less than three months, Benson's startup failed to gain traction. Investors pulled out, and his remaining assets were frozen due to pending legal investigations. Desperate and humiliated, Benson tried to contact Adrian directly.

One afternoon, Adrian's phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. Against Olivia's advice, he answered.

"Adrian," Benson's voice came through, strained and defeated. "You've made your point. You've won. But you don't have to destroy me completely."

Adrian's tone was cold. "This isn't about winning or losing, Benson. It's about accountability. You've spent your life tearing others down, and now you're paying the price. If you want mercy, you'll have to earn it."

Benson was silent for a moment, "don't think you have won", he said before the line went dead.