Chapter 39
The Unmasking
Elena didn’t hesitate. If Philip West was the mole, then he had already crossed a line he couldn’t come back from.
With Naomi beside her, she strode down the hallway toward his office. The sound of her heels against the marble floor echoed, each step a warning.
The door was slightly ajar when they arrived. Elena pushed it open without knocking.
Philip looked up from his desk, his expression neutral—too neutral. His laptop was still open, the screen dark. As if he had just closed whatever he was working on.
“Elena,” he said, leaning back in his chair with forced ease. “What brings you here?”
Elena didn’t waste time. “We know what you did.”
Philip’s brow lifted. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”
Naomi crossed her arms, eyes cold. “Don’t play dumb, Philip. We traced the security breach to your office.”
A flicker of something—annoyance? Realization?—flashed in his eyes before he schooled his features again.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said smoothly. “If my system was accessed, then it was hacked. Maybe you should look into that instead of storming into my office with accusations.”
Elena didn’t blink. “Then you won’t mind if we take your laptop for a quick scan.”
Philip’s jaw tightened, barely noticeable. “That won’t be necessary.”
Elena leaned forward, resting her hands on his desk. “It is if you want to prove your innocence.”
For the first time, a crack appeared in his composure. His fingers drummed against the desk—a nervous habit.
“You don’t have the authority to seize my property without evidence.” His voice was calm, but his grip on the armrest of his chair tightened.
Elena smirked. “We already have evidence.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and showed him the security log. “You accessed a restricted document—one that didn’t exist until this morning.”
Philip’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Elena tilted her head. “So, tell me. If you weren’t selling us out, why were you trying to steal company secrets?”
For a long moment, Philip didn’t answer. The air in the room was thick with tension.
Then, finally, he exhaled and sat back, shaking his head. “You don’t understand.”
Elena’s patience was razor-thin. “Then enlighten me.”
Philip’s jaw clenched. “I wasn’t the only one involved.”
Naomi scoffed. “Of course not. People like you never work alone.”
Philip’s eyes darkened. “You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to betray this company?” His voice dropped lower. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Elena frowned. “Who’s pulling the strings?”
Philip hesitated.
Elena leaned in. “You’re already caught. The only way you walk away from this with any dignity is if you start talking.”
Philip exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. Then, his voice came out barely above a whisper.
“You’re looking at the wrong enemy.”
Elena’s stomach tightened. “What does that mean?”
Philip glanced at the door, as if afraid someone was listening. “I wasn’t selling company secrets. I was trying to stop someone else from doing it first.”
Elena and Naomi exchanged a look.
Naomi’s eyes narrowed. “Then who the hell are we really after?”
Philip swallowed hard. “You don’t understand.” He looked at Elena, something close to fear in his gaze. “The person you’re looking for… they’re closer than you think.”
A cold chill ran down Elena’s spine.
This wasn’t over.
