Chapter 35
Unraveling Lies
Elena didn’t waste time. Within minutes, she was in her car, heading straight to Michael Reynolds’ penthouse. He wasn’t going to run from this.
Her driver pulled up to the towering glass building, and she stepped out, adjusting her blazer. The doorman barely had time to acknowledge her before she strode past him, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
She took the private elevator up to the top floor, her mind racing.
Michael was the leak. The evidence was clear. But the part that didn’t fit? Ryan.
His failed login attempt—what had he been looking for? Did he already know about Michael? Or was he trying to steal something himself?
She needed answers. And she needed them now.
The elevator doors slid open to reveal Michael’s assistant, Clara, standing outside his penthouse entrance, her face tight with nerves.
“Ms. Stone,” Clara started, shifting on her heels. “Mr. Reynolds isn’t taking visitors—”
Elena didn’t stop. She pushed the door open without knocking.
Michael was inside, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass of whiskey in hand. He turned, unsurprised.
“Ah,” he said with a dry smirk. “I was wondering how long it would take you.”
Elena stepped forward, her eyes sharp. “Then you know why I’m here.”
Michael sighed, setting his glass down. “I assume this is about the acquisition leak.”
She crossed her arms. “You assume correctly.”
Michael exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Elena, let’s be realistic. Companies leak information all the time. It’s part of the game.”
Her expression didn’t waver. “Except this wasn’t just a leak. It was a betrayal.”
Michael chuckled, shaking his head. “Betrayal? Come on. We both know how this works. I did what I had to do.”
Elena’s patience snapped. “You jeopardized this company. My company.” She took a step closer. “And now, you’re going to tell me why.”
Michael’s smirk faded slightly. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing out the window. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Elena’s jaw tightened. “Everyone has a choice.”
Michael hesitated. Then, he said something she didn’t expect.
“I was being blackmailed.”
The room fell silent.
Elena narrowed her eyes. “By who?”
Michael swallowed, looking genuinely rattled for the first time. “I don’t know. It started with emails—anonymous threats. They had dirt on me. Personal things. Things that could ruin me.”
Elena’s grip on her anger loosened slightly. If Michael was telling the truth, this was bigger than just corporate sabotage.
“And you think Ryan was involved?” she asked.
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know. But whoever was behind it knew exactly where to hit me.”
Elena studied him carefully. His voice, his posture—he wasn’t lying.
Which meant someone else was pulling the strings.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a text from Jordan:
Ryan Lancaster is in your office. Waiting for you.
Elena’s pulse quickened.
She turned back to Michael. “This isn’t over.”
Then, without another word, she turned and left.
Because if Ryan Lancaster had answers—
She was about to get them.
