"Sorry, but I don't need any help with anything." I said, this time making sure my voice was stern. For added measure, I willed my facial features to resemble and ice block. He needed to stop this dangerous conversation right this second.

A part of me hoped he understood that I did not want to carry out this conversation in my father's office. Although I extensive checked all the corners possible in my office for any hidden camera's... my father was too slick of a man to let that bypass him. My office was bugged. I just knew it. But I did not know where.

Nate slightly raised one dark eyebrow before he tilted his head my way. A silent goodbye. A silent way to show me that he was not done with this conversation.

If he just knew how much I wanted him not to be done.

I leaned back in my chair, resting my head against the cool leather as I exhaled slowly. The events of the day had been overwhelming, and my mind was still spinning from my conversation with Nate.

As I sat there, I couldn't help but feel grateful for his support. Nate had offered to help me take my father down, but the risks were high. The thought of going up against my own father made me feel sick to my stomach.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I needed to focus. If I was going to take my father down, I had to be smart about it. I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgement.

Opening my eyes, I gazed out of the window at the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow across the skyscrapers. I watched as the lights flickered on, one by one, like tiny fireflies dancing in the dusk.

The peaceful scene outside was in stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. I needed to come up with a plan, and fast. But for now, I just needed a moment to collect myself and gather my thoughts.

After taking a few more deep breaths, I sat up and straightened my posture. It was time to get back to work.

I grasped the phone and dialed Carol's number. She was in charge of the land registry office and was a crucial contact for me. I needed to ascertain whether the papers I had sent her about the sale of my land to the company had been received and processed.

As the phone rang, I twirled a strand of hair around my finger nervously. What if there was an issue with the papers? What if my father had somehow intercepted them?

"Hello, this is Carol speaking," the voice on the other end of the line answered.

"Hi Carol, it's Ellie," I greeted, attempting to maintain my composure.

"Ellie, good to hear from you. What can I do for you today?" she responded.

"I just wanted to check if you received the papers I sent you about the sale of my land to the company?" I inquired, trying to sound relaxed.

There was a brief pause before Carol spoke again. "Yes, Ellie, I received the papers a few days ago. Everything is in order, and the sale has been processed."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "That's fantastic news, Carol. Thank you for letting me know."

"No problem, Ellie. Is there anything else you require assistance with?" she offered.

I considered her offer before responding. "Not at the moment, but I'll keep you in mind if I need anything else. Thanks again, Carol.

"We exchanged our goodbyes, and I replaced the phone on the cradle. The sale of my land to the company was a pivotal part of my plan to bring my father down. With that taken care of, I could proceed with the next step.

After hanging up the phone, I let out a deep breath, feeling relieved and grateful that the sale of my land had gone through smoothly. It was scary to have taken that step, knowing that any misstep or miscommunication could have had dire consequences.

But I couldn't let fear hold me back. I knew what was at stake, not just for myself, but for everyone who had suffered because of my father's actions. I needed to be brave and take calculated risks if I wanted to bring him to justice.

Still, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety in the pit of my stomach. There was no telling what my father was capable of, and I needed to be prepared for anything. I decided to take a few moments to regroup and gather my thoughts before moving on to the next step in my plan.

I emerged from my cramped office, feeling relieved to escape the drudgery of work. The stale air of the room had left me feeling stifled, and I craved a breath of fresh air. I grabbed my coat from the back of my chair and made my way out.

As I stepped out onto the bustling streets of my city, I felt invigorated by the cool evening breeze that tousled my hair. The sound of honking cars and the chatter of pedestrians filled my ears. The city's vibrant energy electrified me, and I was eager to explore.

I strolled along the pavement, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The scent of burgers wafted towards me, and my stomach rumbled in response. I followed my nose towards the aroma, my mouth watering at the thought of a juicy burger.

Finally, I reached the small, greasy burger joint, and I made my way inside. The place was crowded, and I could hear the sizzle of meat on the grill. The mouth-watering scent of cooking beef and melted cheese made my senses reel.

I stepped up to the counter and placed my order, feeling the warmth of the grill radiating towards me. The server handed me a paper bag, and I felt the heat of the burgers through the thin paper.

As I stepped back onto the street, I felt a sense of freedom and anticipation. With each step, my excitement grew, knowing that I was only a few blocks away from Nate's flat. I munched on my burger as I walked, relishing in the juiciness of the meat and the tang of the sauce.

"Wipe that sauce off your chin." A smooth voice whispered very close to my ear.

I let out a small shriek and snapped my head back. From the shock, I dropped my burger.

I saw Claud smirking down at me, who then glanced at my burger and let out a small chuckle. "I guess dinner is on me now."

I was seething. "No." I snapped and stomped away. That was too good of a burger to be left on the floor like that. It wasn't often that I ate burgers but when I did, every fibre of my soul lavished in it.

"Where are you heading?" Claud started to ask, falling in step beside me.

I stopped walking. "For the love of everything fried, please, do not follow me."

"Why not? What if I want to extend my help too?"

"I don't need it. I don't need any help."

"Is that why you are at Nate's house?"

I frowned at him but then slowly glanced ahead of the path. And he was correct. Nate's apartment was just over there. And I could no way say I am just in the area when I lived in the completely different side of the city – an easy thirty-minute walk away.

"I'm not-. "

"He's waiting for you. That is why I got the boot anyways."

A puzzled look crossed my face. "Waiting?"

Claud smirked once again. "Yes, darling. Waiting for you. Got to hand it to my niece, he is one sure cocky rat.

***

I sat nervously across from Nate, my mind racing with the weight of my father's criminal activities. I knew I needed to do something, but the risks were high, and I didn't know where to begin.

Claud was right, Nate did expect my arrival. He had silently opened the door for me and let me in with no questions. And I somehow really appreciated that.

"Nate, I appreciate your offer, but you don't understand. My father is very dangerous. He won't take kindly to anyone trying to take him down," I said, my voice trembling.

Nate leaned forward; his expression serious. "Ellie, I know your father is dangerous, but we can't let him keep getting away with these crimes. We can do this together. We just need to be careful and cover our tracks."

I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed. "But how? I don't know anything about covering tracks. What if we get caught?"

Nate reached across the table and took my hand. Shockwaves passed through me. All of sudden, I felt like I was talking to Nate again. My midnight Nate. "We won't get caught. We'll plan carefully, and I'll be there every step of the way. We'll do this together."

I looked up at him, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Okay, but we need to be smart about this. We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Nate nodded in agreement. "Agreed. Let's start by gathering information and documenting everything. That way, if anything goes wrong, we'll have evidence to back us up."

We spent the next few hours strategizing, pouring over documents, and planning our next moves. As we worked, I felt a sense of relief knowing that I wasn't alone in this. Nate was there with me, and together we could take my father down.

"Thank you, Nate," I said, grateful for his support.

He smiled at me, his eyes holding something deeper that I could not pinpoint. "Of course, Ellie."