Asher

"It's her." Max's words hang heavy in the air, a storm cloud of possibility and danger. Claire is the last person I want to see right now, but it's time to deal with her.

The tension thickens as the door opens slowly. She looks different from the last time I saw her—more worn, more vulnerable. But I know better than to let my guard down.

She steps in, her eyes scanning the room nervously, and I need to take a deep breath before addressing her.

"Claire," I say, keeping my tone neutral. "What do you have for us?"

She hesitates, glancing at Max before meeting my gaze. "I have information. Evidence that can bring down James and Henry. But I need guarantees for my grandmother and me. We need protection."

I cross my arms, the weight of the situation pressing on me. "Why should we trust you? You were part of their plan to ruin me."

Claire's eyes flash with something like guilt and desperation, but I'll be dammed if I'll fall for this shit again.

"I had no choice. They threatened my grandmother. They promised me money for her treatment. But I didn't know the extent of their plans until it was too late. I want out, Asher. I want to make things right."

My anger flares. "You expect us to believe you now? After everything? I trusted you and you..."

"Asher, let's hear her out." Max steps in, his voice a surprising buffer. "We need all the help we can get."

I glance at him, shaking my head in frustration. "Fine. Show us what you have."

Claire reaches into her bag, pulling out a folder. She hands it to Max, who opens it and starts scanning the contents. His eyes widen as he reads, and he hands the papers to me.

As I read through the documents, a chill runs down my spine. Emails, financial records, photographs—everything points to a well-orchestrated plan to sabotage my reputation and take control of the company. There's even a recorded conversation between James and Henry, discussing their next moves.

"This is damning evidence," I mutter, my mind racing with the implications. "If we can verify this, it could be the key to taking them down."

"I'm a journalist. I've put all my skills to use." Claire nods, her expression earnest. "I just need your word that you'll protect us."

I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger. As much as I want to lash out at Claire for her betrayal, Max is right. We need to hear her out if we want to bring James and Henry down.

"Fine," I say through gritted teeth. "You have our protection. But don't think for a second that I trust you."

Claire nods, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and apprehension. "Thank you, Asher. I understand that I have a lot to make up for."

I turn to Max, who still has a troubled expression on his face. "We need to verify the authenticity of these documents," I say, gesturing to the folder. "We can't afford any more deception."

Max nods in agreement. "I'll call our IT department to analyze the emails and financial records. We need to be absolutely certain."

As Max makes the call, I turn my attention back to Claire. "How did you manage to get all of this evidence?" I ask, my voice filled with suspicion.

Claire hesitates for a moment before answering. "Henry and I were... having an affair..."

I feel a surge of anger rises within me again, but I push it down. This isn't the time for personal vendettas. We need to focus on the bigger picture.

"Elaborate," I say, my voice strained.

"It was a mistake, Asher. I never wanted to hurt you." Claire's eyes well up with tears. "But Henry manipulated me... He kept me under his control. He said he loved me, and I believed him."

"Keep going," I say, my eyes on her.

"One night, I saw him with another woman..." She shakes her head. "When I tried to find out who she was, I uncovered more than I ever imagined. And then, when I wanted out, he threatened my grandmother, and I panicked. That was the day I invited you to my apartment and..."

"And drugged me." I take a step closer, towering over her "How can I believe anything you say?"

"Asher, I just..." She starts but I cut her off.

"How did you two meet?"

"I went to see you at your office one day and he approached me when I was living."

"Fuck!" I look down.

She reaches out to touch my arm, but I pull away. "I know I messed up, Asher. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it right. But right now, we have a chance to take down James and Henry. We can expose their corruption and save your company."

I look into Claire's eyes, searching for any signs of deceit. All I see is desperation and a glimmer of hope. Jesus!

"Fine," I finally say, my voice filled with resignation. "We'll work together. But don't think for a second that I've forgiven you."

Claire nods, tears streaming down her face. "I just want a chance to make amends."

Max finishes his call and joins us, saying that his team will contact him soon with their initial analysis of Claire's evidence. He then turns his attention back to Claire, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"So, Claire," Max says, his voice taking on a tone of authority mixed with curiosity. "Tell us everything you know about Henry and James. What are their plans? What have you heard or seen?"

Claire takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the barrage of questions she sees coming. She knows she has to be completely transparent if she wants any chance of redemption.

"They've been planning this for months," Claire starts, her voice shaky but determined. "Henry has been manipulating me, using our affair to gain access to information about you. He promised me things and made me believe he cared about me. But it was all a lie. He wants to take you down and step in as CEO. He has a personal vendetta against your family. He wants to see you fall."

Max nods, urging her to continue. "And James? What role does he play in all of this?"

"James is the mastermind," Claire explains. "He's the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. He's been funneling money, orchestrating smear campaigns, and manipulating stocks to weaken your position in the company. Henry was just a pawn in his game, but a dangerous one."

I listen intently, piecing together the puzzle of betrayal and deceit that has unfolded before us. Max's questions are sharp and precise, probing into every detail of Claire's involvement and what she knows about the inner workings of James and Henry's plan.

"How did you come across this evidence again?" Max asks, his eyes never leaving Claire's face.

Claire hesitates, knowing that revealing too much could put her and her grandmother at risk. But she also understands that withholding information is not an option if she wants to earn their trust.

"I stumbled upon it accidentally," Claire admits. "I was searching for something else entirely when I found emails, financial records, and recordings that exposed their intentions. That's when I realized the extent of their deceit and manipulation."

Max nods thoughtfully, processing the information. "And you're sure this evidence is authentic?"

Claire nods firmly. "Yes, I've verified it to the best of my abilities. But we'll need your IT team to confirm its legitimacy."

I glance between Max and Claire, a mix of skepticism and cautious optimism brewing within me. It's hard to trust someone who has betrayed you so deeply, but the evidence she presents is compelling.

"We'll need to move quickly," Max says, turning to me. "If this evidence checks out, we have a chance to turn the tables on James and Henry. But we can't afford any mistakes."

I nod in agreement, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. This is not just about clearing my name or saving the company anymore—it's about justice and holding those who have wronged us accountable.

"What's our next step?" I ask, turning to Max for guidance.

"We wait for the analysis from our IT team," Max replies. "In the meantime, we need to strategize. We can't confront James and Henry until we have concrete evidence and a plan of action."

Claire looks between us, her expression a mix of apprehension and determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to help," she says, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Max nods appreciatively. "We'll need your cooperation every step of the way," he emphasizes. "No more secrets, no more hidden agendas."

Claire nods, her eyes meeting mine with a resolve that surprises me. "I'm ready to face the consequences of my actions," she says. "But I won't let them get away with what they've done."

As we await the verdict from the IT department, tension hangs in the air like a palpable force. Every minute feels like an eternity as we wait for confirmation that the evidence Claire has provided is, indeed, the key to bringing down our adversaries.

Finally, Max's phone buzzes with a notification. He checks it quickly, his expression unreadable. Then, he looks up at us with a mix of relief and grim determination.

"The evidence checks out," Max confirms, his voice steady. "We have what we need to take James and Henry down."

____

A/N: It's about damn time, right? 

Thank you for being so amazing, guys! 

Please remember to vote!

XOXO

Celeste