Chapter 5 - The Trap is Set
That evening, the tension inside the mansion reached a boiling point.
In the underground command center, Prescott Hale and a team of cybersecurity experts projected data streams across three large monitors.
“Boss,” Prescott said, pointing to a complex cluster of encrypted server logs. “We traced the short-wave burst from the dining room transmitter. It didn’t just ping an external receiver—it routed through a secondary relay server located inside the estate’s own private guest network.”
Victor stood with his hands braced against the console, his eyes fixed on the screen. “An internal network. Which means the person who planted it didn't just walk in off the street; they used a valid administrative credential.”
“And there are only four people with root access to that network,” Prescott added grimly. “You, me, Harold... and Richard Blackwood.”
Emma stood near the back of the room, listening intently. “What about the guests who visited last week? Did anyone borrow a staff tablet or connect to the guest Wi-Fi?”
Prescott turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “Actually, yes. Julian Vance spent the entire afternoon in the library last Thursday claiming he was reviewing real estate titles. He connected his tablet to the local node.”
Victor straightened up, his expression hardening into pure ice. “Julian. He’s been trying to force a buyout of the waterfront project for six months. If the deal fails, Blackwood Enterprises takes a massive liquidity hit, and Richard—who is secretly in business with Julian’s shell companies—buys out our shares at a fraction of their value.”
“It’s a corporate coup,” Emma murmured, the pieces clicking together with terrifying clarity.
Victor turned to her, his gaze intense. “You should pack a bag, Emma. I’m sending Prescott to drive you to a safehouse downtown. This is no longer just about a stray bug; it’s a war.”
Emma didn't move. She stood her ground, her amber-green eyes locking onto his with stubborn fire.
“No.”
Victor frowned. “This isn’t a negotiation, Miss Lawson. You are civilian personnel. You’re not getting caught in the crossfire of a family syndicate war.”
“My father died while auditing accounts tied to this exact family,” Emma said, her voice ringing out clearly in the underground bunker. “He didn't die of a natural heart attack, did he, Victor? The official report said heart failure, but when I went through his papers this morning, I found a draft of an audit report showing millions siphoned through shell companies managed by Julian Vance and approved by Richard Blackwood.”
Victor went completely still. The air in the room seemed to freeze.
“How did you find that?” Victor asked, his voice barely a whisper.
“Because my father knew what they were doing,” Emma said, stepping closer to him. “And I’m not running away. If you want to catch the people who bugged your house and killed my father, you need someone who knows how to read between the lines of their fraudulent ledgers. You need me.”
Prescott looked between them, coughing awkwardly. “Uh... boss? She kind of has a point.”
Victor stared at Emma for a long, agonizing moment. The protective anger in his eyes clashed with a sudden, overwhelming wave of profound respect.
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“If you stay,” Victor said slowly, stepping so close she could feel the heat radiating from his chest, “you play by my rules. You don’t move without an armed guard. You don’t touch a single piece of paper without clearance. And you stay within arm’s reach of me at all times.”
Emma didn't back down an inch. “Deal.”
