Contractually Inspired

Chapter 11: The Breach

The silence in the penthouse was no longer comforting. It felt tense, like something was about to happen.

Elena walked back and forth across the marble floor, her mind running through every possible scenario. Christian had walked straight into a mess at the docks, and his last words kept repeating in her head. Victor knows you're my vulnerability now.

She looked over at the kitchen island. The black leather planner sat right where Christian had left it, the edge of the cream colored archive card still sticking out from the back.

She walked over, picked up the card, and held it tight. If Victor was going after Christian's logistics, waiting around in a penthouse wasn't going to help anyone. Whatever she needed to figure this out was down in the fifth floor archives.

Elena walked toward the private elevator. The two guards near the entryway moved instantly, stepping into her path.

"Miss Vance," the taller guard said, his tone flat. "Mr. Sterling said you stay on this floor."

Elena held up the access card, her expression calm and direct.

"Mr. Sterling gave me this," Elena said, her voice steady. "I need to get some event compliance files from the fifth floor archives for tomorrow morning's press release. You can ride down with me, but if you delay this, you can explain it to Christian yourself."

The two guards looked at each other for a second. Her tone and the official card made the taller guard step back and give a brief nod.

"We'll go down with you," he said.

"Fine," Elena replied.

The elevator descended in silence. When the doors opened on the fifth floor, the layout was completely different. Unlike the bright penthouse, this level was dimly lit, filled with rows of locked storage rooms and heavy security doors.

The guards stepped out first, checking the hallway carefully.

"Stay behind us, Miss Vance," the lead guard said.

Before Elena could take a few steps, an emergency alarm started ringing through the hallway speakers. Red warning lights began flashing against the concrete walls.

The guards pulled their weapons immediately.

"We have an issue on the lower floors," the lead guard said into his earpiece, his expression tightening. "Get Miss Vance back to the elevator now!"

A heavy metallic sound echoed down the hall as security doors started coming down. Smoke began pouring out of the vents, thick and sharp.

Elena felt a spike of panic, but she kept herself moving. Through the smoke, three figures in dark tactical gear came around the corner with weapons raised.

"Get down!" the guard shouted, shoving Elena behind a concrete pillar as the quiet, muffled sounds of gunfire broke out.

Elena pressed her back against the cold wall, her pulse racing. Victor's men weren't at the docks. The incident at the distribution center was just a distraction to get Christian out of the building.

They were here for her.