Chapter 15:The First Piece Falls
947 Words
Selena stared at the file spread across her apartment table long after midnight.
The evidence Lucien had handed her wasn't enough to destroy Ethanânot yet. But it was enough to expose a crack in the flawless image he had spent years building.
And Selena knew exactly how to widen that crack.
She closed the folder and leaned back in her chair, a slow smile forming on her lips.
In her previous life, she had waited for justice.
This time...
She would create it.
***
The following morning, Ethan arrived at Sterling Technologies wearing his usual confident smile.
Employees greeted him warmly as he walked through the lobby.
"Good morning, Mr. Carter."
"Morning."
"The investors loved your presentation yesterday."
"Excellent."
Everything looked normal.
Exactly as it should.
No one noticed the anonymous email that had landed in several department heads' inboxes only minutes earlier.
Attached was a series of financial records highlighting unusual transfers between one of the company's shell vendors and a private account connected to one of Ethan's trusted executives.
There was no accusation.
No threats.
Just one simple sentence.
"You may want to verify these before the auditors do."
By the time Ethan reached his office, whispers had already begun.
***
"Sir..."
His assistant entered nervously.
"The finance department is requesting an emergency meeting."
Ethan frowned.
"For what?"
"They found inconsistencies in the quarterly reports."
His expression hardened.
"Who authorized another audit?"
"No one, sir."
"Then why are they checking?"
"I...I don't know."
For the first time in weeks...
A tiny knot of unease settled in Ethan's chest.
***
Across town...
Selena sat inside a quiet cafÃĐ, watching the city through the large glass windows while sipping her coffee.
Her phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
She answered.
"It's done," Lucien said.
"They've started looking."
Selena smiled faintly.
"Good."
"You realize this won't destroy him."
"I know."
"It'll only make him suspicious."
"That's the point."
Lucien chuckled softly.
"You enjoy this."
"No."
She looked outside as people hurried down the sidewalk.
"I enjoy watching people panic when they realize they aren't in control anymore."
Lucien remained silent for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"You've changed more than I imagined."
"No."
Selena's voice turned quiet.
"I've simply stopped pretending."
***
Inside Sterling Technologies...
The emergency meeting quickly became heated.
"I've checked the records three times," the finance director insisted.
"These payments don't match our approved vendor contracts."
Another executive frowned.
"They were signed digitally."
"By whom?"
Everyone turned toward Ethan.
His jaw tightened.
"I approved every legitimate transaction."
"Then someone used your authorization."
The room fell silent.
Ethan's expression darkened.
"Find out who."
Immediately.
***
Meanwhile...
Aria was scrolling through social media when she noticed rumors beginning to spread.
Nothing major.
Just anonymous business accounts discussing possible financial irregularities inside Sterling Technologies.
No company name.
No proof.
But enough to attract attention.
She frowned.
Could this affect Ethan?
She quickly called him.
He answered after several rings.
"I'm busy."
"Ethan, are you okay?"
"I'm handling it."
"I saw rumors online."
"Rumors are just rumors."
His voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
Aria knew him well enough to recognize when he was forcing confidence.
Something was wrong.
***
Later that evening...
Lucien met Selena in the underground parking garage beneath one of his company's buildings.
The place was nearly empty.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed through the concrete space.
"You asked me to investigate the shell company further."
He handed her another folder.
"I found something interesting."
Selena opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Bank transfers.
Meeting schedules.
Security camera screenshots.
One particular image caught her attention.
Her fingers froze.
"...Impossible."
Lucien watched her carefully.
"You recognize him?"
Selena slowly nodded.
The man in the photograph wasn't one of Ethan's employees.
He wasn't a businessman.
He wasn't an investor.
He was the same lawyer who had convinced Selena to sign away every remaining asset during her previous life.
The lawyer she had believed was acting independently.
Now...
There he was.
Meeting Ethan in secret years before everything fell apart.
A cold rage settled inside her.
"So it wasn't coincidence," she whispered.
Lucien stepped closer.
"What does this mean?"
"It means..."
She clenched the photograph tightly.
"They planned everything long before I ever suspected them."
Every betrayal.
Every forged signature.
Every stolen investment.
Every lie.
It had all been carefully prepared.
She hadn't simply trusted the wrong people.
She had walked straight into a trap they had built together.
Lucien studied her expression.
"You look angry."
Selena laughed quietly.
"No."
"I'm relieved."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Relieved?"
"Because now I know I wasn't weak."
She looked directly at the photograph.
"I was hunted."
***
Across the city...
Ethan stood alone in his office overlooking the skyline.
His assistant entered again.
"Sir..."
"What now?"
"We traced the anonymous email."
Ethan looked up sharply.
"And?"
"It came from a public network."
"No usable identity."
He slammed his fist against the desk.
"Damn it!"
His breathing became uneven.
Someone was watching him.
Someone knew too much.
Someone had started moving before he even realized there was a game being played.
For the first time in years...
Ethan felt something unfamiliar.
Fear.
***
That same night...
Selena returned home and placed every photograph onto her wall beside the names she had already written.
Ethan Carter.
Aria Brooks.
The corrupt lawyer.
The fake vendors.
The hidden accounts.
Red strings now connected them all.
Her revenge was no longer based on memories alone.
It was becoming evidence.
She picked up a black marker and wrote one sentence across the top of the board.
Everyone who helped destroy me...
...will fall together.
She stepped back, her eyes calm and unwavering.
The hunt had only just begun.
- Writer
