Chapter 14: The Counterattack
1279 Words
Irene's plan was both simple and terrifying: she would appear to capitulate to Sara's demands while secretly gathering evidence of the conspiracy. It was a tightrope, one lined with blades. One wrong tilt of her weight, one poorly timed step, one slip in her voice — anything could give Sara the ammunition she needed to destroy Phoenix Entertainment completely. The risk was enormous, the danger suffocating, yet it was the only path that allowed Irene to fight back without tipping her hand.
She’d always been brave when it came to business, but this was different. This wasn’t a negotiation or a hostile takeover. This was psychological warfare, and she was being pushed to the front line whether she liked it or not.
Still, the idea of doing nothing was worse.
The first step was the hardest. She had to call Sara and ask for help — something she never imagined she’d ever have to do.
She sat at her desk for a full minute, staring at the phone, forcing herself to breathe normally. When she finally dialed, her fingers trembled.
“Sara? It’s Irene. I… I think I need to talk to you.”
Sara’s voice came instantly, bright with practiced sympathy, but Irene heard the static beneath — the faint hum of satisfaction she couldn’t quite hide.
“Oh honey, I’ve been so worried about you. I saw the news about the lawsuits.”
“It’s worse than what’s been reported.” Irene let her voice waver purposely, like someone trying and failing to sound strong. “The police want to interview me tomorrow, and my lawyers think there might be federal charges coming.” She let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Oh, Irene. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.” Sara’s tone softened in a way that sounded almost maternal — but Irene felt the cold edge underneath. “But you know, sometimes when things get this bad, the best option is to step back and let someone else handle the problems.”
“What do you mean?” Irene asked, lowering her voice as if afraid someone was listening.
“Well,” Sara hummed thoughtfully, “I heard through the grapevine that there might be some buyers interested in Phoenix Entertainment. If you were to sell now, before things get worse, you could walk away with enough money to start fresh somewhere else. Away from all these legal troubles.”
The way she said “away” made Irene’s stomach twist. It was the same tone Morrison had used when he implied “prison” was a real possibility.
“I… I don’t know if I’m ready to give up on the company,” she whispered.
Sara gave a soft, pitying laugh. “Sometimes giving up is the smartest thing you can do. Especially when the alternative might be prison.”
The casual cruelty of the statement nearly knocked the air from Irene’s lungs. She gripped the edge of her desk, fighting the urge to hang up. This was a woman she had once loved like a sister — now weaponizing her fears with stunning ease.
“Could we meet? I… I could use a friend right now.”
“Of course, honey. Tomorrow evening. I know a quiet place where we can talk privately.”
After they hung up, Irene stayed frozen for several seconds. Her hands were shaking — badly. She placed the phone down slowly, afraid she might drop it. The office around her felt colder than usual, the shadows sharper. Even the distant hum of the building’s air system felt strange and intrusive, as if the whole world was leaning in to hear her breaking.
Marcus found her like that an hour later, staring blankly at her hands.
“How did it go?”
“She took the bait.” Irene raised her eyes to him, and he immediately saw the fear behind them. “We’re meeting tomorrow night.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “Marcus… what if we’re wrong? What if Sara really was my friend once, and this is just about money and jealousy? What if I’m about to destroy someone who genuinely cared about me?”
Marcus sat across from her, his expression softening. “Irene… think about everything that’s happened. The timing of her reappearance. The sophistication of the attacks. The coordination with Morrison’s clients. This isn’t the work of a jealous friend.” His voice dropped lower. “This is the work of a professional operative.”
“But what if—”
“No.” Marcus’s tone sharpened, cutting through the room like a blade. “You can’t afford to second-guess yourself now. Sara made her choice when she decided to destroy you. Whatever she was to you in the past… she’s your enemy now.”
Irene closed her eyes, letting his words settle. The truth didn’t comfort her, but it anchored her. She couldn’t let nostalgia cloud her vision — not when everything she’d built was on the line.
That evening, as she prepared for the most important meeting of her life, her phone rang again. The screen showed her parents’ home number. A cold rush of dread slid down her spine.
“Mom?”
“Irene, honey, I’m calling because something strange happened today.” Her mother tried to sound calm, but Irene instantly heard the tremor beneath her composed tone. “A woman came by the house claiming to be a friend of yours from college. She said her name was Sara, and she wanted to talk about some problems you were having.”
Irene felt her heart slam against her ribs. “What did she say?”
“She was very concerned about you. Said you were in some kind of legal trouble and that she was trying to help.” Her mother hesitated. “She asked a lot of questions about your childhood, your personality… whether you’d ever been dishonest about anything.”
Irene’s fingers tightened around her phone. “Mom, listen to me carefully. That woman is not my friend. She’s trying to hurt me and the company. If she comes back, don’t talk to her — and call the police immediately.”
“Oh my God, Irene. What’s happening? Are you in danger?”
Irene swallowed, her throat tight. “I’m handling it. But I need you and Dad to be careful. No reporters. No strangers. I’m texting you a security number. Call it if anything feels off — even a little.”
Her mother agreed, though her voice shook, and Irene hung up with a heavy heart.
She called Marcus immediately.
“She’s escalating faster than we expected. She already approached my parents.”
“What did she want?”
“Information about my character. My history. Anything she can use to create a psychological profile or exploit weaknesses.”
Marcus went silent for several long seconds. Then: “Irene… we need to consider the possibility that tomorrow night’s meeting is a trap.”
“Of course it’s a trap.” Irene leaned back in her chair, letting the exhaustion wash over her. “That’s why it’s going to work.”
Marcus frowned audibly. “What do you mean?”
“Sara thinks she’s manipulating me into surrendering. She’ll be confident. Maybe too confident.” Irene exhaled slowly. “People make mistakes when they think they’ve already won.”
“And if she doesn’t make mistakes?” Marcus asked quietly.
"Then we're in trouble. But Marcus, we're already in trouble. At least this way, we're taking control of the situation instead of just reacting to it."
- Writer
