Enemies to lovers:Rival tech CEOs

The Woman We Trusted

Chapter 9 — The Woman We Trusted

Ava stared at the piece of paper in her trembling hands.

One name stood out from the others.

Maya Rodriguez.

For several seconds, the noise of the city disappeared.

The water.

The traffic.

The distant sirens.

Everything faded beneath the weight of that single name.

Maya.

Her best friend.

Her CTO.

The woman who had stood beside her when LunaMatch had been nothing more than an idea scribbled across a notebook.

The woman who had stayed awake with her during their first product launch.

The woman who had defended her in meetings, celebrated her victories, and held her together after every setback.

Maya couldn't be involved.

She couldn't.

Ava looked at Alexander.

He was staring at the list too.

His expression was unreadable.

"Say something," Ava whispered.

Alexander didn't.

His eyes remained fixed on Maya's name.

Ava snatched the paper back.

"There has to be an explanation."

"There usually is."

She looked at him.

"But?"

"But we can't ignore it."

Ava shook her head.

"I won't believe Maya betrayed me."

"I didn't say she did."

"You were thinking it."

Alexander looked toward Daniel, who was still unconscious on the ground.

"I think someone wants us to believe she did."

Ava froze.

"What?"

"Think about it."

Alexander pointed at the paper.

"Daniel was shot immediately after telling us he had proof. Then we're given a list containing the name of someone you trust."

"Why would they frame Maya?"

"Because they know exactly what would hurt you."

Ava stared at him.

"Or because she really is involved."

Alexander didn't answer.

That silence hurt more than she expected.

"You're not going to accuse her."

"No."

"Promise me."

He looked into her eyes.

"I promise I won't accuse anyone without evidence."

Ava nodded.

That was enough.

For now.

The sound of approaching sirens grew louder.

Alexander looked down the pier.

"We need to get Daniel somewhere safe."

"Where?"

"Not a hospital."

Ava frowned.

"Why?"

"Because if someone can access our systems, they may have access to emergency records too."

She stared at him.

"You think they'd come after him in a hospital?"

"I think we don't know what they're capable of."

Maya's voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Then where are we taking him?"

Ava turned.

Maya was standing several feet away.

Her hair was disheveled.

Her face was pale.

Ava's heart tightened.

For one awful second, she wondered whether Maya knew what was on the paper.

Maya looked at Daniel.

"Oh my God."

She rushed forward.

"What happened?"

"He's been shot," Ava said.

Maya's eyes filled with fear.

"Who did this?"

"We don't know."

Maya looked at Alexander.

Then Ava.

"Did he say anything?"

Ava hesitated.

"He gave us a list."

Maya's expression changed.

"What kind of list?"

Ava studied her.

"A list of people connected to the original conspiracy."

Maya went still.

"Who was on it?"

Ava didn't answer immediately.

Maya noticed.

"What?"

Ava finally said, "You."

Maya's face drained of color.

"What?"

"Your name was on the list."

Maya took a step backward.

"No."

"I don't believe it."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

Ava's eyes filled with tears.

"Because I don't know what to think."

Maya shook her head violently.

"I didn't do anything."

Alexander stepped between them.

"Nobody is accusing you."

Maya looked at him.

"But she thinks I betrayed her."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Maya's voice broke.

Ava immediately regretted her hesitation.

"Maya..."

"No."

Maya wiped her eyes.

"You should know me better than this."

Ava looked down.

"I do."

"Do you?"

Silence.

Maya turned away.

"I've spent eight years helping you build LunaMatch."

"I know."

"I was there when investors laughed at your idea."

"I know."

"I was there when Veyra filed the first lawsuit."

"I know."

"I defended you when everyone said you were reckless."

Ava swallowed.

"I know."

Maya looked at her.

"Then trust me."

Ava couldn't speak.

Maya's eyes softened.

"I would never betray you."

Ava finally stepped forward.

"I believe you."

Maya looked at her.

"Then why did you hesitate?"

Ava's voice cracked.

"Because I'm scared."

Maya's anger disappeared.

"Of me?"

"No."

Ava looked at Daniel.

"Of everyone."

Maya followed her gaze.

Then she whispered, "So am I."

Alexander crouched beside Daniel.

"We need to move."

Maya nodded.

Together, they carried Daniel toward the car.

But Ava couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Not with Maya.

With the list.

Seven names.

Why those seven?

And why had Maya's name been the last?

---

They took Daniel to an old private medical clinic owned by one of Alexander's father's former associates.

The doctor treated Daniel immediately.

Ava waited outside the room.

Alexander stood beside the window.

Maya sat silently across from them.

No one spoke.

Finally, Ava broke the silence.

"Maya."

Maya looked up.

"I'm sorry."

Maya gave a small smile.

"I know."

"I shouldn't have doubted you."

"You had every reason to."

"No."

Ava shook her head.

"I should have remembered who you are."

Maya looked away.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Maya said, "There's something I need to tell you."

Ava's heart tightened.

"What?"

Maya hesitated.

"I knew Ethan Reed."

Ava froze.

Alexander turned immediately.

"What?"

Maya looked at him.

"I met him before LunaMatch launched."

Ava stared.

"You never told me."

"I didn't think it mattered."

"How did you meet him?"

"At a technology conference."

"When?"

"About two years before he disappeared."

Alexander moved closer.

"What did he want?"

Maya looked at Ava.

"He asked about LunaMatch."

Ava frowned.

"Why?"

"He was interested in the algorithm."

"Did he ask for access?"

"Not exactly."

Maya lowered her voice.

"He asked whether you had discovered anything unusual in the compatibility data."

Ava felt a chill.

"What kind of unusual data?"

"I didn't know what he meant."

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Did he mention NorthStar?"

Maya nodded.

"Once."

Ava's heart sank.

"What did he say?"

Maya looked at her.

"He told me NorthStar wasn't a company."

Alexander frowned.

"Then what was it?"

Maya whispered:

"A network."

The word hung in the air.

Ava looked at Alexander.

"A network of what?"

"Companies. Investors. Developers. Politicians. Lawyers."

Alexander's face darkened.

"People who could manipulate the technology industry."

Maya nodded.

"Ethan said they were interested in companies that collected large amounts of personal data."

Ava felt sick.

"Dating apps."

"Exactly."

Alexander stared at the floor.

"So they targeted us."

Maya nodded.

"But why make us enemies?"

"Because competition made both companies weaker."

Ava suddenly understood.

If LunaMatch and Veyra were busy fighting lawsuits, neither would notice the real threat.

The enemy had created a war as a distraction.

And it had worked.

For two years.

Ava sat down.

"How much does Ethan know?"

Maya looked at her.

"More than anyone."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Did he tell you where he was going?"

Maya shook her head.

"He disappeared shortly after our conversation."

Alexander crossed his arms.

"Then why did you keep this from Ava?"

Maya looked hurt.

"Because Ethan threatened me."

Ava stood.

"What?"

"He told me that if I said anything, you'd be next."

Silence.

Ava's chest tightened.

"Maya..."

"I was trying to protect you."

Ava walked toward her.

"You should have told me."

"I know."

"But you were scared."

Maya nodded.

"Yes."

Ava hugged her.

Maya broke down against her shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

Across the room, Alexander watched them.

His phone vibrated.

He looked down.

A message.

UNKNOWN:

You're getting closer.

Another message appeared.

But you're still trusting the wrong person.

Alexander's eyes narrowed.

Then another message arrived.

Look at Maya's bank account.

He slowly lifted his eyes.

Maya was still embracing Ava.

He didn't want to believe it.

But he couldn't ignore it.

Alexander opened his secure system.

He searched Maya's name.

At first, nothing appeared.

Then he found a transaction.

A large payment.

Sent six months earlier.

From an offshore account.

The recipient:

Maya Rodriguez.

Alexander's heart sank.

He looked at the amount.

Then at Maya.

There was only one problem.

The payment had been made before the first major LunaMatch data breach.

Alexander stared at the screen.

If Maya had received the money, it didn't necessarily mean she had betrayed Ava.

But it meant she had hidden something.

And now he had to decide whether to tell Ava.

Before he could, the doctor stepped out.

"She's awake."

Ava turned.

"Victoria?"

The doctor nodded.

"She wants to speak to you."

Ava rushed inside.

Victoria was pale but conscious.

Her eyes immediately found Alexander.

"You came."

"Of course."

Victoria looked at Ava.

"You need to listen carefully."

Ava took her hand.

"I'm listening."

Victoria struggled to breathe.

"The person behind NorthStar..."

Alexander stepped closer.

"Who is it?"

Victoria looked at him.

"Someone who has been close to you since the beginning."

Ava's stomach tightened.

"Who?"

Victoria's eyes moved toward the door.

Then she whispered:

"Your father knew."

Alexander froze.

"Knew what?"

"Who the real enemy was."

Victoria closed her eyes.

"And he trusted the wrong person."

Ava leaned closer.

"Who did he trust?"

Victoria opened her eyes again.

Her lips trembled.

"His son."

Alexander went completely still.

Ava stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Victoria looked directly at Alexander.

"Your father believed you were the only person who could stop them."

Alexander's voice was barely audible.

"Stop who?"

Victoria's eyes filled with tears.

"The people who murdered him."

She squeezed Ava's hand.

"And they are still inside Veyra."

Suddenly, the clinic lights went out.

Ava heard a sharp electronic beep.

Then every monitor in the room switched on at once.

A single message appeared on all of them.

YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED LOOKING.

Then a second line appeared.

NOW YOU WILL LEARN WHY YOUR FATHER DIED.

Alexander stared at the screens.

For the first time, Ava saw something she had never seen in him before.

Fear.

And beneath it—

recognition.

"Alexander?"

He didn't answer.

His eyes remained fixed on the message.

Because he knew the code appearing beneath it.

It was the same code his father had used in the final message he left before he died.