Twisted Billionaire Lies

Chapter 6:Shadows Exposed

Sophie couldn't get the discomfort that had crept over her gone. David's old pier encounter had

been both illuminating and horrific. Her awareness of being watched became stronger with

every stride she made now. Still, she understood she and Ethan had to move on ahead.

Back at Black Enterprises, the air was charged with conflict. Sophie looked at Ethan, wrinkled

brows perusing a pile of papers. Although they had found proof linking a top executive to the

illicit behavior, the issue was: how far-reaching the wrongdoing was?

"Do you believe the board understands?" Her voice a quiet whisper, Sophie asked.

Ethan raised his dark, worried eyes. "It's difficult to say. Still, we have to find out. This firm is at

major risk if the rot reaches the top.

The office door sprang open just as Sophie was ready to reply. Isabella Greene, Sophie's

estranged sister, was standing there staring with determination.

"Isabella?!" Standing, Sophie said with a mix of astonishment and mistrust. "What are you doing

here?

Closing the door behind her, Isabella looked about as though looking for eavesdropping

devices. "I have knowledge of your research. I would want to provide assistance.

Ethan looked up an eyebrow. "Why right now? Why now after all this time?

Isabella inhaled deep. "Because I have also been poring into our family's background. I turned

up something. Something that might enable us to highlight the whole truth.

Sophie glanced at Ethan then nodded. " Alright, let us hear it."

Pulling a flash disk from her purse, Isabella "This tracks financial transactions connecting Black

Enterprises to many offshore accounts. Records within our father's authority.

The earth moved under Sophie's feet. "What?" Our father engaged in this as well?

Isabel nodded. "Yes, but I believe he was trying to expose it before he... died."

The disclosure provided Ethan and Sophie the edge they needed. Using Isabella's data, they

resolved to approach Black Enterprises' board directly. There was clear tension in the room as a

board meeting was set for.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Ethan said, his tone cool but forceful. "We have

some major claims to go over."

The board members exchanged nervous looks. One among them questioned, "What is this

about, Ethan?"

Sophie came forward. "We have proof of illicit activity involving a high executive. And it seems

that the corruption stretches back many years, maybe including my father.

The room became stiller as Sophie laid out the proof. The looks of the board members changed

from inquiry to amazement to rage. A guy called Victor Kline got up suddenly among them.

"This is incredible! You have no proof!" he said, but his voice faltered.

Ethan fixed his eyes coldly. We do, in fact. And if you are so confident, maybe you would want

to clarify these transactions?" He projected the Isabella flash drive's data onto a screen.

The color of Victor's face grew faint. "I... I not know what this is."

But the boardroom doors swung open before he could say anything. Many men in suits, badges

shining on their belts came in. The FBI. Everybody stays sitting," one of them said.

The subsequent anarchy blurred things. Other board members including Victor were arrested.

Sophie, Ethan, and Isabella stood alone in the boardroom as the dust cleared.

Isabella smiled seldom and remarked, "You did it." "We performed it."

Ethan slid one arm around Sophie. "This is only starting. Rebuilding this business will take much

effort ahead of us.

The controversy rocked the corporate world over the following several weeks. Though Black

Enterprises was under close examination, a new age started to establish itself with Sophie,

Ethan, and Isabella leading.

Sophie got a call one evening while they were reviewing the most recent ideas for corporate

reorganization. David provided it.

"I have more information," he replied, speaking quickly. "Let me know tonight." The same site.

Sophie hung up with a beating heart. She cast a glance at Isabella and Ethan. David boasts

more. We have to return to the dock.

Foreboding descended over Sophie as they got near the dock. She looked at Ethan, who

nodded conscientiously. Isabella trailed closely behind, her eyes keen and watchful.

They spotted David waiting, his face tense. "I appreciate you coming," he remarked. "You need

to see something here."

But headlights flashed far away before he could explain. Tires screaming, a black SUV caravan

surged at them. Men with firearms came pouring out around them.

Run! David cried, but it was too late.

Quickly overwhelmed, Sophie, Ethan, and Isabella were directed to their knees as the

assailant's commander advanced. Though his voice was shockingly recognizable, his face was

hidden.

Pulling off his mask to show a face Sophie never expected to see, he added, "I warned you to

stop digging."

"You," she said, horror widening her eyes.

The man gave a sneer. Surely, me. It's time for you now to discover the true cost of treachery.

The shadow of approaching danger loomed huge as the screen of night covered them, Sophie

and her comrades teetering on a dangerous cliff with their lives hanging in the balance.

As Sophie stared at the guy before her, her brain spun. The sudden and terrible awareness was

Gregory Harlan, a longtime close friend of her father and a guy she had previously trusted

entirely, was there.

"You were supposed to be our ally," she said, her voice a mix of incredulity and rage.

Gregory laughed, a chilly, miffless sound. Hey, Sophie. You are not sure how far this reaches.

Though foolish, your father believed he could expose us. As you did.

Ethan battled the guys dragging him, his eyes blazing with fury. " Gregory, what do you want

for? Finance? Authority? You already stole everything from us.

Gregory's voice grew gloomy. "This was never primarily about money. That's about control. And

now you have interfered too much.

As Sophie struggled to find a way out, her thoughts flew. They were much outnumbered, hence

any unexpected action may be their last. She had to get some time.

She bluffed, trying to slow him off, saying, "Gregory, if you kill us now, you'll never find out what

else we've unearthed." "We have material tucked away; if we neglect to check in, it becomes

public."

Gregory narrowed his gaze. "you're lying."

"Am I?," asks Sophie shot back. Are you ready to gamble that way? We have already

highlighted several aspects of your business. Imagine the aftermath should the others flee.

Gregory looked at him with a flickering unease. He looked back at his guys. Find them. Look for

whatever they own.

Sophie nodded slightly at Ethan as the henchmen started to pat them down. He could see the

risk she was running. Conversely, Isabella kept a stubborn silence, staring Gregory straight

ahead.

A loud smash sounded across the dock as one of the men reached for a little gadget from

Ethan's pocket. As sirens cried, brilliant lights poured over the space.

"freeze! FBI!" Agents arrived on the scene armed, yelling demands.

pandemonium broke out. Gregory's men scattered shooting the FBI agents. Ethan lunged at the

man clutching Sophie, releasing her in the mist of confusion. Breaking away too, Isabella kicked

another man in the shin.

"Run!," Pulling Sophie to her feet, Ethan yelled.

Bullets zipping past them, the three ran across the maze-like pier. Though their main attention

was escape, they could hear the noises of the continuous battle behind them.

At the extreme end of the pier, they came across an old, rusty gate. Adrenaline pumping, Ethan

kicked it open and they staggered into the darkness into the cover of the surrounding forest.

Heaving hard, they slowed down to make sure they were not being pursued. Sophie turned

around to see the pier a center of moving lights and action.

Stopped in a quiet spot, they took time to recover. Ethan pained, his eyes darting about, "That

was too close."

David... what happened to David? Concern in her voice, Isabella inquired.

Sophie gave a head shake. I'm not sure. We have to presume he has been taken prisoner or

worse. Still, we cannot go back right now. We have to reorganize and decide what to do going

forward.

Ethan gestured. We need allies. One cannot tackle this by himself.

The three headed for an ancient family cottage buried out in the wilderness, a safe refuge. Once

inside, they closed the doors and put on one low light.

Pacing the room, Sophie remarked, "We have to get in touch with the journalist." "They offer our

best opportunity to fully present this narrative."

Wasabella nodded. "I will be able to call. If something happens to us, we also need to make

sure all of our proof is ready for public release.

Ethan settled down and massaged his temples. Though not safe, at least we have a shot.

Gregory has been revealed; the FBI is engaged. It's starting.

Sophie felt both optimism and anxiety as they settled in for the evening. Though they were still

standing, they had endured extreme risk. Though their struggle was far from finished, for the

first time they had a real chance to expose the corruption consuming so much from them.

Looking at Ethan and Isabella, Sophie saw their features set despite weariness. They were

more powerful when taken together. And taken collectively, they would see this through to the

finish.

The three planned in the darkness of the cabin, prepared to meet whatever was ahead. Though

the fight was only getting started, they were certain they would not back down. Not now, never.