The Confession
304 Words
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Chapter 9: The Confession
The conference room was silent.
Chloe sat across from Aria with her hands cuffed on the table. Her makeup was gone. Her eyes were red.
"I didn’t know he would try to kill you," Chloe whispered. "I swear I didn’t."
Aria didn’t blink. "Start talking."
Chloe took a shaky breath. "It started a year ago. The merger was going to fail. Keith said if we tanked the stock, we could buy it back cheap. Make millions. He said you were going to sell anyway. That you were tired."
"I was never tired," Aria said quietly.
"I know that now." Chloe wiped her face. "Then the plan changed. He said an accident would be cleaner. No investigation if the CEO died. He promised me a VP position. Money. I was stupid. I gave him the schedule. The route you took to work."
Aria’s jaw tightened. "The brakes."
Chloe nodded and cried. "He paid a mechanic. I didn’t think he would actually do it. When I heard about the crash, I panicked. That’s why I ran."
"Where is the proof?" Aria asked.
"Burner phone. Keith still has it. Texts, calls, everything. He keeps it in his safe at the lake house."
Aria stood up. "You’re going to get it for me."
"I can’t. If he sees me—"
"You will," Aria cut in. "Or you go to prison for conspiracy to commit murder."
Chloe broke down completely. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry Aria."
Aria walked to the door and paused. "Save your sorry. Get me that phone."
Outside, her security team was waiting.
"Lake house. Tonight," Aria said. "And I want two officers with me."
As she walked out, her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
One text: `You think you won? This isn’t over.`
Aria deleted it.
98 days left.
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- Writer
