Chapter 6: The Night of truth
878 Words
We had two options:
Confront Uma and get the truth.
Follow the trail and find out who was really behind this.
Lor wanted option one. I wanted option two.
So we compromised.
We’d bait Uma into revealing what she knew.
Lor called her up, voice casual, as if nothing had happened. “Uma, let’s meet for drinks. Just us.”
There was a pause. Then Uma’s voice came through. “You sure that’s a good idea, Lor?”
Lor laughed. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
Another pause.
Then, Uma chuckled. “Alright, sis. Let’s do it.”
The call ended.
I looked at Lor. “She knows something’s up.”
Lor smirked. “Good.”
We had just set a trap.
The only question was—who was going to fall into it first?
The bar was dimly lit, the kind of place where deals were made in hushed voices and trust was as thin as the cigarette smoke curling toward the ceiling.
Lor sat at a small round table, a drink in front of her, her fingers tapping lightly against the glass. I was positioned at the bar, watching. Waiting.
Then Uma walked in.
She was dressed to kill—a sleek black dress, high heels, and that smirk that could cut glass.
“Lor,” she said, sliding into the seat across from her. “This is… unexpected.”
Lor forced a smile. “Oh, come on, Uma. We’re sisters. Can’t we just have a drink?”
Uma tilted her head. “Since when do you do casual?”
I watched as Lor leaned forward, dropping the act. “Fine. Let’s not pretend. I know about you and Dan.”
Uma didn’t even blink. “So?”
Lor’s jaw tightened. “So? You don’t even deny it?”
Uma sighed, rolling her eyes. “Dan is a big boy, Lor. If he was so devoted to you, he wouldn’t have looked at me twice.”
I could see Lor’s hands tremble slightly, but she kept her voice steady. “This isn’t just about Dan.”
Uma raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Lor hesitated, then said, “It’s about why you’re really here.”
Uma’s smirk faltered for just a second. It was subtle, but I caught it.
She knew.
Lor leaned in even closer. “I know about the company, Uma. I know about what happened to me.”
Uma exhaled slowly, then swirled the drink in her hand. She wasn’t surprised. That meant she knew all along.
“You always were too smart for your own good,” Uma finally said.
Lor didn’t back down. “Who sent you?”
A slow, wicked smile spread across Uma’s lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I had heard enough. I got up from the bar and made my way to their table.
“Uma,” I said smoothly, sliding into the seat next to Lor.
Her eyes flickered with amusement. “Benny. What a surprise.”
I smirked. “You never were good at surprises, Uma.”
She chuckled, taking a sip of her drink. “And you were never good at minding your own business.”
Lor folded her arms. “Tell us the truth, Uma. Who are you working for?”
Uma exhaled, then leaned back in her chair. “You know, for years, I’ve watched you walk around like you owned the world, Lor. And now? You’re just a woman begging for answers.”
Lor’s expression darkened. “I’m not begging.”
Uma smirked. “Oh, but you are.”
Silence.
Then Lor said something that made Uma’s face drop.
“I already know about the offshore accounts.”
Uma’s smirk vanished.
I didn’t know what Lor was playing at, but it was working.
Lor tilted her head. “I know about the money. I know about the buyouts. And I know you weren’t acting alone.”
Uma’s fingers tightened around her glass. “Who told you that?”
Lor’s lips curved into a small smile. “That’s for me to know.”
Uma studied her for a long moment. Then she sighed, shaking her head. “You think you’re clever. But you don’t even realize how deep this goes.”
Lor didn’t flinch. “Then enlighten me.”
Uma chuckled softly, but there was no humor in it. “I’m not the enemy you should be worried about, Lor.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Then who is?”
Uma finished her drink and placed the glass down carefully. “You’re looking in the wrong direction.”
Lor leaned in. “Then give me the right one.”
Uma exhaled, staring at the table for a long moment. Then, finally, she said two words.
“Burn Hidds.”
Everything went still.
Burn.
The so-called lackey. The one who had taken Lor’s position. The man who was always lurking in Dan’s shadow.
I felt a chill crawl down my spine.
Uma met my gaze. “You think Dan’s the real problem? He’s just a pawn.”
Lor’s voice was quiet but sharp. “Then who’s playing the game?”
Uma smirked. “You already know.”
And just like that, she stood up and walked away, leaving us in silence.
- Writer
