The café door swung open with a sharp clink as two men in dark suits entered, their expressions unreadable. Ava didn’t flinch, but her pulse spiked as they approached Claire’s table. Claire’s smirk faltered, her gaze flicking between the men and Ava, her confidence wavering for the first time.
“Ms. Whitmore,” one of the men said, his voice smooth but firm. “We need to speak with you regarding some discrepancies in the Carter Industries merger documents.”
Claire’s fingers tightened around her cup, her knuckles white. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
The second man placed a file on the table, his voice low. “Section 12.4. We believe you can shed some light on its origins.”
Claire’s breath hitched, her gaze darting to Ava, her voice sharp. “This is a setup.”
Ava’s voice was calm
