The Video That Changed Everything
866 Words
The call ended, but the silence in the room felt heavier than before.
Elena was still staring at her phone.
Anna’s laughter seemed to echo in her head.
“I didn’t invent anything. I simply shared information.”
Her sister’s words replayed again and again.
Alexander watched her carefully.
“Give me the phone.”
Elena handed it to him without speaking.
Alexander looked at the call log.
“Private number,” he said calmly.
“Of course it is.”
Elena rubbed her temples.
“She knows too much.”
Alexander glanced at her.
“About Marcus?”
Elena nodded slowly.
“That part of my life wasn’t public. Almost no one knew about it.”
“And yet your sister suddenly has enough information to start a national scandal.”
Elena’s chest tightened.
“That’s what scares me.”
Alexander leaned back slightly, studying her.
“Tell me something honestly.”
Elena looked up.
“Yes?”
“Did you ever tell Anna about Marcus?”
Elena shook her head immediately.
“Never.”
Alexander didn’t look surprised.
“Then someone else did.”
Elena frowned.
“But who?”
Before Alexander could answer, a knock came from the door.
His assistant stepped inside.
“Mr. Hale.”
“Yes?”
“There’s another situation.”
Alexander sighed quietly.
“Let me guess. More news articles.”
“Actually… something worse.”
The assistant handed him a tablet.
Alexander looked at the screen.
His expression darkened.
Elena noticed immediately.
“What is it now?”
Alexander turned the tablet toward her.
A video was playing.
Elena’s heart dropped the moment she recognized the scene.
It was old.
Very old.
But she remembered that moment clearly.
The video showed her standing outside a café.
Marcus was in front of her.
They were arguing.
Even without sound, the anger between them was obvious.
Then the video showed Marcus walking away.
And Elena grabbing his arm.
The clip ended right there.
Elena felt her hands start to shake.
“Where did they get this?”
Alexander’s voice was calm, but colder now.
“That video is already spreading on several news sites.”
Elena stared at the screen.
“They cut it.”
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“That’s not the whole video.”
“What happened after that?”
Elena swallowed.
“He came back.”
“And?”
“We argued again.”
“And then?”
“He left.”
Alexander watched her carefully.
“Are you sure that’s all?”
Elena met his gaze.
“Yes.”
Alexander studied her face for a few seconds.
Then he nodded once.
“I believe you.”
Elena blinked.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if you were hiding something,” he said calmly, “you wouldn’t look this terrified.”
Elena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
But the relief didn’t last long.
“Mr. Hale,” the assistant said carefully.
“There’s more.”
Alexander gestured for him to continue.
“The person who uploaded the video…”
The assistant hesitated.
“…used an anonymous account.”
Elena frowned.
“That could be anyone.”
“Yes,” the assistant said.
“But the video description contains a message.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“What message?”
The assistant turned the tablet again.
Below the video was a short sentence.
“The truth about Marcus will come out soon.”
Elena felt a chill run down her spine.
Alexander looked at her.
“You didn’t tell me everything about this man.”
It wasn’t a question.
Elena lowered her gaze.
“I told you the important parts.”
“Did you?”
She stayed silent.
Alexander stood up.
“Elena.”
She looked up again.
“Was Marcus involved in something illegal?”
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
“Then why would someone threaten to reveal the ‘truth’ about him?”
Elena opened her mouth—
but before she could answer, the assistant’s phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Then his expression changed.
“Sir…”
Alexander looked at him.
“What now?”
The assistant hesitated.
“This call is from the city police department.”
The room became very quiet.
Alexander spoke first.
“Put it on speaker.”
The assistant answered the call.
“This is Andrew from Hale Group.”
A deep voice spoke from the other side.
“This is Detective Ramos from the central police division.”
Elena felt her heart start pounding.
Alexander crossed his arms.
“What can we do for you, Detective?”
The man on the phone continued.
“We’re calling regarding a case that recently resurfaced.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Alexander’s voice stayed calm.
“What case?”
There was a brief pause.
Then the detective said something that made Elena’s blood run cold.
“The disappearance of Marcus Delaney.”
Elena gripped the edge of the table.
The detective continued.
“Based on new information that surfaced this morning…”
“…we may need to ask Mrs. Hale a few questions.”
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