BENEATH HIS SECRET

THE BLUE FILE

The underground corridor was colder than Amara expected.

Her footsteps echoed against the concrete walls as she followed Adrian deeper into the building.

She glanced around.

"Does your company always have secret underground corridors?"

Adrian didn't look back.

"No."

"Then why does this one exist?"

"My father built this section of the building years ago."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Amara frowned.

"You really don't know much about your own building."

Adrian gave her a brief look.

"Not everything my father did was explained to me."

They continued walking.

At the end of the corridor stood a heavy metal door.

Two security guards were waiting beside it.

When they saw Adrian, they immediately stepped aside.

"Mr. Blackwood."

Adrian nodded.

"Where is the file?"

"Inside."

One of the guards unlocked the door.

Amara followed Adrian into the room.

It was much larger than she expected.

Rows of metal cabinets filled the walls. Old documents were stacked inside sealed boxes, and several security monitors covered one side of the room.

A security officer stood beside a table.

On it was a blue folder.

Amara stopped.

Her heart began beating faster.

It was exactly as the stranger had described.

The blue file.

Adrian walked toward it.

"Who found it?"

The officer raised his hand.

"I did, sir."

"Where?"

"In cabinet seventeen."

"Was the cabinet locked?"

"Yes."

Adrian looked at him.

"Then how did you open it?"

"I didn't."

The officer pointed toward the cabinet.

"It was already open."

Adrian's expression darkened.

He looked at Amara.

"Stay here."

"Why?"

"I'm going to check something."

"I've come this far."

"Amara."

"I want to know what's inside."

Adrian stared at her for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Fine."

He picked up the folder.

The room became silent.

Adrian opened it.

The first thing inside was a photograph.

Amara recognized the woman immediately.

"Elena."

Her sister was standing beside a man Amara had never seen before.

Adrian studied the photograph.

"When was this taken?"

The officer checked the back.

"Five years ago."

Amara stepped closer.

"Who is the man?"

Adrian didn't answer.

She looked at him.

"Adrian."

He turned the photograph over.

A name was written on the back.

Daniel Cross.

Amara frowned.

"Who is Daniel Cross?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"My father's former business associate."

"Is he still alive?"

"I don't know."

Amara stared at him.

"How can you not know?"

"Because he disappeared."

"Like your father?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Yes."

The answer sent a chill through her.

She looked back at the photograph.

"Why was my sister with him?"

"I don't know."

Again.

That answer.

Amara sighed.

"Of course."

Adrian continued through the file.

There were photographs of buildings.

Bank statements.

Names.

Dates.

Copies of newspaper articles.

Then Amara saw something that made her stomach drop.

A photograph of herself.

She reached for it.

"That's me."

Adrian took the photograph from her.

It had been taken outside her university.

She was walking toward the entrance, completely unaware that someone was photographing her.

"When was this taken?" she asked.

Adrian checked the date.

"Three years ago."

Amara stared at him.

"Who was following me?"

"We don't know."

She looked at the next photograph.

Another picture of her.

Then another.

And another.

Different places.

Different days.

Someone had been watching her for years.

"Why?" she whispered.

Adrian didn't answer.

Amara turned another page.

This time, there was a photograph of her mother.

Her breath caught.

She hadn't seen that photograph before.

Her mother was standing outside the same building where Adrian's father had worked.

Amara touched the page.

"My mother."

Adrian stared at it.

"She knew my father."

"You said you didn't know."

"I didn't."

Amara looked at him.

"Then why is she here?"

He didn't have an answer.

Suddenly, one of the security monitors flickered.

The screen went black.

Then another.

Then another.

The security officer moved toward the control panel.

"Sir..."

"What?"

"The cameras are going offline."

Adrian immediately closed the file.

"Lock the door."

The officer rushed toward it.

A loud metallic sound came from the corridor.

Someone had entered the underground level.

Amara's heart raced.

"Who is that?"

Adrian moved in front of her.

"I don't know."

The lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then the entire room went dark.

Amara heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside.

The security officer whispered something.

Adrian raised a finger, signaling everyone to remain silent.

A shadow passed beneath the door.

Then stopped.

Amara held her breath.

Someone was standing outside.

The door handle slowly moved.

Adrian reached for the emergency light.

Before he could turn it on, the door opened.

A figure rushed inside.

Adrian reacted immediately.

The room erupted into confusion.

The stranger grabbed the blue file from the table and ran.

"Stop!"

Adrian chased after him.

Amara remained frozen for half a second.

Then she ran after them.

The stranger disappeared around the corner.

Adrian reached the end of the corridor and stopped.

Nothing.

"He vanished."

Amara caught up.

"How?"

Adrian looked around.

"There must be another exit."

The security officer joined them.

"There's an old service tunnel."

"Where does it lead?" Adrian asked.

"Outside the building."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Check it."

The officer ran away.

Amara looked at Adrian.

"The file."

"I know."

"What if he took everything?"

"He didn't."

"How do you know?"

Adrian reached into his jacket.

He pulled out a small memory card.

"I removed this before he took the folder."

Amara stared.

"You planned that?"

"No."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"For once, I got lucky."

Amara almost laughed.

But the sound died when she noticed something on the floor.

A small piece of paper.

She picked it up.

There were only five words written on it.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE TRUTH.

Amara looked at Adrian.

"Who is 'she'?"

He didn't answer.

"Adrian?"

His eyes remained fixed on the message.

"I don't know."

"You're lying again."

He looked at her.

Before he could respond, his phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

His expression changed.

"What?"

He listened for several seconds.

"Are you certain?"

Another pause.

"Don't let her leave."

He ended the call.

Amara immediately noticed his expression.

"What happened?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Your sister is at the building."

Amara's heart stopped.

"Elena?"

He nodded.

"And she's asking for you."