Not about the investigation.
About her.Her involvement.
Her access to the company’s records.
Her business experience.
Even the extent to which Dorian trusted her judgment.
The more Dorian thought about it, the more unsettling it became.
Whoever was behind the scheme was no longer merely concerned about what they might uncover.
They were studying the people uncovering it, and Brielle had somehow become important enough to warrant their attention.
He glanced at her as they walked through the corridor, watching the determined expression on her face as she went over everything they had learned.
She looked exhausted, yet she showed no intention of stopping.
There was something about her resolve that continued to surprise him.
He had known Brielle for less than a week, yet somehow, he had begun relying on her instincts as though they had worked together for years.
That realization bothered him more than it should have.He didn’t understand why the thought of someone watching her made him uneasy.
He only knew that it did.By the time they reached the exit, Dorian’s phone rang.It was Ms.
Nancy.
‘I think it’s for you.’ He said calmly, handing the phone to Brielle.
‘Hello.’ “Brielle, when are you both coming home?” she asked.
“The babies have been restless, and I think they’re beginning to wonder where everyone has disappeared to.” Brielle’s expression softened immediately.
“We’re coming as soon as we can,” she assured her.
“Please stay with them.” “Of course.
Just don’t forget that there are people waiting for you at home.” Brielle smiled faintly before ending the call.For a moment, neither she nor Dorian spoke.
The reminder of home seemed strangely distant from the mess they had spent the entire day trying to untangle.Then Brielle’s expression hardened again.”The old company,” she said.
Dorian looked at her.
“What about it?” “We keep finding traces of it everywhere, but we still don’t know who kept it alive after it supposedly disappeared.
That’s the missing piece.” Dorian nodded slowly.
“Then we find whoever was keeping it alive.” “And how do you intend to do that?” “I’ll contact Legal.” Brielle immediately shook her head.
“No.” His eyebrows drew together.
“Why?” “Because we still don’t know who we can trust.” Dorian stared at her for a moment before slowly lowering his phone.She was right.
Every time they had believed they were getting closer to the truth, someone had already known what they were doing.
Someone had accessed information they had deliberately kept secret.
Someone had even stolen the notebook containing their evidence.They couldn’t afford another mistake.Brielle rubbed her temple, and Dorian noticed the fatigue she was trying to conceal.
“You should go home.” She looked at him.
“I’m serious.
You’ve barely rested.” “And neither have you.” “I’ll manage.” “So will I.” Dorian exhaled quietly.
“Brielle, this isn’t something you have to carry alone.” Her eyes remained on him.
“Neither do you.” Something about the way she said it made him pause.
“We’re working on this together,” she added.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, those words stayed with him.He nodded.”Together.”They had barely taken a few steps when a notification appeared on Dorian’s phone.He stopped.
“What is it?” Brielle asked.
His eyes moved across the screen.Another transaction had been attempted.Not on the account they had deliberately planted as bait.This was different.It was a dormant company account—one that had not been touched in years.Brielle stepped closer, studying the details.”Someone is still moving money.” Dorian’s jaw tightened.”They know we’re looking.” “No,” Brielle said quietly.
“They know something else.” He looked at her.
“They’re still inside the system.” Neither of them spoke.For the first time that day, the enormity of what they were facing seemed to settle over them.They had spent nearly two days chasing fragments of a scheme that had survived for years.
Every lead seemed to open another door, and every door seemed to reveal another locked room behind it.The deadline was closing in.And they still didn’t know who they were fighting.
Brielle stared at the transaction details for several seconds before finally lifting her eyes.”We can’t stop now.” Dorian looked at her.”I know.” But neither of them could ignore the thought that had silently settled between them.
What if they had already run out of time?
What if the person behind everything was already one step ahead?
And what if, before they could uncover the truth, there would be nothing left to uncover?