Chapter 3 - THE PENTHOUSE SANCTUARY
The Sterling Tower penthouse was a fortress in the sky. Bulletproof glass, biometric locks, and armed guards at the private elevator. For the first time in two years, Rosa took off her worn shoes and breathed without feeling a cold sweat on her neck.
Alexander cleared his schedule. The ruthless billionaire who usually commanded boardrooms spent the entire evening sitting on the plush rug, letting Mia serve him imaginary tea in tiny plastic cups he had his assistant rush-deliver.
"Does Barnaby want a cookie?" Alexander asked, gesturing to the ragged, one-eared bear.
"Barnaby is full," Mia said seriously. "He has a heavy tummy."
Rosa, watching from the kitchen island, froze. A heavy tummy.
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She walked over to Mia and gently took the bear. She looked at Alexander. "David didn't just tell me about the defective steel," Rosa whispered. "He downloaded the encrypted blueprints and the financial wire transfers proving Victor took bribes. He hid the drive the night before he died."
Rosa pulled a seam ripper from her sewing kit. Carefully, she opened the bear’s back. Hidden deep inside the stuffing was a black, encrypted USB drive. The key to taking down a corrupt empire.
