Chapter 3 - The Enemy of My Enemy
Evelyn stared down the dark barrel of the silenced pistol, forcing herself to maintain absolute composure.
Lucas explained that he had been tracking Julian's financial movements for months and realized Evelyn was the designated scapegoat.
He broke into her hidden apartment to determine if she was a willing accomplice in the embezzlement or just an ignorant victim.
Evelyn slowly reached into her pocket, ignoring Lucas's sharp warning not to make any sudden moves.
She pulled out her encrypted mobile terminal and turned the glowing screen toward him to prove she was actively fighting back.
She showed him the decrypted elimination protocol and Julian's stolen biometric signature.
Lucas lowered his weapon slowly, his tense posture relaxing as he realized they shared a mutual, burning desire to destroy the Blackwood empire.
He proposed a highly dangerous alliance, warning her that their odds of surviving the week were incredibly low.
They needed the physical offshore ledger to prove Julian's guilt, which was stored on a solid-state drive.
Lucas revealed that Julian kept the drive secured in an advanced biometric safe hidden inside his private penthouse.
Evelyn's lifted thumbprint was their only ticket inside, but the penthouse was guarded by secondary thermal sensors.
Lucas provided her with a prototype thermal-masking suit, designed to make her completely invisible to the high-tech alarm system.
Evelyn traveled to the luxurious residential wing of the Blackwood Tower, using her administrative keycard to bypass the main lobby.
She silently entered the dark penthouse and located the hidden wall safe behind a massive, abstract contemporary painting.
She applied the digital thumbprint to the scanner, and the heavy steel door clicked open, revealing the silver solid-state drive.
She reached out to grab the drive, her heart soaring with the promise of victory.
Just as her fingers brushed the cold metal, she heard the heavy penthouse doors unlock and swing open.
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Julian’s arrogant voice echoed through the marble foyer, and she could hear the clicking heels of a woman walking beside him.
Evelyn realized with a sickening jolt that she was completely trapped in the master bedroom with no viable exit.
