Ryan had always trusted his instincts.43Please respect copyright.PENANAvCOkgpQMAn
It's what made him a sharp businessman and an even sharper leader.43Please respect copyright.PENANAFqAIgMpkqA
But lately, it wasn't just boardroom politics bothering him.43Please respect copyright.PENANA6dHVAmqkK3
It was the cold prickle on his neck... every time Samantha walked alone.
Every time Angelique smiled in a crowd.
Every time something didn't feel right.
He reviewed the firm's CCTV footage again—footage from the parking lot, the lobby, the daycare drop-off.
And there she was.
Trina.
Once.43Please respect copyright.PENANAP9TJQlqswO
Twice.43Please respect copyright.PENANA6chuxtirFS
In places she had no reason to be.
She never approached. Never said a word.43Please respect copyright.PENANAUdXeh3pimY
But she was always watching.
Ryan's jaw clenched.43Please respect copyright.PENANAHaBMqeCqZp
He hit pause. Screenshot. Saved.43Please respect copyright.PENANAZgvIQPf1KG
Then he stood up.
"No more waiting."
That night, he drove to Samantha's house unannounced.43Please respect copyright.PENANAaMTuVrHzwN
She opened the door, wearing one of his old hoodies and a curious expression.
"Is everything okay?"
"No," he said bluntly. "But it will be. I need to talk to you."
Over coffee, Ryan laid out everything—his suspicions, the footage, the patterns.
Samantha listened quietly. She didn't flinch.
"I always felt it," she admitted softly. "But I didn't want to believe she'd go that far."
"She's escalating," Ryan said. "I think she's planning something."
Sam nodded, eyes sharp now. "Then we plan something too."
The next day, Ryan made two phone calls:43Please respect copyright.PENANAGQZ86oyvxQ
One to Private Security.43Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ty5nFdYMh
One to Legal Affairs.
Samantha would be protected. Watched. Guarded.
He wasn't taking chances.43Please respect copyright.PENANA5sJ0zEfLRK
Not again.
But elsewhere in the city...43Please respect copyright.PENANAByQPucUtH5
Trina was reading an email.
It was a reply.43Please respect copyright.PENANAh7hDG5wf3O
From an anonymous PR handler.43Please respect copyright.PENANAai2ugK7N4v
One she paid to publish something under a fake tip-off.
"Article goes live in 48 hours. Your name stays clean."43Please respect copyright.PENANAGwWgBIXN8R
"Do you want to remain anonymous?"
Trina smiled.
"Absolutely."
And so, the stage was set.43Please respect copyright.PENANA8PNv3cBkgJ
One man protecting.43Please respect copyright.PENANApjiQvEoYJ6
One woman plotting.43Please respect copyright.PENANAfHK9OOSg1X
And one storm just waiting to break.
43Please respect copyright.PENANAISIuRDWHD3