Chapter 4 - The Enemy Inside Moretti Holdings
The next morning, I accepted a job at Moretti Holdings.
Adrian hated the idea.
I did it anyway.
I didn't need the money.
I needed answers.
My position was temporary.
Consultant.
Financial operations.
Far enough from Adrian to appear independent.
Close enough to see what was happening.
Ethan Ward greeted me on my first day.
“Evelyn Carter.”
His smile was perfect.
Too perfect.
“I've heard you're brilliant.”
“From whom?”
“Adrian.”
I watched his reaction.
Nothing.
Just a smile.
“Welcome home.”
I thanked him.
He walked away.
My instincts screamed.
I spent three weeks reviewing old contracts.
Then I found something.
A series of payments made seven years earlier.
The dates matched the weeks before my wedding.
The money moved through shell companies.
One company was registered in Delaware.
Another in Boston.
The Boston connection made me freeze.
I followed the account trail.
The final recipient was an offshore holding company.
The listed director was Daniel Carter.
My uncle.
But there was another name attached.
Ethan Ward.
I copied the records.
Before I could send them to Adrian, my office door opened.
Ethan.
“You've been digging.”
My stomach tightened.
“It's my job.”
“Not into that.”
He pointed at my screen.
“You should leave those files alone.”
“Why?”
“You don't understand what you're looking at.”
“Then explain.”
His face changed.
“I don't want you hurt.”
“Threatening me?”
“Warning you.”
He walked away.
I immediately called Adrian.
He answered on the first ring.
“Tell me.”
I sent him the files.
Ten minutes later, he appeared at my office.
“You're leaving.”
“No.”
“Evelyn.”
“I found the connection.”
He looked at the records.
His face darkened.
“I suspected Ethan.”
“Then why keep him?”
“Because he was feeding me information.”
“What?”
“He has been pretending to work for Daniel.”
I stared.
“You knew?”
“Not everything.”
“Then we're both being watched.”
“Yes.”
Adrian looked at me.
“I need you to trust me.”
I shook my head.
“I am trying.”
“That is enough.”
Then every light in the building went out.
Emergency alarms sounded.
People began shouting.
Adrian grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.”
We moved through the corridor.
A gunshot sounded downstairs.
Adrian's security team responded.
We reached a private elevator.
The doors opened.
Inside was Ethan.
He looked terrified.
“Get in!”
Adrian hesitated.
Ethan shouted.
“Now!”
We entered.
The elevator descended.
Then stopped.
Ethan pressed the emergency button.
“We're trapped.”
Adrian stared at him.
“How?”
“I don't know.”
I looked at Ethan.
“You knew the blackout was coming.”
He didn't answer.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Ethan.”
“I swear I didn't do this.”
“Then why were you upstairs?”
“To find Eve.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel knew about the files.”
I looked at him.
“What does he want?”
Ethan's voice cracked.
“You.”
The elevator doors suddenly opened.
A masked man stood outside.
Adrian shoved me backward.
The man fired.
Ethan pulled Adrian down.
The bullet struck the wall.
Security arrived.
The attacker escaped.
Ethan stared at Adrian.
“You see now.”
Adrian helped him stand.
“Did Daniel send him?”
Ethan nodded.
“He knows Eve is alive.”
I whispered:
“Then we stop running.”
Adrian looked at me.
May you like
“What are you saying?”
“We find him.”
