The Heiress's Secret

A Dangerous Game

The drive back to the hotel felt endless, the weight of what they had just done pressing heavily on Sophia’s chest. The city lights blurred past the window as her mind raced through every possible outcome. They had evidence now, something that could expose Carmichael’s financial web. But how long would it be before he realized they had struck?

As they pulled into the underground parking garage, James parked the car and turned to Sophia. His face was a mix of exhaustion and resolve. “We can’t stay here much longer. Once Carmichael’s people realize what we’ve done, they’ll come looking for us.”

Sophia nodded, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. “Where do we go?”

“We’ll move locations, get farther out of the city for a while until we figure out the next step,” James replied, glancing toward the elevator. “But before that, we need to talk to Derrick.”

Sophia’s stomach twisted at the mention of Derrick. He had been their lifeline throughout all of this, but the deeper they got into this, the more she realized how much they were relying on his resources. If anything happened to him, they’d be left stranded.

They made their way to the room, the sterile hallways of the hotel adding to Sophia’s growing sense of isolation. Once inside, James immediately pulled out his phone and called Derrick.

“It’s done. We got everything,” James said after Derrick answered. “But we can’t stay here. We need to move fast.”

Sophia watched as James paced the room, listening to Derrick on the other end of the line. She could only hear James’s side of the conversation, but it was enough to gather that things were even more complicated than she had thought.

“Understood,” James said after a long pause. “We’ll meet you there.”

He hung up and turned to Sophia, his expression grim. “Derrick’s got a safe house set up for us just outside the city. We’ll head there tonight.”

Sophia felt a mix of relief and apprehension. “Are we safe there?”

“As safe as we can be,” James said, gathering a few essential items into a bag. “But it’s temporary. Derrick’s trying to dig up more dirt on Carmichael, but until then, we need to keep a low profile.”

Sophia nodded, understanding the precariousness of their situation. She helped James pack quickly, her mind racing. There was so much left to do, and every minute they stayed in one place felt like a ticking time bomb.

The safe house was a small cabin nestled in a secluded area just outside the city limits. It was hidden among trees, with a long, winding driveway that made it nearly impossible to spot from the main road. The isolation brought a strange sense of calm, though Sophia knew it wouldn’t last.

When they arrived, Derrick was already there, waiting for them. He was sitting on the porch, his phone in hand and a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. His sharp gaze followed them as they parked the car and approached.

“You made it,” Derrick said, flicking the cigarette away. “Good. Things are getting messy, and fast.”

Sophia’s heart sank at his words. “What do you mean?”

Derrick stood up, his expression hard. “I mean, Carmichael’s people are already scrambling. That deal you interrupted? It was a big one, and now he’s got his entire network trying to figure out who’s behind it. He’ll be on to you soon.”

James clenched his jaw, his frustration evident. “How long do we have?”

“Not long,” Derrick admitted. “Maybe a few days, a week at best. He’s not going to stop until he finds you.”

Sophia swallowed the lump in her throat. “And what happens when he does?”

Derrick’s eyes darkened. “He’ll make sure you disappear. Permanently.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Sophia felt the weight of Derrick’s words like a noose tightening around her neck. This was no longer just a game of cat and mouse—they were up against a man who would do anything to protect his empire, and they were standing in his way.

“We need to move fast,” Derrick continued, pulling out a tablet and laying it on the table in front of them. “I’ve been digging through the files from that USB, and I’ve found something. Carmichael has a private vault, a digital one. It’s where he keeps the most sensitive information—things that could take down not just him, but everyone he’s in bed with.”

James raised an eyebrow. “And how do we get to it?”

Derrick smirked. “That’s the tricky part. It’s locked behind layers of security, but I’ve got a contact who can help. It’ll take time, but if we can get access to that vault, we’ll have everything we need to bury Carmichael and his entire operation.”

Sophia felt a flicker of hope at Derrick’s words, but it was quickly overshadowed by the realization of how dangerous this next move would be. If Carmichael was already hunting them, getting closer to his most guarded secrets would only put a bigger target on their backs.

“What do we need to do?” Sophia asked, her voice steady despite the storm of fear swirling inside her.

Derrick looked between her and James, his expression serious. “I’ll handle the tech side of things, but you two need to stay out of sight. No more stunts, no more deals. Just lay low until I can get into that vault.”

Sophia’s stomach twisted with the idea of waiting, of being helpless while Derrick worked. “What if something goes wrong?”

Derrick’s smirk returned, but there was no humor behind it. “Then we improvise.”

James shot Derrick a look of warning, but Sophia knew the truth. They were walking a thin line, and one misstep could cost them everything.

The days that followed were tense, filled with a growing sense of unease. The safe house was quiet, too quiet, and the isolation started to wear on Sophia’s nerves. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the wind outside felt like a threat lurking just out of sight.

James tried to keep things light, distracting Sophia with stories and reassurances that they would make it through this. But Sophia could see the worry in his eyes, the tension in his shoulders. They were running out of time, and they both knew it.

On the third day, Derrick called.

“I’ve got something,” Derrick said, his voice crackling over the phone. “It’s not the vault itself, but I found a way in. Carmichael’s hosting a charity gala tomorrow night, and it’s the perfect cover. I’ve arranged for you two to get inside. Once there, I’ll guide you to the server room where we can plant a backdoor into his system.”

Sophia’s heart raced. A gala? That was risky, putting them right in the lion’s den.

“Are you sure about this?” James asked, his tone skeptical.

“It’s our best shot,” Derrick replied. “Carmichael won’t be expecting you to show up there. It’s the perfect distraction.”

Sophia’s pulse quickened as she exchanged a glance with James. This was it. The next move in their dangerous game, one that could either bring them closer to victory or send them crashing down in flames.

“I’m in,” Sophia said, her voice steady.

James hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Let’s do it.”