Chasing Shadows

Chapter 2- Secrets Uncovered

Kinabukasan, nagising ako sa tunog ng alarma ko, pero ang isip ko’y puno pa rin ng mga plano at mga galit. I glanced at my phone—ilang text messages na naman mula kay Clara. I opened the messages while sipping my coffee.

Clara: “Victoria, may nakita akong impormasyon tungkol kay Lauren. Kailangan natin pag-usapan ‘to.”

Victoria: “Meet me sa coffee shop later. I have something to share too.”

Excited at the thought of finally uncovering more about Lauren’s shady dealings, I quickly got ready. Naka-black outfit ako—simple pero classy. I needed to exude confidence. I was ready for battle.

Pagdating ko sa coffee shop, Clara was already waiting, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “Hey! Ang bilis mo!” she greeted as I approached her table.

“Traffic lang. Anong balita?” I asked, settling down and giving her my full attention.

“Okay, so I dug a bit deeper into Lauren’s latest project,” she began, her voice low and conspiratorial. “Nag-raise siya ng malaking investment from some wealthy backers, pero I found some irregularities sa documents.”

My heart raced. “What kind of irregularities?”

“Well, based on what I saw, parang ang daming hindi tumutugma sa mga financial statements. It looks like he’s inflating numbers to attract more investors,” Clara explained, her brow furrowing. “Tapos, may mga transactions na hindi nagmamatch sa records.”

“Shady,” I muttered, feeling the excitement bubbling within me. “Kung maipapakita natin ‘to sa mga investors, hindi lang siya matutumba, kundi ang buong reputasyon ng pamilya niya.”

“Exactly!” Clara said, nodding eagerly. “But we need solid proof. Kailangan natin ang mga documents na ito para makakuha ng legal action.”

I leaned in closer, feeling a surge of determination. “Let’s make a plan. Kailangan natin makahanap ng paraan para makuha ‘yung documents. I’m sure may mga contacts tayong pwedeng lapitan.”

“Okay, I can reach out to some people sa finance world. They might have connections na makakatulong,” Clara suggested. “What about you? Anong plano mo kay Lauren?”

I smirked, thinking back to our last encounter. “I’ll keep playing the game. I’ll act as if everything’s fine. I want him to think he’s in control habang unti-unti kong pinapabagsak ‘yung mga plano niya.”

Clara raised an eyebrow. “That sounds risky. You sure you can handle him?”

“Please, Clara. I’ve dealt with worse. He’s just a spoiled rich kid. I know his weaknesses,” I replied, my voice steady.

“Okay, just be careful. He might be more dangerous than he looks,” she warned.

“I got this,” I assured her, feeling the fire inside me grow. “Let’s make him regret ever messing with my family.”

After our meeting, I headed to the office of my parents’ old business. It had been years since I stepped foot in the place. Despite the dust and decay, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. This was where my parents had built their dreams, and now it was a constant reminder of their downfall.

As I roamed the empty halls, I stumbled upon the old conference room, its large windows revealing a view of the city. It was a beautiful sight, but I couldn’t shake the bitterness that crept into my heart.

This was more than just revenge. This was about reclaiming my family’s legacy.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps. My heart raced as I turned to see Marcus, an old employee and friend of my parents. “Victoria? Is that you?” he asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and joy.

“Marcus! Long time no see!” I replied, forcing a smile as I walked over to him. “How have you been?”

“Trying to keep things afloat. It’s been tough without your parents,” he said, his expression turning somber. “I heard about what happened. I’m really sorry.”

“Thanks,” I said quietly, my heart aching. “I’m here to…well, to look into things. I want to get the company back on its feet.”

His eyes widened. “That’s ambitious. But you know it won’t be easy, right?”

“I’m ready for the challenge,” I said, my voice firm. “But I could use your help. Do you have any information about Lauren and his family? Anything I should know?”

Marcus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “They’ve been gaining power in the industry. The company that took over your parents’ business has been thriving under their management. Lauren’s parents were ruthless.”

“Tell me everything,” I urged, leaning closer.

“Lauren’s father is known for using underhanded tactics. He’s not afraid to eliminate competition. And they’ve been cozying up to the right people in the government, making it difficult for anyone to challenge them,” Marcus explained.

I took a deep breath, anger boiling inside me. “I need to find a way to expose them. If we can show how corrupt they are, we can take them down.”

“Be careful, Victoria. They won’t go down without a fight,” Marcus warned.

“I know,” I said, determination shining in my eyes. “But I’m not backing down. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

As I left the office, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. This was more than just a game now. It was a mission, and I was ready to fight for my family’s legacy.

Later that night, I met up with Clara again. “Okay, I got some intel from Marcus,” I said, diving straight into it. “Lauren’s family is deeply connected, and they’ve been using corrupt methods to stay on top.”

Clara’s eyes widened. “We need to get that information out there. I have a few contacts who might help us spread the word.”

“Good,” I replied, feeling the adrenaline pumping. “Let’s set something up. I want to start gathering evidence and get everything ready.”

“Let’s do it!” Clara said, her enthusiasm infectious. “We’ll make them pay for what they did to your family.”

As we plotted our next steps, I felt an exhilaration coursing through me. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to take down the empire that had wronged my family. The stakes were high, but so was my resolve.

Tomorrow, I would confront Lauren again, but this time, I wouldn’t be the one at a disadvantage. The game had only just begun.

End of Chapter Two

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