𝐕𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Chapter 56: Under the Veil

Alexander

The night was thick with silence, the kind that presses down on you and fills every corner with tension. Scarlett was asleep in the guest room, her features finally softened with peace, at least for now. I wished I could slip into that same calm, but tonight my mind was running in overdrive, piecing together everything I knew about Kai’s betrayal.

The discovery of  his connections to criminal syndicates, using Blackwood Enterprises as a front, was a shock even for me. He had been operating under my nose, and I cursed myself for not catching on sooner.

Sitting at my desk, I stared down at the mountain of documents and digital reports Vincent had compiled. Kai’s network extended far beyond petty theft or minor corruption. This was the real deal. Drugs, trafficking, illegal arms trades. And now, with Scarlett tangled in the mix, this was personal.

I took a deep breath and leaned back, letting my gaze drift across my penthouse office. The shadows cast by the city lights outside seemed to swallow the room whole, reflecting the dark reality of what I was up against. Blackwood Enterprises — my company — was in danger of being destroyed from the inside out.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, light and hesitant. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Scarlett. She appeared in the doorway, her eyes squinting slightly in the dim light. She’d thrown on one of my sweaters, and it looked more like a dress on her. Despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips.

“Can’t sleep?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She shook her head, padding barefoot into the room. “Too much on my mind. Figured I wasn’t the only one.”

I nodded, gesturing for her to take the seat beside me. She crossed her legs, pulling the sweater tight around herself as she sank into the chair. Her eyes flicked over the documents on my desk, her brows furrowing.

“Are these… are these all about Kai?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

I let out a low sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. “Yeah. Turns out he’s been doing much more than skimming a few dollars off the top. He’s used the company to mask everything from drugs to…” I hesitated, glancing at her. “Worse things. Things I never thought I’d have to deal with.”

She bit her lip, her eyes shadowed with worry. “And he’s targeting us both.”

“Because he knows that you…” I trailed off, suddenly unsure how to continue. Because Kai knew that Scarlett meant the world to me now. Because she was more than just another employee, another face in the crowd.

She looked down, fiddling with a strand of her hair. “You don’t have to protect me, Alexander,” she said softly. “I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

A chuckle escaped me, though there was no real humor in it. “Protecting you is about the only thing keeping me sane right now, Scarlett.”

She gave a small smile, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. She was scared, and I couldn’t blame her. Kai had gone from being a ghost in her past to a real, immediate threat. And I couldn’t shake the anger that simmered just below the surface every time I thought about him.

But now wasn’t the time for anger. Now was the time to plan.

---

Hours passed in a blur of whispered discussions and hurried notes, Scarlett and I working side by side. At some point, we found ourselves laughing quietly, sharing a moment of relief amidst the chaos. Scarlett was more than my partner in this fight; she was my anchor.

Just as the first hints of dawn lightened the sky, Scarlett leaned back with a sigh, brushing her hand through her hair. “So what’s the next step?” she asked, her voice low and tired.

I met her gaze, the determination in her eyes matching my own. “We go after him. But not directly. Kai has a network, connections that protect him. We need to dismantle that first.”

She nodded slowly. “So we’re cutting him off… slowly.”

“Exactly.” I smirked. “Like pulling the rug out from under his feet, bit by bit.”

A mischievous smile curved her lips, and for a brief moment, the tension dissolved. “And here I thought you only did things in grand gestures, Mr. Blackwood.”

I chuckled, the sound strange to my own ears. “Sometimes subtlety is the key. Besides, I’m a fast learner.”

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the spark of excitement in them. “So, what’s first?”

“First,” I said, leaning closer to her, “we start gathering evidence. Proof that he’s using Blackwood Enterprises for illegal operations. And we do it without him suspecting a thing.”

“Sounds… doable,” she said with a smirk. But there was a glint of fear in her eyes, too, and I reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“We’ll get through this,” I promised. “I won’t let him hurt you again.”

The seriousness of my words lingered in the air between us, a silent vow that spoke louder than anything I could say. I wasn’t just going to protect her — I was going to end this.

And Kai had no idea what was coming his way.

---

The morning sun spilled through the penthouse windows, casting golden light across the room. Scarlett looked up, her face softened by the glow, her eyes filled with determination.

“So,” she said, a hint of mischief creeping into her voice. “How are we supposed to look normal in the office while we’re busy plotting Kai’s downfall?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re right. This might be a little hard to hide.”

She grinned, leaning back in her chair. “Guess we’ll just have to keep pretending everything’s fine. Act like you’re just the same ruthless CEO, and I’m just your HR star.”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I’d say you’re more than just my HR star, but that might blow our cover.”

She rolled her eyes, giving me a playful shove. “Be serious, Alexander. We’ve got to stay focused.”

I laughed, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But just remember — you’re the one who started joking.”

For a brief moment, the tension was gone, and it felt like we were just two people sharing a quiet morning. But the weight of our mission lingered, heavy and unyielding. Kai’s game was dangerous, but now I had Scarlett by my side.

And together, we were going to bring him down.

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