Just Once

Chapter 5- Sofia

My heart was still pounding as I stormed back to my penthouse. The air outside had been cool and crisp, but inside, it felt suffocating. I felt a mix of emotions swirl inside of me. If he wasn't the one playing dirty tricks against me, then who was it? Of course, I had rivals, but none of them were powerful enough to get one of my most secure contracts terminated.

I couldn't shake his words off my mind. "I haven't done anything. Not yet at least." Was he lying? I mean, he could be, but Zayden was the type of guy who, when confronted, wouldn't straight up deny it. It wasn't in his nature. And who nicknames someone 'Petal'? Geez, this guy was a mix of psycho and genius combined in a once dangerous man.

If it wasn't him, then someone else was moving against me, and I wasn't about to sit around waiting for the next blow. I wanted to shake it off but I couldn't help believing him. Just this once Sofia. You can believe him.

As I entered my penthouse I decided it would be best if I just took a shower and cleared my head first.

After the shower, I grabbed my phone and dialed Lucian again. His voice was steady, but there was a new edge to it. "I've found something," he said. "What is it?" I say, feeling dread fill my veins until I couldn't hear my breath while I wait for an answer.

"I'll send you a list. It will explain everything." Lucian spoke with the same haste of his fingers going over his keyboard. I could hear the speedy clicks and the urgent tying over the line. "Fine, I'll look into it. Thanks a lot." "Don't mention it Sofia. I just do this for the paycheck"

The list Lucian sent over was damning. Names of key players who had suddenly turned their backs on me, all connected to...

A name I couldn't recall ever bearing before. It wasn't Zayden behind this after all. It was someone else. Someone entirely different and someone who wasn't even remotely connected to Zayden.

I felt it. This needs to put an end to this name once and for all. My hands tightened around the edge of my desk as the realization hit. This wasn't just business. This was personal. Very personal.

How did I miss such a great detail? How did I make such a blunder? How? How did I become so desperate that I ignored such a minute yet important detail?

I leaned back in my chair closing my eyes as I processed everything all at once. Thinking about it all made me realize that tonight I got some of my questions answered but those answers only gave way to more intricately stiched questions.

The email came through just as I was about to call it a night. It was unsigned, with only one line: "You're looking in the wrong place."