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Upon playing the recording of Alex’s conversation with a girl, where he confessed to stealing the files from my office, his face turned pale and he became speechless. “So, it’s true that you have stolen files from my office,” I stated. “As my best friend, you knew exactly where I kept those documents for the case. You were aware of everything, including the door in my office room that led to my personal library, which you used to avoid being caught on CCTV footage.” Angered by his betrayal, I questioned him, “But why? Why did you do this? We were best friends, and you knew that this case was of the utmost importance to me. You knew that I had worked tirelessly to collect the information in those files. Why, Alex, why?” My voice rose as I shouted at him, unable to contain my emotions. Alex took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to admit his wrongdoing. “Yes, I did it. I stole those files,” he said, his voice low and regretful. “But believe me, I didn’t do it gladly.” My initial anger softened slightly at his admission, but I couldn’t let him off the hook that easily. “It doesn’t matter whether you did it gladly or not,” I replied, my voice tinged with frustration.
“The main point is, why did you do this?” Alex fidgeted nervously, avoiding my gaze.
“Believe me, Ethan, I didn’t want to do this. I was under a lot of pressure,” he said, his words rushed and panicked. “I didn’t want to cheat you, Ethan.”
My heart sank at his words. “Who? Who pressurized you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.
Alex’s eyes were filled with sorrow as he spoke. “They knew that I’m your best friend and I’m the only person who could have stolen those files without being caught by the CCTV footage,” he said. “They threatened me, Ethan. I had no other choice.” I could see the desperation in his eyes and hear the sincerity in his voice.
“Who threatened you?” I asked curiously.
Alex let out a heavy sigh and lowered his head. “That girl,” he said, his voice barely audible. “The one you heard in the call recording. She threatened me.” I was taken aback by his revelation. Who was this girl and why would she threaten Alex? The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but there were still so many unanswered questions.
I looked at him nervously and asked, “How can that girl threaten you? You have a well-established business, have uncountable wealth, and hold a high status in society. You have power, so what was possible for her to threaten you?”
Alex let out a heavy sigh and sat on the couch. “That girl joined my beusiness as a computer operator some time ago,” he explained. “Then my personal assistant went on holiday and my manager chose her as my personal assistant. From the very first day, she always focused on getting my attention and coming closer to me in every possible way. She was beautiful, but you know that I’m not much found of those type of girls.” I listened to him carefully, my mind trying to piece everything together. Alex let out a deep sigh and continued with a heavy heart, “Despite my efforts to distance myself from her, she persisted in following me everywhere. In retrospect, I can now see that it was not a coincidence. Whenever I visited a bar or restaurant, she somehow always found me and made a beeline for me.” He paused to gather his thoughts and then continued, “Before I knew it, we were spending time together outside of work, and she was constantly seeking my attention in the office as well. As much as I tried to resist, I started falling for her.”
Alex spoke in a hushed and defeated tone as he recounted the fateful day when his life had taken a drastic turn. “It was a day like any other day. I was going about my business when I encountered some serious financial issues pertaining to one of my businesses. In order to investigate the matter, I began examining some extremely vital files. That’s when she walked in. The girl who had once been so innocent and trustworthy had now become a threat to my livelihood. I confided in her and asked her to store the files in a secure locker within my office. But, to my utter shock and dismay, she betrayed my trust and stole those files along with other crucial documents that are the very backbone of my businesses.” Pausing for a moment, Alex then explained how he had been threatened by an unknown party. “After the theft, they contacted me and demanded that I procure certain documents from your office, or they would use the information in those files to destroy everything I had worked so hard for. They were well aware of the importance of those files and the dire consequences their loss would bring about.”
Alex’s eyes met mine, his expression heavy with guilt. “I need to come clean,” he began, his voice laced with remorse. “I’m sorry, my friend, but there was a lot of pressure on me. They were threatening me relentlessly, so I had no other option but to steal those documents from your office.”
His words hit me hard, and I sat in stunned silence for a moment. “If you’re telling me the truth,” I said, my tone measured, “then we’ll figure out a way to fix this.”
But before I could finish, Alex cut me off, his face etched with worry. “They still have those files, and I don’t know what to do. What if they find out that I’ve told you everything?” As he spoke, a sudden movement caught my attention, and I turned to see Mia enter the room. Her expression was a mix of anger and concern, and I knew that this was not going to be an easy conversation
16
MIA
As soon asI walked into the room, I was taken aback by the tense atmosphere. My brother Alex sat on the couch, looking weary and downtrodden, while Ethan stood nearby with a concerned expression on his face. I could sense that something was terribly wrong. “Alex, how can you do this?” I exclaimed, unable to contain my shock and anger. “You… You’re a thief… a cheater… you stole important files from Ethan’s office!” Alex stood up from the couch and gently held my arms. “Calm down, Mia,” he said, his voice filled with remorse. “I can explain.” I was too furious to listen. “Explain what?” I cried out, tears starting to well up in my eyes. “What could possibly justify stealing from your best friend?” Ethan stepped forward,“Mia, you need to understand,” he said in a soothing tone. “Alex was under a lot of pressure. He had no other choice. Please calm down and let him explain.” Alex led me back to the couch and sat down beside me. “Mia, I know you’re upset,” he said, his eyes pleading with me to understand. “But please, let me explain everything to you.”
Upon hearing Alex’s confession, I was left stunned and speechless. “What… What will you do now?” I asked, my voice filled with concern. Despite my previous anger towards him, the bond of brother and sister had quickly taken over. He gave me a reassuring smile and gently patted my head. “Don’t worry. Your boss is a professional investigator after all. He’ll find a way,” Alex then turned to face Ethan, who had been silently listening to our conversation. The corners of Ethan’s mouth lifted into a knowing smile. “Ha! Of course, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. We’ll figure something out,” he said, oozing with confidence. As Ethan turned to Alex, he gestured towards me and spoke with a tone of appreciation, “Your sister, is a skilled and dedicated professional. She works tirelessly, and I’m impressed.”
Alex beamed, “Thank you, Ethan.”
Ethan continued, “Today, Jim will start working on the case, and our top priority is to retrieve all the files as soon as possible. You need to provide us with all the available information, including their contact details and photos.”
Alex nodded in agreement and assured Ethan, “I’ll do that.”
Ethan went on to say, “It seems that your case is intertwined with our corporate espionage case. The person who stole the files from Mr. Joe’s office and the one who was threatening you are likely the same person.” I listened intently and nodded my head with admiration towards Ethan’s insightful observation.
Ethan’s demeanor had undergone a noticeable transformation. His previously detached nature was replaced with a kinder, more empathetic disposition, and he began listening to me more attentively than before. Though his argument with my brother, Alex, had caused a rift in their friendship, it seemed that things were beginning to repair themselves and their bond was growing stronger once again.
As I pondered Alex’s predicament, my mind raced with thoughts of the worst-case scenario. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on me as I contemplated the dire consequences that would befall him if the rival party learned of his confession to Ethan. Alex’s entire business hung in the balance, with the stolen files serving as its foundation. The mere thought of the enemy faction obtaining these documents sent shivers down my spine. The threat of their potential misuse loomed like a dark cloud over our heads, and Alex was in no position to fend them off. He had admitted to not knowing anyone else from the rival group, save for the girl who had been communicating with him.
The situation had become increasingly complicated. We were already in pursuit of the corporate espionage case in Mr. Joe’s business, and now we had discovered that Alex had played a role in it, and was now being threatened by the perpetrators. After the passing of our parents, my brother and I decided to lead separate lives. Alex wanted to build his own life and be successful, so he left to find a well-paying job. However, the bond between a sister and brother is one that runs deep, and cannot be easily broken. Although Alex was not particularly attentive, and had not looked back when I was living with my former boyfriend, he always welcomed me with a warm heart whenever we met, and sent me gifts on my birthday.
The next day, Ethan summoned a meeting with me, Jack, and Jim to discuss the details of the case. He meticulously explained all the important points and situations. Although I was already familiar with the information, Jack and Jim had a few questions which Ethan promptly addressed. After the meeting, as Ethan and I walked back to his room, my thoughts turned to my brother. I couldn’t help but feel worried and concerned for him. He was in a precarious position, and if the rival party found out about his involvement with us, they could easily destroy his business. “What will happen to Alex?” I asked Ethan, my voice trembling with emotion. Ethan sat down on his chair and assured me that we would find a way to protect Alex.
“I was angry at Alex before. I didn’t expect him to betray us like this,” I said, my concern for Alex prominent in my voice. “But now, I’m worried about him. His entire wealth and career are in the hands of someone else.”
Ethan nodded understandingly. “Don’t worry, Mia. We’ll do everything in our power to ensure that nothing bad happens to him before we find a way out of this.”
I directed my gaze at Ethan with a hint of apprehension in my voice, “Ethan, what if we are unable to find a way out of this predicament? What will happen to Alex? He will lose everything.” My voice betrayed the depth of my concerns and worries.
Ethan looked at me incredulously, “Mia, when I said we will find a way, it means we will! Trust me.” He paused, his eyes locked with mine.
“So, what will happen to Alex if we are unable to find a solution?” I asked, my voice now sharp and tense. “You must understand that we were already working on a critical case, and obtaining substantial evidence on the main lead for the corporate espionage case was proving to be elusive. To make matters worse, the same person is now threatening Alex,” Ethan explained, his tone grave and serious. “We cannot afford to show even the slightest hint of carelessness as that would only arouse suspicion, and all the progress we have made on the corporate espionage case will go to waste. The situation is extremely complex.”
