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Her voice crackles through the line, faint but audible. "Stephen, I need to tell you . . . something shocking . . . I've made a discovery . . .”
Before she can finish her sentence, the line abruptly goes blank. I stare at my phone in disbelief, frustration bubbling up within me. I try calling her back, repeatedly, but the calls fail to connect. Each unsuccessful attempt intensifies my unease.
Restless and consumed by the need for answers, I storm out of my office and head towards Rosie's. She looks up, sensing my urgency, and raises an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Stephen, are we ready to publish the whistleblower story?" Rosie asks, her voice filled with anticipation.
I shake my head, my frustration seeping into my response. "No, Rosie. We're canceling it."
Rosie's surprise is evident on her face. "What? But we've worked so hard on it. What happened?"
Taking a deep breath, I gather my thoughts and deliver my explanation. "I believe Chloe has compromised the integrity of Eagle Eye's reporting on this issue. She's gotten too close to the whistleblower. There's something more going on, something that I'm yet to understand fully, but I can't risk tarnishing our credibility by moving forward with the story."
Rosie's eyes widen, disbelief and confusion written across her face. "Stephen, are you sure? Chloe wouldn't jeopardize our reputation like that."
"I wish I could be certain, Rosie," I reply, my voice heavy with uncertainty. "But there are doubts that I can't ignore. Chloe's recent behavior, the accusations, and now this interrupted call—it all adds up to something . . . that demands caution."
Rosie studies me for a moment, her expression guarded. "Stephen, I trust your judgment, but have you tried reaching out to Chloe again? Maybe there's a reasonable explanation for what's happening."
I shake my head, frustration gnawing at my patience. "I've tried, Rosie, but the calls won't go through. It's like she's gone off the grid. I need to understand what's going on, and until then, we can't move forward with the whistleblower story."
Rosie's gaze softens, her voice filled with empathy. "I understand your concerns, Stephen. We'll hold off on publishing for now. But don't let your doubts cloud your judgment entirely."
Her words remind me of Martha's earlier counsel. But the turmoil within my heart refuses to subside, keeping me suspended in a state of uncertainty and concern.
"I'll do my best to find the truth, Rosie," I reply. "But until then, we must proceed with caution."
Rosie nods and says, "I believe in you, Stephen. Just please . . . seek the truth with an open mind and heart."
With a nod, I turn and make my way back to my office. As I sit at my desk, my thoughts drift back to Chloe's interrupted call. The shocking discovery she wanted to share hangs in the air, haunting my mind. Was it related to the whistleblower story? Could it be that she stumbled upon something that implicated her in a deeper web of deception?
I find myself longing for answers, for a resolution to the turmoil that engulfs my thoughts. But until Chloe resurfaces and provides a clarification, my doubts and fears will continue to simmer, challenging the very foundation of our relationship and professional collaboration.
Minutes turn into hours, yet there's no sign of Chloe. The waiting only exacerbates my growing apprehension. I shuffle through the papers on my desk, attempting to distract myself from the nagging doubts that plague me.
But in the end, I feel as if I'm teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge down into the abyss at any moment.
Chapter seventeen
Chloe
EversincethedayMartha had told me about Jonathan’s phone call, I have been convinced that he’s somehow involved deeply in the whistleblower case. Even though I had been distracted from finding the truth by my trip to Indonesia and later by my relationship with Stephen, the doubts had never left my mind. And now that Jonathan seems to hold a certain power over me, because he knows Stephen and I have been fucking, I need to find dirt on him as well. And fast.
Today, I have confirmed my hunch: Jonathan was the one planning to leak the whistleblower's identity.
I've gathered the evidence, a string of incriminating emails exchanged between Jonathan and an agent from the whistleblower's company. In the mails, they discuss compensation, the illicit exchange of information, and the potential consequences that could unfold.
As I read through the damning correspondence, a mixture of anger, disbelief, and determination surges through me. It's as if a fog has lifted, revealing the true nature of the person Stephen has always trusted. Jonathan, the man who held a position of authority, had been secretly scheming to compromise the integrity of our work, jeopardizing the very foundation of Eagle Eye.
The magnitude of this revelation sends shivers down my spine. I can't help but wonder how deep the deception runs and how many lives have been affected by Jonathan's selfish pursuits.
But Stephen, my confidant and partner in this arduous journey, has been avoiding me. Every attempt to reach out, to share the gravity of what I've discovered, has been met with excuses and evasiveness. The distance between us grows with each passing day, fueling frustration and doubts that claw at my heart.
Days turn into weeks, and the distance between Stephen and me grows more palpable with each passing moment. I catch glimpses of him in the office, but it's as if an invisible barrier has formed between us. No longer do we share knowing glances or exchange secret smiles. Instead, there's an unspoken tension, an avoidance that stings with every interaction—or lack thereof.
I've tried countless times to approach him, to reveal the truth about Jonathan's involvement, but each attempt ends in disappointment. He evades my presence, always preoccupied with tasks and projects, or conveniently disappearing when I approach. It's as if he knows the weight of the revelation I bear, and he fears its consequences.
My heart aches as I watch Stephen drift further away, his once warm and attentive demeanor replaced by guardedness and distance. I understand his hesitation, his need for concrete evidence, but I can't sit idly by, allowing the truth to remain hidden, while Jonathan continues his charade.
