Chapter 4 - The InfiltrationBy 5:30 AM, the living room was spotless.
Every shard of broken porcelain had been gathered, the oak table was wiped clean, and the floor was polished to a mirror shine. Gregory was sitting on the edge of the hallway sofa, his eyes bloodshot, his hand bandaged with makeshift gauze, shivering from exhaustion and cold sweat.
When I opened the bedroom door, dressed in a tailored navy suit and high heels, he jumped as if he had been shot.
"It's... it's clean, Elena," he stammered, pointing a trembling hand at the room. "I did everything you asked. Please... don't send the files."
I walked over to him, stepping lightly over the pristine floor. I reached out and gently adjusted his crooked collar. He flinched, closing his eyes in fear.
"Good boy," I whispered softly. "Now, get dressed. You're coming to work with me."
"What?" Gregory blinked, terrified. "I... I have a meeting at my office at nine! I'm up for the Vice President promotion today!"
"Correction," I said, holding up his leather golf bag, which I had retrieved from the hall closet while he was scrubbing the floors. "You were up for promotion. Today, you're going to sit in on my board presentation at Vanguard Logistics."
I unzipped the side pocket of the golf bag in front of his eyes and pulled out a sleek, unlabelled black smartphone.
Gregory's jaw dropped. The last bit of color left his face. "Where... how did you find that?!"
"Did you really think a woman who spent six years catching international financial criminals wouldn't sweep her own apartment for hidden devices?" I tossed the phone into my purse. "This phone contains the cryptographic keys to the Eastern European syndicate accounts, doesn't it, Gregory?"
"If you touch those accounts, they will kill us both!" Gregory shrieked, grabbing my arm in absolute desperation. "You don't understand who these people are! They aren't corporate suits, Elena! They are monsters!"
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I leaned down until my eyes were level with his.
"They aren't monsters, Gregory," I snapped coldly. "They are target practice. Now get your coat."
