Chapter 17 - Shadows in the Sunlight
The following week brought a strange, fragile peace to the Ashworth estate. With Vance and Marcus behind bars, the corporate board was thoroughly purged, and Aiden initiated a sweeping restructuring program that turned Ashworth Industries into a model of corporate ethics and safety transparency.
Darra officially transitioned from "board advisor" to Director of Corporate Ethics and Public Safety—a role she took on with fierce, unyielding dedication. Her past as a housekeeper gave her a perspective no Ivy League executive could ever replicate, and the company’s employees quickly grew to respect her fierce advocacy and sharp instincts.
Yet, deep down, Darra couldn't shake a lingering, nagging sense of unease.
On a bright Tuesday afternoon, while sitting in her new glass-walled corner office on the 40th floor, her phone buzzed on her desk. It was an unknown, restricted number.
Frowning, Darra swiped to answer. "Hello?"
"Ms. Whitmore," a distorted, electronically altered voice crackled through the speaker. "Enjoying the view from the top?"
Darra’s blood ran cold. She stood up from her leather chair, gripping the edge of her desk. "Who is this?"
"Marcus and Vance were just the foot soldiers," the distorted voice hissed softly. "You thought cutting off the branches would kill the tree, Darra. But the root system runs much deeper than you think. Tell your billionaire boyfriend that the debt from room 412 hasn't been paid in full yet."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
May you like
The line went dead.
Darra stared at the screen, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The nightmare wasn't over. Someone else was pulling the strings, and they were watching every move she and Aiden made.
