Chapter 5 The Draft That Ought Not To Exist

Kate still looking at the dark High Rise building.

Her phone vibrated again.

A message from the unknown person .

The lawyer knows about the amendment. He was paid to forget.

Her pulse increased.

"He was paid?" That means it was transactional, which also means there will be record". She said frantically.

Kate typed back.

Can you send proof?

Three dots appeared ....the unknown person was typing.

Check the hospital's private wing visitor's log. 11:40 p.m. The night before he died.

The message was deleted after a few seconds.

She walked back into the building immediately.

Chris was still standing near the window when she re-entered the Private Lounge.

He turned sharply . "I thought I told you to stay downstairs and wait for me".

"You don't give orders and expect me to follow blindly".

His expression changed immediately he saw her face.

"What is it?"

"Who visited your father the night he died?" She asked without hesitation.

Shocked by her question . "Doctors, board members and me".

"The lawyer didn't visit?"

"Hmmmmn... yes", he said. "The family lawyer came".

"What time?"

"It was pretty late when he came".

"How late?"

He frowned. "I think around midnight".

Kate stepped closer.

"Do you remember the exact time?"

"Why?" He asked narrowly.

"Because he signed something at 11:40 p.m.

The room was quiet.

"Signed what?" Chris asked quietly.

"I don't know yet".

His breathing slowed.

"Where are you getting this information".

She looked him straight into his eyes.

"Someone I am yet to know"

"You trust someone hiding behind a number and keypads?"

"I trust patterns", she countered.

"You're being manipulated".

"So are you, but you don't know it yet".

He stepped closer to her.

"Say what you are thinking out loud".

"What if your father signed the amendment reinstating the independent review that night?"

Chris's eyes became dark instantly.

"That amendment was removed".

"Exactly".

Chris walked towards his desk and opened a drawer that was locked.

He pulled out a thin document.

Inside of the document contained scanned copies of the finalized will.

He gave them to Kate.

"No amendment," he said flatly.

She flipped through the documents quickly.

"Who finalized this version?" She asked .

"The lawyer did".

"Who was there at 11:40 p.m.?"

He didn't answer.

"What if your father reinstated the clause that night, and it was removed after his death?", she said carefully.

"Then someone altered a dying man's will", Chris said shakily.

"Yes".

His voice lowered into something colder.

"And you think that someone is my mother?"

Kate didn't answer.

The silence between them was louder than the accusation.

He moved even closer, suddenly gripping her shoulders.

"You have no idea what you're accusing her of".

"And you have no idea what you signed", she shot back.

He tightened his grip slightly.

"You think I would help her cover her murder?".

"I think you were grieving, then you were pressured".

His breath was inches from hers.

"You think I'm weak"

"I think you were a son".

Pain came crawling down his face. He released her abruptly.

"You don't get to re-write my memory". He said.

"I'm not rewriting anything. I'm only questioning it".

He turned around while running his hand through his hair.

"She told me he was suffering", he said quietly, "She told me the board would strain if we showed instability".

"And you believed her?" Kate asked with a smirk on her face.

"She is my mother".

Kate softened slightly when she heard those words.

"Chris.... did you see him sign anything that night?"

He stood still.

"I......".

He stuttered.

Kate stepped closer again.

"Did you physically see him sign a document?"

There was a long pause.

"No".

Her heart pounded.

"Then how did you know he didn't?"

Elisabeth stood inside the old hospital corridor.

The private wing was quiet.

The unknown person stood beside her.

You're escalating", the unknown person said.

"You started it", Elisabeth replied calmly.

"She's closer than you think".

Elisabeth's expression didn't change.

"That's good".

"You're not afraid she'll expose the truth?"

Elisabeth turned slowly.

"There is no truth without proof".

"What if she finds proof?"

"She won't ", Elisabeth said with a low voice.

Back in the Private Lounge, Kate paced slowly.

"We need the hospital visitor's log", she said.

Chris nodded.

"I can get it".

"Quietly?"

"Yes".

"What about the lawyer?"

"I'll handle him".

She stopped pacing.

"This is beyond jealousy or power, Chris".

"I know".

"And if your mother altered the will......"

"She wouldn't," he interrupted automatically.

Kate didn't respond but he could see doubt in her eyes.

He walked toward her slowly.

"You're asking me to choose between you and my mother".

"I'm asking you to choose between truth and comfort".

He stepped closer.

"You don't even know if you'll stay", he said quietly.

"Stay where?"

"With me".

Her pulse quickened.

"I thought this was about business?"

"It stopped being about business the moment you signed that contract".

He reached up, brushing his fingers slowly along her jaw.

"You're dangerous," he murmured.

"So are you".

His hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer.

"You know you are still working for me", he said softly.

"I'm investigating you".

His lips pressed close just above hers.

"Then investigate this".

He kissed her slower this time and very intentionally.

Her hands moved to his chest instinctively.

For a moment, there was no war, just heat and breath.

He pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers.

"If this destroys my family", he whispered, "I will not forgive you".

"If this destroys the truth", she replied softly, "I won't forgive you either".

The elevator chimed again .

They froze.

Chris turned sharply.

"But no one has clearance tonight".

The doors opened slowly.

Well, it wasn't Elisabeth this time. It was a security officer.

He was looking very nervous.

"Sir," he said urgently, "we have a situation".

Chris's posture shifted instantly back to CEO mode.

"What situation?"

The officer took a deep breath.

"The hospital's digital archives were accessed remotely thirty-five minutes ago".

Kate's heart pounded.

Chris was stunned.

"By who?"

The officer hesitated.

"By your personal authorization code, sir".

Silence fell like a sword.

Kate slowly turned to Chris.

"You accessed it?"

"No".

The officer continued, his voice was shaking slightly.

"The access originated from inside this Private Lounge".

The room felt colder.

Chris stared at the officer.

"But that's impossible".

Kate's pulse raced violently.

"Someone was inside. Someone close enough to use his code" she said it in her head.

Her phone vibrated. It was the unknown person again.

She looked at her screen.

You're not the only ones playing

Kate lifted her eyes slowly to Chris.

If he didn't access the hospital's archives....

Then someone very close to them had .

And the only people in this room were ; Chris, Kate and Elisabeth Cena.