Chapter 5 The Fallout Begins

The fallout from the gala hit fast and hard. Mia and Jack barely had time to breathe before Rebecca's article went live. The headline screamed across social media, news outlets, and online forums: *"Corruption Exposed: Victor Garrick's Ties to Criminal Empire Revealed."*

The article was a bombshell, detailing Garrick's shady dealings, money laundering, and, most importantly, his deep connections to Nathan's web of influence. Rebecca had done an incredible job, weaving together the threads of evidence they had uncovered, along with anonymous insider sources who corroborated the story. The story spread like wildfire, and within hours, Garrick's reputation was in tatters.

As Mia scrolled through the comments online, she saw the frenzy building. People were enraged, demanding answers, calling for investigations. And as more and more journalists began digging, more damning information surfaced. Garrick was no longer just a wealthy socialite-he was now a pariah, facing the potential of criminal charges.

But amidst the chaos, Mia couldn't shake the feeling of dread. The high that came from exposing Garrick was quickly replaced by a sinking sense of danger. If Nathan hadn't known about their plan before, he certainly did now. They had hit him where it hurt, and Mia knew retaliation was inevitable.

---

Later that evening, Mia and Jack sat in the dimly lit apartment, the glow of the city lights casting long shadows on the walls. They had been glued to the news, watching as commentators dissected the scandal and speculated about who might fall next.

"Garrick's finished," Jack said, his voice a mix of satisfaction and caution. "He's already been removed from the board of his company, and there are rumors he's preparing to flee the country."

Mia nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. "What about Nathan?"

Jack frowned, leaning forward. "That's the big question. So far, his name hasn't come up directly in the press. But we know it's only a matter of time before people start connecting the dots."

Mia ran a hand through her hair, anxiety gnawing at her. "He won't wait for that to happen. He'll try to get ahead of it."

Jack's expression darkened. "Yeah. And that means we're in the crosshairs."

As if on cue, Mia's phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up and froze when she saw the message on the screen. It was from an unknown number, but the message was unmistakable:

*"You think you've won, but this is just the beginning. You won't see what's coming next."*

Mia's breath caught in her throat as she showed the message to Jack. His face hardened, and he cursed under his breath.

"He knows," Jack said grimly. "Nathan knows it was us."

Mia felt a cold chill settle over her. "What do we do now?"

"We need to be careful-more careful than ever," Jack said, pacing the room. "Nathan's not going to make a public move yet. He'll stay quiet, work from the shadows, but he'll come for us when we least expect it."

Mia's mind raced, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. They had struck first, but now the real battle was about to begin. Nathan was a master manipulator, and he had resources far beyond anything they could imagine. She knew that he wouldn't rest until he had taken back control-and that meant silencing anyone who stood in his way.

Including her.

---

The next few days were a blur of tension and paranoia. Mia couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, her every move scrutinized. She and Jack took precautions, changing their routines, staying away from their usual haunts, and keeping a low profile. But despite their best efforts, the looming threat of Nathan's retaliation hung over them like a dark cloud.

Rebecca, meanwhile, had gone into full journalist mode, fielding calls from other reporters and legal teams while continuing to dig into Nathan's network. She was determined to see this through, to expose Nathan's role in Garrick's dealings and bring him down once and for all.

But even Rebecca was starting to show signs of strain. During one of their late-night strategy calls, Mia could hear the exhaustion in her voice.

"I'm getting heat from my editor," Rebecca admitted, her tone strained. "Nathan's lawyers are already circling, trying to shut the story down. They're threatening lawsuits, claiming defamation. But I'm not backing down."

Mia admired Rebecca's tenacity, but she couldn't help but worry. Nathan had the power to ruin lives, and while they had gotten the upper hand for now, it felt like they were playing a dangerous game of chess. One wrong move, and it could all come crashing down.

As Mia ended the call with Rebecca, she leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. The rush of adrenaline that had carried her through the initial takedown was fading, replaced by the stark reality of the situation.

Nathan wasn't just going to destroy them. He was going to make them suffer first.

---

The following morning, Mia woke to the sound of pounding on her door. Her heart leapt into her throat as she jumped out of bed, adrenaline surging through her veins. She glanced at Jack, who was already awake and alert, moving toward the door.

"Who is it?" Jack called out, his voice low and cautious.

"It's me, Rebecca!" came the voice from the other side. "Let me in, quickly."

Jack unlocked the door, and Rebecca slipped inside, looking disheveled and panicked. Her usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a frantic energy that set Mia on edge.

"What's going on?" Mia asked, her voice tight with concern.

Rebecca took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "It's Nathan. He's made his move."

Mia's heart sank. "What do you mean?"

Rebecca pulled out her phone and showed them the latest headlines. There, splashed across the front pages of several major news outlets, was a new story-a story that painted Mia, Jack, and even Rebecca as frauds and criminals. The headlines screamed: *"Revenge Scheme Uncovered: Mia Harper and Jack Dawson Behind Smear Campaign Against Innocent Businessman."*

Mia stared at the screen in disbelief. "What the hell is this?"

"Nathan's lawyers," Rebecca said grimly. "They've fed this to the press, claiming that the documents we uncovered were fakes, that we fabricated everything to take down Garrick and Nathan. They're framing us as the villains in this."

Jack cursed under his breath, pacing the room. "I knew this was coming, but not this fast. He's trying to discredit us before the truth can sink in."

Mia felt a wave of nausea. "What do we do now? If people believe this, we're finished."

Rebecca's expression hardened. "We fight back. We keep digging. There's more out there-more proof of Nathan's crimes. He can't cover it all up."

But even as Rebecca spoke, Mia could see the uncertainty in her eyes. They had underestimated Nathan's reach, his ability to turn the narrative against them. And now, they were facing a fight for their very survival.

Mia clenched her fists, a new fire igniting within her. She had come too far to back down now. Nathan might have won this round, but the game wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

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