Chapter 4 Under Fire

Katie had been in high-stakes legal battles before. She had gone toe-to-toe with seasoned attorneys in cutthroat negotiations, shredded loopholes in airtight contracts, and walked out of courtrooms knowing she had left her opponents bleeding. But this?

This wasn't just a legal battle. This was a game of power, deception, and survival. The unspoken threat in Eddy Moore's words echoed in her mind as she drove through the dimly lit streets of Manhattan. She should have been exhausted-it was well past midnight-but adrenaline kept her sharp. By the time she reached her penthouse, she had already made up her mind.

If someone in Clarke Enterprises was siphoning money, if Martin Alva had been scared into resignation, and if Moore was bold enough to warn her off, then there was something much bigger at play. And she was going to expose it.

The CEO's Demand

The next morning, Katie arrived at Clarke Enterprises to find a message waiting on her phone.

Justin Clark: My office. Now. No greeting. No explanation. Just like him.

By the time she stepped into his office, Justin was already behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, the city skyline sprawling behind him through floor-to-ceiling windows. His desk was littered with files, his laptop open to what looked like a financial spreadsheet.

His eyes flicked up to her, cool and unreadable. "Shut the door."

Katie complied but didn't take a seat. Whatever this was, it wasn't a casual meeting.

"You had an interesting conversation with Moore last night," Justin said, his voice low, edged with something sharp. Katie folded her arms. "So, you had me followed?"

His lips pressed into a thin line. "I have security measures in place for my executives. Especially ones who don't know when to leave things alone." Her pulse spiked, but she didn't let it show. "And here I thought you liked that about me." For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes-something dangerous. But just as quickly, it was gone.

"This isn't a game, Katie." He leaned forward, his forearms resting on the desk. "Moore isn't just some corporate sleazebag fudging numbers. He has connections."

"To who?" she pressed.

Justin hesitated, then exhaled. "People you don't want to be on the wrong side of." Her stomach tightened, but she pushed forward. "If you know this, then why the hell haven't you done anything?"

His jaw clenched. "Because there are things in this company even I can't control. Not yet."

She studied him carefully, trying to peel back the layers. Justin Clark was ruthless, powerful, and always three steps ahead. The fact that he was holding back meant that whatever this was-it was dangerous even for him. But Katie, Valerie didn't do fear.

"Then tell me what you know," she said, stepping closer. "Let me help you take him down." Justin's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smirk. It was darker.

"You really don't scare easily, do you?"

She tilted her head, meeting his gaze with unwavering intensity. "Not even a little."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension stretched between them, charged and electric. Then, Justin exhaled, shaking his head.

"You want in?" His voice dropped lower. "Fine. But once you cross this line, Katie, there's no going back." She didn't hesitate. "I never do."

His blue eyes locked onto hers, something shifting behind them. Then, finally, he reached for a file on his desk and slid it toward her. "Then let's get to work."

A Target on Her Back

Katie spent the next twelve hours buried in financial records, combing through every contract, every wire transfer, every shred of evidence that pointed toward Moore's involvement.

By midnight, she had her answer. There was a dummy corporation-one that didn't exist on Clarke's official books but was quietly funneling money through overseas accounts. And the signatures on those transactions? Moore's.

Her heart pounded as she sat in her office, staring at the evidence in front of her. This was it. This was enough to bring him down. She grabbed her phone, fingers flying over the screen. Katie: I have proof. Meet me at my office. Now.

She sent the message to Justin and leaned back in her chair, running a hand through her hair. The weight of what she had just uncovered settled heavy in her chest. And then-A noise. Something subtle. A shift in the air.

Katie froze, her spine going rigid. Her office was empty. The entire floor was quiet. But something felt off. A slow, creeping sense of unease coiled in her stomach. She turned her head-just in time to see a shadow moving outside her glass-walled office. And then, just as quickly, it was gone. Her pulse thundered. Someone had been watching her.

A Dangerous Warning

When Justin arrived ten minutes later, Katie was still gripping the edge of her desk, her mind racing. "You said you had proof," he said, stepping inside. She turned the laptop toward him, the numbers and documents on display. "Moore's been funneling money through a shell company overseas. It's all here. And someone was watching me just now."

Justin's expression darkened, and for the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely furious. "Pack your things," he said, his voice clipped.

"What?"

"You're not staying here tonight." His eyes burned into hers. "If Moore knows you have this, he won't just sit back and let you ruin him." Katie hesitated for only a second before shutting her laptop. She might have been fearless, but she wasn't stupid. Justin grabbed her coat from the chair, his hand brushing against hers as he handed it to her. The moment was brief, but it sent a jolt of heat through her spine.

This was bigger than a corporate scandal. This was war. And she had just become the number one target.