Chapter 5 The Initial Attack

Kate's POV

I kept the anonymous email open on my laptop, its proof blazing in my brain. It included texts exposing Lucas and Vanessa's common goal, suspicious transaction records, and photos of them during private meetings.

Anna crossed her arms as she stood behind me. "All right? How will you respond?

I closed the laptop and said, "I don't know." "This might be a trap, or it might be real."

Anna scowled. "Do you honestly believe that someone sent phoney proof after going to such lengths? This person wants to assist you.

"Or they want me to confront Vanessa and walk right into her trap," I argued.

With a groan, Anna pulled up a chair. "All right, all right. So, what are you going to do? Let Lucas and Vanessa damage your life and act as though this doesn't exist.

My head whirled as I gazed at the closed laptop. Lucas had been encouraging and supportive. All of this may be an act, right?

"Lucas has been kind to me," I muttered. "What if I'm not correct about him?"

Anna gave a headshake. "Kate, you must begin to believe in your intuition. You have been secretly doubting him for some time, haven't you?

She wasn't mistaken, but I hesitated. A persistent voice in the back of my mind had been doubting Lucas' intentions ever since he had come to my rescue.

I stood up and took a long breath. "All right. I will first speak with Vanessa. Should this evidence be manipulated, she will fall apart under duress.

Anna arched an eyebrow. "And if it's genuine?"

"After that, I'll decide what to do next," I added, reaching for my coat.

With his closest advisor, Greg, and files all about him, Simon sat in his office. One could feel the tension in the room.

Simon pointed to the pile of papers and declared, "I have enough evidence to expose Vanessa and Lucas." "But I have to approach this strategically."

Greg studied the papers, leaning forward. "They will simply hide their footprints if you approach them too soon. You must strike them where the pain is.

Simon gave a nod. And keep Kate safe. The person caught in the crossfire is her.

Greg grinned. "Are you still concerned about her? She doesn't exactly see you as her saviour now, you know.

Simon's mouth clenched. "What she thinks of me is irrelevant to me. I'm concerned about her safety.

Greg laughed. "For someone who told you to keep out of her life, that's a lot of work."

Simon laid out the facts on the desk, ignoring the jab. Vanessa has been using Lucas' fictitious assets to launder money. We can defeat them both with this.

Greg let out a whistle. That's brave. Bold but risky. What will you do next?

Simon's face became stern. "I will caution Kate. Before it's too late, she deserves to know the truth.

When I came back after lunch, the office was silent, and I was still having misgivings. Lucas' voice came from the conference room as I walked over to my desk.

I went cold. I thought I knew him as a pleasant ally, but he was on the phone, his tone chilly and calculated.

Lucas remarked, "She's playing right into our hands," which made me shiver. It will be too late when she realizes. She won't know where to turn, and Simon will be destroyed.

With my heart racing, I leaned my back against the wall. He was referring to me.

A silence was followed by a gloomy laugh. Vanessa doesn't have to be concerned. Kate has total faith in me. She believes that I support her.

His words sank in, and my eyes stung with tears. It had all been false. His plan included the promises, the encouragement, and the support.

Vanessa and I will have complete power once Simon is gone," Lucas added. Kate is unaware that she is merely a pawn.

I was no longer able to listen. Desperate to get as far away from him as possible, I staggered away from the door, my stomach churning.

My hands shaking, I gathered my belongings back at my desk. I needed to get out of there before Lucas noticed.

I felt like a ghost when I got to the studio the following morning. Anna kept a close eye on me and could see something wasn't right.

She began, "Kate" but was cut off by the elevator's ding.

Simon entered the room with a folder in his hand. His powerful presence appeared to silence the entire studio.

"Simon," I whispered, hardly raising my voice above a whisper.

His face was unreadable as he walked toward me. "We must speak."

I crossed my arms to look calm. "Why are you in this place?"

He put the folder on the desk and continued, "I have something to show you."

I paused, looking at Anna, who gave me a supportive nod. My hand trembled as I opened the folder.

There were transcripts, pictures, and documents inside that provided evidence of Lucas and Vanessa's plot. The identical proof from the anonymous email, but with Simon's indisputable credibility now supporting it.

As I turned the pages, I muttered, "This can't be real."

"It's real," Simon asserted. "And that's just the beginning."

As the truth hit me, my legs felt weak. As Lucas had stated, I had been a pawn.

Simon spoke softly as he leaned forward. "You must have faith in me, Kate. They are pursuing you in addition to me. And until they've destroyed everything you've built, they won't stop.

My thoughts were racing as I glanced up at him. Have faith in him? after everything that had happened to us?

Before I could reply, the door opened and Lucas entered, his eyes falling on Simon and his smile dimming.

"What's happening here?" Lucas asked in a disturbingly composed tone.

Simon took a step forward, his eyes unblinking. "Lucas, the game is over. You've been revealed.

For the first time, I noticed a glimmer of panic in Lucas' eyes as his face tightened.

The tension in the room was so intense that it felt like a pressure cooker.

One thought kept coming to me as I stood there, torn between two guys with conflicting interests: Who could I truly trust?

Lucas' self-assured exterior momentarily wavered before his endearing grin reappeared. He stepped closer, adjusting his cufflinks nonchalantly.

His tone was a blend of love and incredulity as he said, "Kate," "I don't know what Simon has told you, but you know you can't trust him." Anything he says will make you turn against me.

Instinctively, my pulse quickened, and I took a step back. His closeness suddenly felt oppressive, his allure tinged with peril.

Simon did not recoil. "Lucas, stop lying. This is the proof. Talking your way out of this is not an option.

Lucas fixed his gaze on mine and ignored him. "Kate, resist his attempts to control you. My goal has always been to support your success. Consider the chances I have made for you. Is it genuinely your belief that I would discard all of that to harm you?

Simon's voice broke the haze as his words twisted in my head.

Simon firmly stated, "Don't listen to him." You've been taken advantage of, Kate. This was prearranged between him and Vanessa.

Lucas's smile disappeared as he turned to face Simon. Are you any better, too? You had previously lied to her. Why would she suddenly trust you?

I felt like I was the centre of a storm that was brewing around me as a result of their fight.

The proof was staring back at me as I looked down at the folder in my shaking hands. Is Lucas genuinely able to justify his escape from this situation?

Lucas replied, "Kate, look at me," in a gentler, almost beseeching tone. "You are familiar with me. I wouldn't harm you, you know that. Simon is solely to blame for this; he is jealous since he is losing.

"Enough!" My voice broke the tension as I snapped. The two men froze, staring at me.

Between them, my heart thumping, I glanced. My voice trembling, I confessed, "I don't know who to believe." "But I'm tired of getting caught up in this."

Simon approached as Lucas' jaw tightened. "Please, Kate"

My phone buzzed in my pocket before any of them could continue. I pulled it out with shaking hands and froze when I noticed the message:

Come see me tonight if you want to know the whole truth. By themselves. Never put your confidence in anyone.

I felt sick to my stomach. The mystery grew while the sender remained nameless.

I glanced up at Lucas and Simon, their disagreement still lingering. I understood for the first time that whatever happened next would be a game-changer.