Chapter 5 5

Bella feigned a startled look, her voice softening. "Fiona, you misunderstood. I was just trying to-" She trailed off, glancing at Darwin for support. "Darwin..."

Darwin's gaze flicked to Fiona, his expression unreadable. His lips curled into a faint, humorless smile.

The fox that had played the part of a harmless rabbit for five years was finally showing its claws.

"It's okay," Darwin said, his tone calm but dismissive, as though soothing Bella.

Bella ducked her head, feigning fear, as if Fiona's mere presence intimidated her.

Darwin's voice turned icy. "Fiona, she can't accuse you, but I can. Right?"

Fiona blinked, taken aback. A tightness gripped her chest. Did Darwin truly not trust her after all this time?

Darwin pulled a few sheets of data from a file and placed them in front of her. "Even if someone tampered with the numbers, the signature on these documents is yours. Correct?"

Fiona glanced at the papers and nodded. "Yes."

"Then you can't escape responsibility." His voice was cold, final. "I'll give you three days to sort this out. If you don't, the company will follow protocol and report the matter to the authorities."

Fiona stared at him, suppressing the sting of betrayal that threatened to rise. She had expected this reaction. Darwin was nothing if not vengeful, especially when someone defied him.

"Fine," she said firmly, her tone unflinching.

Darwin's expression darkened. Her defiance, her unshakable calm, irritated him in ways he couldn't explain. He said nothing more and turned sharply, retreating to his office.

Bella shot Fiona a triumphant smirk as she followed him inside, her heels clicking against the floor.

By the afternoon, rumors of Fiona's alleged betrayal spread like wildfire. Whispers and judgmental glances followed her everywhere, but Fiona ignored them, her focus on finding the truth.

She retreated to the company's library, carrying her laptop and the relevant documents. The quiet space offered some solace as she sifted through the details of the project.

Her phone buzzed, and Thalassa's fiery voice greeted her. "Fiona, what's going on? I heard everything! We need to find out who did this!"

Fiona sighed. "And then what? Clear my name?"

"Of course! And teach them a lesson while we're at it!" Thalassa snapped.

"But the deal is already in jeopardy," Fiona said solemnly. "If we don't salvage it, months of hard work from so many people will be wasted. That's what matters most."

Thalassa paused, her voice softening. "So what's the plan?"

"I'm going to fix this," Fiona replied. "There's a cruise party tomorrow night. William Newton, R&K's boss, will be there. I'll optimize the proposal tonight and present him with a new plan."

"I'll handle the invitations," Thalassa said decisively. "But you know William has a reputation for being...difficult."

Fiona nodded, her determination unwavering. "We won't know unless we try."

The next evening, the pier sparkled with the lights of the luxurious cruise ship, a grand vessel hosting Bay City's elite. Wealthy socialites and influential figures mingled on deck, dressed to impress in designer attire.

Fiona and Thalassa had managed to board, but not as guests. Lacking invitations, they had entered under the guise of event staff.

"Sorry about this," Thalassa muttered, glancing at her own modest uniform.

Fiona smiled reassuringly. "It doesn't matter how we got on, as long as we're here."

As the party got underway, Fiona found a secluded spot to change into her dress. She carefully slipped into the golden mermaid-style gown Thalassa had insisted she buy. It hugged her figure perfectly, the shimmering fabric catching the moonlight.

Climbing out of a low window to avoid the staff area, she adjusted her heels and brushed stray hair from her face. She was about to head towards the main deck when she heard a low chuckle behind her.

"Caught red-handed," a voice teased.

Fiona turned, her gaze landing on a strikingly handsome man with tousled curls and sharp features. He held a champagne glass and grinned at her like she was the most fascinating thing he'd seen all night.

She frowned. "Sir, do you need assistance?"

The man's eyes sparkled with mischief as he gestured towards the window she had just climbed out of. "You look like a princess escaping from a fairy tale."

Fiona blinked, momentarily at a loss.

She was dressed to perfection-her hair styled in loose waves, her makeup highlighting her natural beauty. Against the backdrop of the moonlit sea, she looked ethereal.

"Sorry, I have something to do," she said quickly, turning to leave.

"Wait!" The man hurried to follow her, his voice playful. "You can't just disappear like that. I don't even know your name!"

Fiona sighed inwardly, annoyed by the distraction. "It's Fiona," she said curtly, not breaking stride.

"And I'm Ethan," he said, easily matching her pace. His smile widened. "Now that we're not strangers, would you do me the honor of-"

"Ethan," Fiona interrupted, her tone firm. "I'm flattered, but I have somewhere important to be."

Ethan paused, watching her disappear into the crowd. His curiosity piqued, he took a sip of champagne and muttered to himself, "Fiona...what are you up to