Chapter 5 - SHADOWS IN THE OFFICE

Hours later, the rain had subsided into a heavy, suffocating mist. In the quiet luxury of the west suite, Emily sat on the edge of a velvet armchair, clutching a cup of hot tea she hadn't dared to drink. The room was larger than her entire apartment, but to her, it felt like a golden cage.
A soft knock preceded the door opening, and Samuel entered carrying a fresh change of dry clothes and a modest meal.
"You aren't a prisoner here, Ms. Carter," Samuel said gently, setting the tray on the table. "Mr. Blackwood wants you safe while we sort this out."
"I didn't steal those files," Emily whispered, looking up with eyes rimmed in red. "I came here three weeks ago just trying to make an honest living for my son. I found that pendant behind the wooden panel while dusting, and I was terrified to turn it in because I thought someone would accuse me of taking it. Today, when the guards cornered me, I panicked. I just wanted to put it back where I found it."
Samuel studied her intently, recognizing the raw, unfiltered truth in her voice. "Mr. Blackwood knows people, child. He doesn't make mistakes about character often. Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we find out who really opened that vault."
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Meanwhile, down in the basement security hub, Nathan stared at the digital playback screens. The footage showed the exact moment an unknown figure in a dark jacket used an executive override code to download the East Wing files—and then dropped a planted duplicate folder near Emily's cleaning cart to frame her.
The code used belonged to none other than Richard Vance, the senior vice president of operations—and Nathan's own cousin by marriage.