Chapter 10 - THE FIRE IN THE RECORDS ROOMSprinklers activated throughout the executive floor.
Employees rushed toward the emergency stairwells.
Damian grabbed Vanessa’s hand and pulled her toward a private exit.
Ethan saw them moving against the crowd.
“Stop them,” he shouted.
Nathan followed.
Vanessa struggled to run while holding her false stomach in place.
She and Damian reached the private elevator.
The doors opened.
Caroline stepped in front of them.
“You’re not leaving.”
Damian shoved the elevator button repeatedly.
“Move.”
Caroline did not.
Damian reached toward her.
Nathan seized his wrist.
“Don’t touch her.”
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then security officers arrived.
Damian immediately changed his expression.
“The records room is burning,” he said.
“Someone needs to protect the company files.”
The officers escorted everyone toward the stairs.
Firefighters contained the blaze before it spread beyond the records department.
The damage appeared serious.
But Damian had forgotten one detail.
Cole International stored digital copies of every legal document in an encrypted system located in another building.
Ethan requested an immediate audit.
The security team reviewed access records.
Damian’s executive card had opened the records room six minutes before the fire alarm.
He claimed the card had been stolen.
Video footage showed his assistant using it.
The assistant disappeared before investigators could question him.
Nathan watched the footage in silence.
For years, Damian had been his closest adviser.
They had built the company together.
Nathan had trusted him with financial accounts, private negotiations, and family information.
Now he understood that Damian had studied every weakness.
Vanessa was not a random woman Nathan met during a lonely night.
She had been sent to him.
His betrayal had been real.
But it had also been anticipated and encouraged.
Nathan sat alone in his dark office after the firefighters left.
Caroline entered to collect documents for the investigation.
“I’m sorry,” Nathan said.
She continued placing files into a box.
“I know those words are useless,” he added.
“They aren’t useless.”
She looked at him.
“They are simply not enough.”
Nathan lowered his head.
“I destroyed us.”
“You made a choice that destroyed my trust.”
“I thought she was pregnant.”
“You betrayed me before she told you that.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Caroline’s voice softened, but only slightly.
“Exposing Vanessa will protect the company.”
“It will not repair our marriage.”
Nathan nodded.
“I understand.”
For the first time, he truly did.
Caroline carried the box toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
“Help Ethan finish this.”
Nathan looked up.
“Why?”
“Because Damian is still inside your company.”
May you like
She opened the door.
“And Vanessa is still wearing that belly.”
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