Chapter 7 - The TrapThe threat against my brother changed everything. We couldn't just play by the corporate rules anymore. Christopher Hale was a cornered animal, and he was highly dangerous.
That night, Ethan and I huddled in his private apartment—a sleek, high-security loft downtown that his father didn't have access to.
We need to find the original copy of my mother’s will, Ethan signed, his face pale with worry. My father has a physical safe in his mansion. I believe the original, un-redacted will is there. The digital copy we have has been altered to give him temporary guardianship over my shares if there is any 'dispute' about my health. If we get the original, it will show she left the shares to me unconditionally.
But how do we get into his mansion? I signed. He has security everywhere.
There is a charity gala tomorrow night at the Hale Estate, Ethan signed. Everyone will be distracted. The security will be focused on the guests. I know the code to his private study, but I need someone to watch the door and help me crack the physical safe. It’s a two-person job.
I’ll do it, I signed without hesitation. For Ethan. And for Leo.
The next evening, the Hale Estate was glowing with thousands of fairy lights. Valets parked luxury sports cars, and the city’s elite walked up the grand stone steps in tuxedos and evening gowns.
I wore a stunning emerald green gown, my hair styled in soft waves. Ethan and I walked in arm-in-arm. We blended in perfectly with the crowd, but my heart was beating like a trapped bird.
We waited until the main event—Christopher’s speech on the terrace—began. As the crowd gathered outside to watch the billionaire soak in the applause, Ethan and I slipped away, moving down the long, quiet hallways of the west wing.
We reached the heavy double doors of Christopher’s private study. Ethan punched in the passcode, and the lock clicked open.
The room was dark, smelling of leather and expensive cigars. We rushed inside. Ethan moved a painting of his mother on the wall, revealing a state-of-the-art digital safe underneath.
He plugged a small hacking device into the safe's USB port, his fingers flying across his phone as he ran a decryption script.
“Hurry, Ethan,” I whispered, keeping my eye on the crack of the door.
Suddenly, the lights in the study snapped on.
I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat.
Standing in the doorway was Christopher Hale, flanked by three heavy-set security guards. He had a triumphant, mocking smirk on his face.
“Did you really think it would be that easy?” Christopher laughed, stepping into the room. “I’ve been watching your little tracking devices for days, Ethan. I knew exactly what you were planning.”
He turned his cold eyes to me.
“And as for you, Mary... thank you for making this so easy. Stealing from a billionaire's private safe during a charity gala? That’s a twenty-year prison sentence. Security, search her.”
One of the guards stepped forward, grabbing my purse and dumping its contents onto the desk. Along with my makeup and keys, a small, velvet bag fell out. The guard opened it, revealing a stunning, multi-million dollar diamond necklace belonging to Eleanor Hale.
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“I’ve never seen that before!” I cried out. “He planted it!”
“Who will believe a broke, evicted waitress over me?” Christopher sneered. “You’re done, Mary. And Ethan... you will finally be locked away in a private sanatorium where you belong.”
