Chapter 5: The Room Behind The Locked Door
Ethan didn’t move.
Neither did I.
The words hung in the air.
His private office.
The place where he spent more time than anywhere else.
The place I had visited hundreds of times.
The place where he told me company problems were too complicated for me to understand.
I suddenly wondered how many secrets had been sitting behind that door.
“Victor,” Ethan said carefully, “that doesn’t prove anything.””
The chairman looked at him.
“It proves the document existed in your possession.””
“It was probably planted.””
“By who?””
Ethan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because the answer was obvious.
Only a few people had access to that office.
I looked at Lauren.
She looked nervous.
Not guilty.
Nervous.
And somehow that was worse.
Because it meant she knew more than she was saying.
“Take me there,” I said.
Ethan immediately turned toward me.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I noticed.
So did Victor.
“No?”” I repeated.
“It’s not the time.””
I laughed quietly.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“When I asked about my bracelet, you told me I was overreacting.””
I looked at him.
“When I asked about my shares, you told me it was complicated.””
I stepped closer.
“And now when I want to see proof, you tell me no.””
His expression hardened.
“Claire, think carefully.””
“I have been thinking carefully for twelve years.””
My voice shook.
“I trusted you for twelve years.””
For the first time that night, Ethan looked away.
Victor motioned toward the elevator.
“Let’s go.””
The ride upstairs felt endless.
Nobody spoke.
The reflection in the elevator mirror looked unfamiliar.
My makeup was ruined.
My cheek was still red.
My wedding ring was still on my finger.
That was the strangest part.
After everything I had learned, my body still carried symbols of a marriage that might not exist anymore.
When the elevator doors opened, we walked into Ethan’s executive floor.
The place was usually intimidating.
Glass walls.
Modern furniture.
Awards displayed under perfect lighting.
Tonight, it looked like a museum of lies.
Ethan moved toward his office.
A security guard approached.
“Mr. Carter.””
Ethan nodded.
“Open the door.””
The guard hesitated.
“I was told nobody enters without authorization.””
Victor looked at him.
“Authorization from whom?””
The guard swallowed.
“Mr. Carter.””
Ethan’s face tightened.
“Open it.””
The guard unlocked the door.
The moment it opened, I felt something strange.
A feeling I couldn’t explain.
Like I was walking into a room where the truth had been waiting for me.
Victor and I entered first.
Ethan followed.
Lauren stayed outside.
“Why isn’t she coming?”” I asked.
Ethan looked at me.
“She doesn’t need to be involved.””
I stared at him.
“She already is.””
Victor began searching the desk.
Drawers.
Folders.
Files.
Then he stopped.
“Claire.””
I walked over.
He was holding a small black box.
My heart skipped.
Because I recognized it.
It was from my jewelry collection.
“What is that?””
Victor opened it.
Inside was a receipt.
Not for the bracelet.
For a duplicate.
My breathing stopped.
Ethan immediately reached for it.
Victor pulled it away.
“No.””
Ethan’s voice became sharp.
“Give me that.””
The chairman looked at the receipt.
“Ordered three months ago.””
I stared at Ethan.
“You replaced my bracelet?””
“No.””
“Then why is there a receipt?””
He didn’t answer.
Victor opened the box further.
Under the receipt was a flash drive.
A small label was attached.
One word.
*Claire.*
My hands went cold.
“What is that?””
Ethan stepped forward.
“Don’t touch it.””
Everyone froze.
Because he had just answered.
Not with words.
With fear.
Victor picked up the flash drive.
“Why shouldn’t she?””
Ethan’s face changed.
“Because you don’t know what’s on it.””
I looked at him.
“Neither do you?””
Silence.
Then Victor inserted the drive into his laptop.
A single folder appeared.
No password.
No protection.
Just one file.
May you like
The name made my blood run cold.
*Project Replacement.*
