Chapter 2
1200words
She'd deliberately chosen a warm yellow desk lamp that softened the harsh data on her screen. The document was organized into three main sections: Asset Protection, Public Opinion Manipulation, and Evidence Collection. Each section branched into dozens of subcategories, forming an intricate web of revenge.
Her phone buzzed, shattering the silence. A message from Lucas: he'd had too much to drink with clients and would crash at the hotel. He'd attached a blurry photo showing whiskey glasses and what appeared to be his wrist. Emily zoomed in, noticing something in the glass's reflection—a flash of magenta nail polish. The exact limited-edition shade she'd given his secretary yesterday.
He couldn't even be bothered to lie convincingly.
Emily saved the screenshot and typed back: "Don't drink too much, honey. Take some hangover medicine." Her words oozed concern while her knuckles turned white around the phone. She set it down and returned to her plan, her only tell the slight tremor in her hands.
At nine sharp the next morning, Emily strode into the company meeting room. She'd chosen a power suit in crimson that commanded attention. Her employees exchanged glances—something was different about the boss today. The edge in her voice, usually carefully masked, now cut like a blade.
"This month, we're pivoting to business anti-corruption coverage." Her announcement drew surprised looks from several veteran staff members. This was miles away from their usual entertainment marketing focus.
After dismissing the team, Emily asked her planning director to stay. "I want a series exposing business scandals," she said, sliding over a list. "Start researching these cases." The director's eyebrows rose slightly as he noticed Lucas's company project sitting at the top of the list.
Once alone, Emily stood at the window, breathing deeply. Setting this revenge machine in motion felt like walking a tightrope over a canyon—one wrong step and she'd plummet into the abyss.
Jason called that afternoon. "We need to meet. Some things shouldn't be discussed over the phone."
They met at their old college hangout, a quiet tea house downtown. Jason looked more haggard than at their last meeting, but his eyes retained their keen edge. Without preamble, he slid a folder across the table.
"Lucas's business isn't just shady—it's filthy," he said bluntly. "And Simon Shaw is pulling the strings."
The name hit Emily like a physical blow. Simon Shaw—the business world's boogeyman. The man whose name had been whispered in connection with her father's bankruptcy years ago.
The folder contained surveillance photos of Lucas frequenting an exclusive club known to be Shaw's territory. Financial documents showed nearly half of Lucas's company funding flowed through a foundation controlled by Shaw.
"Why are you going this far to help me?" Emily asked, studying his face.
Jason rotated his teacup slowly. "Remember senior year? When I was getting death threats for that exposé on corporate corruption? Everyone told me to back off. Everyone except you." His eyes met hers. "You said 'the truth is worth the price.' Never forgot that."
Emily sipped her tea, hiding her surprise. She'd actually forgotten that incident—just some idealistic college talk, she'd thought at the time.
"What comes next will be dangerous," Jason leaned in, voice dropping. "Shaw isn't just some businessman. He's dangerous."
"I know," Emily closed the folder with finality. "But there's no going back now."
When she got home that evening, Lucas was already there—a surprise. He'd brought her favorite dessert and was puttering around the kitchen in casual clothes. For a disorienting moment, he looked just like the attentive husband she'd thought she married.
"Work's been crazy lately. I've been neglecting you." He wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her head.
Emily's body tensed before she forced herself to relax into his embrace. "It's fine. I've been swamped too."
How absurd—they were both acting, competing to see who could deliver the more convincing performance.
That night, Emily feigned sleep as Lucas slipped out of bed and padded to his study. She activated the keystroke logger she'd installed days earlier. His supposedly unbreakable sixteen-character password might as well have been written in crayon.
The next day, Emily launched a new media account under her company's umbrella: "Justice Mirror." Its first exposé detailed financial fraud at a certain listed company—unnamed, but industry insiders would recognize Lucas's close business partner immediately.
The effect was immediate. Lucas's company stock wobbled that day, and his face was thunderous when he came home.
"Watch yourself these days," he mentioned casually over dinner. "Someone's stirring up trouble in the industry."
Emily sliced her steak with deliberate precision. "Isn't that just business? You take someone down today, someone takes you down tomorrow." His warning had a double meaning; so did her response.
Lucas studied her face for a long moment, then fell silent.
The tension peaked on the third day when "Justice Mirror" published an anonymous exposé detailing irregularities in a real estate project. This time, Lucas's company was named explicitly.
Lucas called immediately. "Babe, have you seen those ridiculous allegations online?"
"Just now," Emily replied, her voice perfectly calibrated to sound concerned. "Need me to help with damage control?"
"No need. I've got this handled," he said tersely. "Won't make it home tonight—need to manage this crisis."
Emily ended the call, a cold smile playing on her lips. She knew exactly where he was headed—Jason's surveillance team was already positioned outside his secretary's apartment.
An hour later, the surveillance photos arrived. Lucas had indeed visited his secretary, but stayed only twenty minutes before rushing out. Not his usual pattern.
Emily zoomed in on the images. Lucas was carrying a briefcase—one she recognized as the same model Shaw's lieutenants carried.
She immediately called Jason. "This isn't just about our marriage anymore."
"I was about to call you," Jason replied grimly. "Lucas has been moving serious money offshore—way beyond anything his legitimate business would generate."
The truth was emerging like a mountain through clearing fog. What she'd thought was merely marital betrayal was actually just one small thread in a massive conspiracy.
The office was tomb-quiet in the small hours. Emily spread her evidence across the desk like puzzle pieces: Lucas's affair, the asset transfers, Shaw's shadowy presence, the offshore accounts… but something crucial was still missing.
From her safe, she retrieved the jade pendant her mother had given her before her wedding. Its cool surface reminded her of her mother's parting advice: "No matter what happens, never lose yourself."
Her phone lit up with a text from Lucas: "Winds are picking up. Be careful." Cryptic. Threatening.
Emily stared at the message. Was it a warning? Or had he discovered what she was doing?
Outside her window, actual storm clouds were gathering, dark and ominous over the city skyline.
Emily clutched her jade pendant, knowing she'd crossed a point of no return.
And the road ahead might lead to places far darker than she'd ever imagined.
