10
The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them inside Stanton's private office. The space was pristine—minimalist furniture, glass walls, and a massive mahogany desk that practically screamed power. But it wasn't the décor that had Selene on edge. It was the silence.
Damian took a slow step forward, scanning the room. "This feels too easy."
Elliot let out a breath. "That's because it is. Stanton doesn't make mistakes."
Selene moved toward the desk, running her fingers along its polished surface. "Then we need to assume there's a trap."
Elliot nodded. "His real files won't be on this computer." He gestured toward the sleek, state-of-the-art monitor. "That's for show. Anything important is stored offline."
Selene's eyes flicked to the corner of the room. "Like in that safe?"
All three of them turned toward the reinforced steel vault built into the wall.
Damian grinned. "Now we're talking."
Cracking the Code
Elliot exhaled. "I hope one of you is good with safes."
Damian knelt in front of the vault, rolling his shoulders. "You doubt me?"
Selene crossed her arms. "How long?"
Damian placed his ear against the steel and began turning the dial. "Give me five minutes."
Elliot groaned. "We don't have five minutes."
Selene moved to the computer, tapping the keyboard. The screen blinked to life, demanding a password. She frowned. "We need to move fast. I don't trust how quiet this has been."
Damian smirked, twisting the dial one last time. A soft click echoed through the room. "Done."
Elliot blinked. "No way."
Damian pulled open the vault door. "Way."
Inside, neatly stacked folders and a small external hard drive sat waiting.
Selene's pulse quickened. "Jackpot."
The Truth Uncovered
Elliot grabbed a folder, flipping it open. His face paled. "This is it. Financial records, payoffs, blackmail—everything." He rifled through the documents, his hands trembling. "This… this is how he controls everyone."
Selene reached for the hard drive. "Then let's take it and go."
Damian was already stuffing documents into his jacket. "No argument here."
But as they turned to leave, a voice cut through the silence.
"Well, well."
The blood in Selene's veins turned to ice.
Stanton stood in the doorway, flanked by two armed guards.
He smiled, but it was the kind of smile that promised pain.
"You really should have known better."