Chapter 5
The first phone to ring was Daniel’s.
He looked down with irritation, expecting to dismiss the call.
Then he saw the caller.
His expression changed.
Vanessa noticed.
“What is it?”
Daniel did not answer.
Her own phone vibrated beside the wineglass.
Then Eleanor’s handbag began ringing.
The room changed sound.
No laughter.
Only phones.
Claire sat drenched at the table, hair clinging to her face, water dripping from her sleeves onto the floor.
She did not reach for a towel.
She did not apologize for the mess.
She watched them understand timing.
That was the first fear.
Timing meant coordination.
Coordination meant they had not surprised her.
Vanessa picked up her phone and stared at the screen.
“Daniel… why is Argent calling all of us?”
Daniel’s eyes moved to Claire.
“What did you do?”
Claire did not answer.
Because Marcus Reed entered before she needed to.
The dining-room doors opened.
Marcus stepped in wearing a dark suit, identification badge visible, sealed black folder in hand. Two corporate security investigators followed behind him with evidence bags and closed files.
Eleanor stood halfway.
“This is a private residence.”
Marcus looked at her.
“And this is a corporate investigation involving company devices, access credentials, and suspected misuse of funds.”
Daniel pushed back his chair.
“You can’t just walk in here.”
Marcus’s voice remained calm.
“Mrs. Whitmore’s residence is connected to the active device location. Your company phone is inside this room. So is hers. So is Ms. Cole’s.”
Vanessa slowly set down her wineglass.
Claire rose carefully, one hand over her belly.
The water attack had ended.
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The audit had arrived.
Read the full story 👉 The ringing phones told Daniel the investigation was not coming later—it had already entered the room.
