PART 14:

“We’re taking her to the security office.” “Detained?” Mason’s voice went flat. “That’s interesting. Because last time someone was accused of unauthorized system access, they didn’t get detained. They got publicly crucified.” Leonard’s jaw tightened. “The situations are completely different.” “Are they? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like whoever you’re protecting always gets careful handling, and whoever you’re destroying gets maximum exposure.

” Mason took a step closer. “What did she find, Leonard? What are you so afraid of?” “I’m not afraid of anything, and I don’t owe you an explanation. You’re right. You don’t owe me anything except 4 years of my life you helped destroy.” Mason looked at the guards. “You guys know this is wrong, right? You know she’s your boss and he’s trying to use you to cover up whatever he’s been doing?” The lead guard shifted uncomfortably.

“Sir, we’re just following protocol.” “Protocol says you detain the CEO of the company on the word of someone she’s investigating? That’s not protocol. That’s a coup.” Scarlett felt something warm bloom in her chest. Mason was defending her. After everything she’d done to him, he was standing in this lobby defending her.

Leonard’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and something flickered across his face. Worry, maybe. Or fear. “Excuse me,” he said, stepping away to take the call. Mason moved closer to Scarlett while the guards watched Leonard uncertainly. “Did you get what you needed?” Mason asked quietly. “Yes.

It’s already uploaded to a secure location.” “Then why are you still here?” “Because running would make me look guilty.” “You are guilty. You just broke into your own company’s servers.” Mason almost smiled. “But you did it for the right reasons. That should count for something.” Leonard came back, his face pale. “Let her go.

” The guards looked confused. “Sir?” “I said let her go. It was a misunderstanding. Ms. Vaughn had authorization for her system access. I was mistaken.” Scarlett stared at him. “What changed?” “Nothing changed. I was simply incorrect in my initial assessment.” Leonard’s voice was tight, controlled. “I apologize for the confusion.

” He turned and walked toward the elevators, moving fast. The guards looked at each other, shrugged, and dispersed. Within 30 seconds, Scarlett and Mason were alone in the lobby. “What just happened?” Scarlett asked. “If I had to guess, someone just told him he’s out of time. Maybe the board, maybe the feds, maybe whoever he’s been working with.

” Mason looked at her. “Whatever you found tonight, it worked.” Scarlett’s phone buzzed. A message from Sarah Chen. “Leonard’s encrypted emails just got cracked. He’s been communicating with offshore accounts tied to Thomas Whitmore. Evidence of insider trading going back 2 years. The SEC is going to love this.

” Another message appeared. “Also found evidence he manipulated the Helix to acquire their infrastructure for pennies. He knew Mason helped design those systems and buried him in a low-level position to keep him quiet. Scarlett showed Mason the messages. He read them without expression. “So he did know who I was the whole time.” Mason said quietly.

“He put me in the basement because I was the only one who could have found what he was hiding in the old systems. And when the security protocols started catching his manipulations, he framed you rather than risk you being investigated and discovering the truth.” “Well,” Mason handed her phone back. “At least now I know it wasn’t personal, just business.

” “I’m sorry.” “Stop apologizing. You say it like it’s supposed to fix things, but it doesn’t.” She started toward the exit. “Get your evidence to whoever needs to see it. Make sure he can’t hurt anyone else.” “Mason, wait.” He stopped but didn’t turn around. “Thank you,” Scarlett said, “for helping me, for being here tonight, for I didn’t do it for you.

” Mason looked back at her. “I did it because letting him get away with it would have meant he won, and I’m tired of people like him winning.” He left. Scarlett stood in the empty lobby clutching her laptop and feeling like she’d just survived something she didn’t quite understand. Her phone rang. Richard Holbrook.

“Scarlett, we need to meet. Now.” “Leonard just called an emergency board session for tomorrow morning. He’s trying to move up the vote.” “Let him. I have everything I need.” “You sound confident.” “I am. For the first time in days, I actually am.” She hung up and walked out into the December night.

Snow was falling again, covering Manhattan in fresh white. Tomorrow, she’d walk into that boardroom and burn Leonard Graves’ world to the ground. Tomorrow, she’d either save her company or lose everything trying. But tonight, she went home to her empty apartment and slept better than she had in weeks. The boardroom was already full when Scarlet arrived at 8:00 a.m.

She’d come early expecting to be the first one there, but every seat at the obsidian table was occupied. Leonard sat at the far end, his face carefully neutral. Thomas Whitmore was beside him, leaning back in his chair with the kind of casual confidence that came from thinking you’d already won. Patricia Chen was typing something on her tablet.

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