Chapter 68
CHARLOTTE
41
I sat on the edge of my bed, my head pounding from overthinking, and stared blankly at the floor. My mind had been racing all morning, trying to figure out what to do about the blackmailer. She had the audacity to put me in this position, to trap me like this, and I had no idea how to fight back.
What if I ignored her demands? No, that wasn’t an option. She had proof. The picture of me outside Damien’s office was evidence enough to ruin everything. I couldn’t afford to let that happen.
Maybe I could pay her and get it over with. But five hundred thousand? Where would I even get that kind of money without raising suspicion? And even if I did pay, who’s to say she wouldn’t just come back for more? People like her always did.
I chewed on my bottom lip, frustrated and helpless. A thought crossed my mind–what if I threatened her back? But then I scoffed at my own stupidity. How could I threaten someone I didn’t even know? She had the upper hand here, and I hated it.
I groaned, running my hands through my hair. My nails scratched lightly against my scalp as if that would somehow release the tension building in my chest. I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. I needed answers. I needed to find out who this blackmailer was and take control of the situation before it spiraled out of control.
And then it hit me. Damien’s office.
The picture of me had been taken from inside his building. That much was clear from the angle of the shot. The blackmailer had to be someone who worked there, someone who had access. It was a small lead, but it was a start.
I straightened up, pacing the room as I tried to formulate a plan. “Alright, Charlotte,” I muttered to myself. “You’ve got this. You just need to stay calm and figure it out.”
After dressing in a fitted blazer and pencil skirt, I grabbed a stack of random documents from my desk to use as a cover story. The plan was simple: blend in, look confident, and snoop around without drawing too much attention.
The building was bustling when I arrived, with employees scurrying back and forth like worker bees. I adjusted my blazer, held my head high, and strode through the lobby, clutching the documents tightly to my chest. No one gave me a second glance, which was exactly what I needed.
The elevator ride to Damien’s floor felt endless. I tried to keep my breathing steady, but my heart was racing. If anyone stopped me, I’d just say I was here to deliver papers. That excuse would buy me a few minutes–long enough to scout the area, I hoped.
When the doors opened, I stepped out and paused for a moment to take in my surroundings. Damien’s office was at the far end of the hall, but heading straight there would be too obvious. Instead, I walked past the offices and desks, pretending to search for someone as my eyes scanned detail.
every
I watched the employees carefully. Most of them were too absorbed in their work to even notice me. A few glanced up briefly before returning to their tasks. Everything seemed normal. Too normal.
My frustration grew as I wandered aimlessly. How was I supposed to find one person in a building full of employees? This was like searching for a needle in a haystack. I was starting to think this was a dead end when I turned a corner and bumped
into someone.
The impact knocked me back a step, and I gasped sharply. A woman pushing a cart of cleaning supplies had run straight into me, sending her tools clattering to the floor.
“Watch where you’re going!” I snapped, glaring at her. “Are you blind?”
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14:38 Tue, 18 Feb
Chapter 68
“I–I’m so sorry, ma’am,” she stammered, her face turning red. “I didn’t see you there.”
She crouched down quickly, fumbling to pick up the scattered supplies. Her hands were shaking slightly as she worked, and something about her nervous demeanor caught my attention.
I crossed my armis, staring down at her as she scrambled to gather everything. “Be more careful next time,” I said sharply.
“Yes, ma’am,” she mumbled, keeping her eyes on the floor.
It was then that my gaze landed on her name tag. Rita. I filed the name away in my mind, not thinking much of it until something else caught my eye–a glint of silver on her hand.
She reached for a fallen mop, and I noticed the heart–shaped flower ring on her finger. My breath caught in my throat.
That ring. I had seen it before. My mind raced back to the day I met the blackmailer in the warehouse. She had this same ring on her. It was distinct–too unique to be a coincidence.
I froze, my heart pounding as the realization hit me. This was her. The blackmailer.
The air seemed to thicken around me as I stared at her. My mind struggled to process the fact that the person who had been tormenting me was right here in front of me, crouched on the floor like a pathetic little mouse.
Forcing myself to stay calm, I straightened my posture and plastered a tight–lipped smile on my face. She didn’t notice the shift in my demeanor, too focused on gathering the last of her supplies.
“Rita, was it?” I asked, my tone sharp but controlled.
Her head jerked up, and her wide eyes met mine. “Y–Yes, ma’am.”
“Be more careful next time,” I said again, letting my gaze linger on her a moment longer. “We wouldn’t want any accidents, would we?”
She shook her head quickly, mumbling another apology before standing up and pushing her cart away as fast as she could.
I watched her retreating figure, my mind buzzing with a mix of disbelief and triumph. So, this was the woman who thought she could blackmail me? A cleaner? A nobody?
I smirked to myself, feeling the power shift ever so slightly in my favor. Now that I knew who she was, I had the upper hand. “Let’s see how you like playing my game now,” I muttered under my breath, already planning my next move.
