Chapter 17 - The Unseen Enemy
The mysterious message on my terminal wasn't just a prank; it was a clear warning. The next morning, security reported that an encrypted fiber-optic tap had been discovered on the private communications line connecting Vance Manor to corporate headquarters.
I called Samuel Price immediately.
“Someone is still inside our network, Samuel,” I said, pacing across the study. “A hacker with high-level clearance accessed Project Janus last night.”
“Project Janus?” Samuel’s voice tightened over the secure line. “Elena, your father told me to burn those files if they were ever uncovered. That project predates Marcus by a decade. It involves government contracts from the Cold War era.”
“And my mother’s death,” I added quietly. “She didn't just stumble on financial embezzlement, Samuel. She stumbled on a state-level conspiracy involving Vance Global and government intelligence contractors.”
“Listen to me, Elena,” Samuel urged, his tone grave. “If intelligence agencies are involved, this goes far beyond corporate fraud. You need to step back.”
“I don't step back,” I replied firmly. “Not when my family’s name is tied to a cover-up.”
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That evening, as I drove back from corporate headquarters, a black sedan with tinted windows began tailing my car along the deserted coastal highway. Its headlights were switched off, blending seamlessly into the dark Atlantic fog.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, pressing down on the accelerator. The cat-and-mouse game had begun, and this time, I wasn't the prey.
