Chapter Four: Framed

The office fell silent.

Two security officers stopped at the entrance.

Every pair of eyes turned to Zara.

Her mouth went dry.

"I didn't take anything," she repeated, her voice trembling. "I just got here."

Neither of the officers spoke.

One of them looked at Adrian.

"Sir, we were instructed to escort Miss Daniels downstairs until the investigation is complete."

Zara's heart sank.

She looked at Adrian, hoping he'd say something.

Anything.

Instead, he remained unusually calm.

"Did anyone see her leave this office?" he asked.

The officers exchanged glances.

"No, sir."

"Did anyone see her with confidential files?"

"No, sir."

"Then why are you treating her like a suspect?"

"The report came from an anonymous employee."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"An anonymous employee isn't evidence."

Relief washed over Zara.

At least someone believed her.

The security officers stepped aside.

"We apologize, sir."

"You may leave."

They nodded before quietly closing the door behind them.

The moment they were gone, Zara released a shaky breath.

"I should go."

"No."

She looked up.

"I don't want to get involved in whatever is happening here."

"You already are."

His words made her stomach twist.

"I've done nothing wrong."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"I wouldn't have stopped security if I didn't."

She searched his face for any sign of doubt.

There wasn't any.

For some reason, that made her even more nervous.

A few minutes later, Evelyn returned with a tablet in her hands.

"The article is online."

Adrian took it from her.

His jaw tightened.

Without saying a word, he handed it to Zara.

The headline read:

KNIGHT TECHNOLOGIES ACCUSED OF HIDING BILLIONS IN SECRET ACCOUNTS.

Her eyes widened.

"This can't be true."

"It isn't," Adrian replied.

"But someone wants people to believe it."

She looked up.

"Who would do something like this?"

"If I knew, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Evelyn sighed.

"The board is already panicking."

"My investors will panic next," Adrian said.

Before anyone could speak again, Zara's phone vibrated.

She ignored it.

A second later...

It rang again.

Then again.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

She stepped away and answered.

"Hello?"

"Miss Daniels?"

"Yes?"

"This is Mr. Bello, your landlord."

Her shoulders tensed.

"I told you I'd call you."

"I've waited long enough."

"Please, just give me—"

"You have until this evening."

She closed her eyes.

"Sir..."

"If the money isn't paid today, your belongings will be outside."

The line went dead.

She stood there for a moment, staring at her phone.

She had lost her job.

She was about to lose her apartment.

And now she was standing in the office of the richest man she'd ever met, surrounded by problems that had nothing to do with her.

Or maybe they did.

When she turned around, Adrian was watching her.

"Bad news?"

She gave a small laugh.

"I don't remember the last time I got good news."

He didn't ask any more questions.

Instead, he walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a white envelope.

He placed it in front of her.

"What's this?"

"Open it."

She hesitated before taking it.

Inside was a cheque.

Her breath caught.

The amount written on it was more money than she had ever held in her life.

Her hands immediately began to shake.

"I... I can't accept this."

"It's not a gift."

She looked up.

"Then what is it?"

"An advance."

"For a job I don't even have?"

"You have it."

Her eyes widened.

"I passed the interview?"

"I hired you the moment you chose honesty over impressing me."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"I don't understand."

"You will."

She slowly placed the cheque back into the envelope.

"There has to be something you're not telling me."

For the first time since they'd met, Adrian looked away.

"There is."

The office door suddenly burst open.

A middle-aged man stormed in without knocking.

His face was red with anger.

"So this is her?"

He pointed directly at Zara.

"This is the woman you're replacing my daughter with?"

Zara blinked.

"My... what?"

The man took another step forward.

"I warned you, Adrian."

"If you break your engagement to my daughter because of this girl..."

He slammed his hand on the desk.

"...I'll make sure both of you regret it."

The room froze.

Zara looked from the furious man to Adrian.

Engagement?

Her eyes widened.

What exactly had she walked into?