Page 35

Leonard

R aphael’s house looms large as we drive toward the fountain in front of it.

I can feel the tension radiating from Roxanne beside me, her fingers tapping a quick rhythm on her thigh.

She’s been quiet since we left, but I can sense her mind working a mile a minute, turning over every detail we’ve uncovered about Oliver’s betrayal.

“Ready?” I ask, even though I’m not sure I am. Roxanne just nods, her face set with determination, a quiet fierceness that’s been both my strength and my torment these past few days.

Raphael opens the door himself, letting us in with a grim nod.

The smell of fresh coffee fills the air, mingling with the sharp scent of flowers coming from his garden.

He gives me a worried look. His eyes study me in that protective way he has before his gaze shifts to Roxanne.

“You two look like you could use a drink,” he says, only half-joking.

“Not yet,” I reply. “We need to keep our heads clear for this.”

Raphael leads us through the house to a cozy room. In it, a man in his forties, wearing a suit that somehow manages to look both professional and worn-in, is seated on a cream couch. He stands as we enter, offering his hand with a polite smile.

“Leonard, Roxanne, this is Agent Harris,” Raphael says. “He’s here to help us…theoretically.”

“Pleasure to meet you both,” Agent Harris says, his voice smooth and professional, though there’s a spark of humor in his eyes that tells me he’s used to working around the system when necessary.

I take his hand, nodding. “Thanks for meeting with us. We… Well, we’re in deeper than I ever expected.”

He gestures for us to sit. “From what I understand, it’s complicated. Raphael gave me a brief overview, but I’d like to hear it from you. And please, keep in mind that anything we discuss today is purely hypothetical.”

Roxanne and I exchange a glance. I know he’s saying this because we need to trust him with the information that potentially incriminates us both, but it’s a massive leap of faith to even have this encounter.

I take a steadying breath before diving into the details.

I recount everything we’ve uncovered about Oliver—his transactions, the encrypted files, the offshore accounts.

My voice doesn’t shake, but it feels strained, tight with the hurt and anger that keep fighting their way to the surface.

This is my friend, my partner. I had trusted him with everything.

Agent Harris listens carefully, nodding from time to time.

When I finish, he leans back, considering.

“Hypothetically speaking,” he says slowly, “you’re looking at serious charges here.

Inside trading, corporate espionage, not to mention potential sales of classified information.

But without concrete evidence, it’s all circumstantial. ”

I tense, feeling the frustration building. “That’s why we’re here. We need to know what kind of evidence would hold up in court. And…how to get it without tipping him off.”

He smiles a bit at that, a glint of respect in his eyes. “Smart approach. If you move too soon, he could cover his tracks, and you’d be left with nothing. What you need, again, theoretically, is a confession.”

Roxanne shifts beside me, crossing her arms. “How are we supposed to get him to confess? Oliver’s not stupid. He’ll be careful about what he says to anyone involved with the company.”

Agent Harris nods. “Which is why it’s best if the confession isn’t coerced. But if there’s a way to get him to speak about his actions, perhaps by feigning ignorance or using a third party, he wouldn’t suspect…that might work.”

“So, we set up a meeting?” I ask, though the thought of confronting Oliver face-to-face after everything I’ve discovered feels like taking a bullet. The man was practically my brother. Now I don’t know what he is.

“Hypothetically, yes,” Harris replies. “A meeting where he feels comfortable enough to let something slip, obviously recorded. However, you need to be aware of the legalities here. In most states, if only one person consents to the recording, it’s admissible.

But since you’re potentially involving the FBI, it’s better to keep everything above board. ”

I let out a breath, rubbing my temple. “So, what are you saying?”

He raises a brow. “Theoretically, if an FBI agent were aware of this operation, the recording could be made legally admissible in court. Conveniently, you have one here right now.”

A bit of the tension loosens as I meet his gaze, the corner of his mouth quirking in a small smile. For the first time, I feel a feeble spark of hope. This is a plan that could actually work.

“I’ll need to be there to oversee the process,” Harris continues, “and to ensure everything is done by the book. But if you play your cards right, you could have a solid case. That said, it might take time to get Oliver comfortable enough to speak freely.”

“Time,” Roxanne says, her voice dripping frustration. “We don’t have a lot of it. My life is basically in a choke hold until we clear this up, and every day we wait, I’m another step closer to being implicated.”

Agent Harris nods, looking at her with sympathy.

“Understood. But rushing into this could jeopardize everything, especially your own position. Right now, Oliver is a clear primary suspect. If we can bring him in with solid evidence and link him to others who bought the information, you’ll have a better chance of keeping your name out of it. ”

I can see the weight of his words settling on her. She’s restless, and I don’t blame her. This entire situation is pulling us both apart, each in our own way.

Raphael speaks up then, his tone serious. “If we’re going to do this, we have to do it right. Leonard, you know what’s at stake—not just for you, but for Roxanne, for the company. If there’s even a shadow of a doubt about the legality of our actions, it could ruin everything.”

I nod, feeling the full burden of responsibility pressing on my shoulders. I know Raphael’s right. We have to be careful and strategic. But it doesn’t make the anger burning in my chest any easier to deal with.

Agent Harris continues, “Now, there are some specifics you’ll need to prepare for. Does Oliver have any reason to suspect you’ve discovered his actions?”

I glance at Roxanne, and she steps in, her voice steady.

“No. He knows that we’re digging into the problem, but as far as we can tell, he thinks everything is well hidden.

Leonard and I have been working privately, so there’s no reason for him to suspect anything yet. He still thinks he’s framing me.”

Agent Harris nods approvingly. “Good. Keep it that way. The fewer people who know, the better. What we need is to catch him off guard and get him talking, naturally. Even a hint of pressure might tip him off.”

I clench my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.

The betrayal still stings, twisting like a knife in my gut.

Oliver, the man I’d trusted with everything, was willing to risk it all—for money, for power.

I feel Roxanne’s gaze on me, a mix of concern and understanding in her eyes, and it helps to steady me.

Harris continues, “When it comes to the recording, there are a few technical details to consider. We’ll need a clear connection, ideally with minimal interference, to make sure every word is captured cleanly.”

Roxanne steps in again. “I can set up a discreet audio system. I have experience with wireless surveillance tech, so I can ensure we’re getting a high-quality recording.”

Harris raises his brows, impressed. “You know what you are doing. Good to have someone with technical expertise on the team.”

Roxanne just nods, but I can see a spark of pride in her eyes, and it brings a flicker of a smile to my face. Even in the midst of all this, her strength and determination shine through.

“So, once we have a recording,” I say, bringing the conversation back on track. “What then?”

Harris leans forward, his expression serious.

“If Oliver implicates himself clearly enough, we move to secure him and gather the rest of the evidence from his devices. That’s when we’ll bring in the bigger fish—the buyers of the information, the people who enabled his actions.

The more connections we can trace, the better your position will be. ”

Roxanne’s face tightens, but she nods. I know she’s frustrated by the wait, but I can see that she understands the necessity of it. “We already have more than a few names from the files we discovered. I think he’s making sure nobody speaks about it, using proof of their involvement as leverage.”

Harris nods, a small smile appearing on his face, like this news is particularly interesting for him. “Good, knowing who we’re targeting will make our job easier.”

“Leonard,” she says, turning to me, her voice soft but resolute. “We’ll get through this. You built this company, you can save it.”

Her words ground me, and I feel a rush of gratitude mixing with the bitterness. The betrayal of a friend cuts deep, but I have people who believe in me and are willing to stand by my side.

Agent Harris stands, a look of determination on his face. “We’ll need to coordinate this carefully. I’ll make the arrangements to oversee the recording, and we’ll set the meeting as soon as possible.”

I rise, feeling the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. There’s a long road ahead, but for the first time, I feel like we have a plan and a way forward.

As we leave Raphael’s house, I look at Roxanne, the confidence in her gaze giving me hope and strength.

No matter what lies ahead, I know I won’t be facing it alone.

And as painful as Oliver’s betrayal is, it’s nothing compared to the loyalty and support of those who’ve stood by my side in this situation.

Maybe something good will come from all this chaos in the shape of a blond, stubborn woman.