Page 37

Leonard

I n the anonymous, plain hotel room, I adjust my headphones, fighting back the urge to smash my fist into the table.

Oliver’s voice drifts through the earpiece, calm and almost cheerful, as if he’s discussing the weather.

He’s way too relaxed for someone committing a federal crime.

How many times has he done this? How long has he been passing information behind my back, taking everything we built together and selling it to whoever would pay his price?

Beside me, Roxanne is facing the monitors, her expression intense and focused.

Her fingers tap lightly on the table, betraying a tension as she listens.

She glances my way from time to time. Her eyes scan my face as if she’s checking to make sure I’m holding up.

I can feel her worry, her silent encouragement, but it only makes the anger in me burn hotter because I’m here, powerless, while my world crumbles.

On the other side, Raphael sits with a deep scowl, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes locked on the screen.

Harris, the FBI agent, monitors the recording.

His face is unreadable but professional as he takes notes.

This is routine for him, just another case, just another criminal to put behind bars.

But for me, this isn’t just about justice or even business—this is a betrayal on the deepest level.

The audio comes through clearly, and we hear Oliver’s voice again.

He’s talking to another man, our so-called “first buyer,” who decided his freedom is more valuable than more money.

They’ve set this up to look like a typical transaction, the man who bought the information in the first place pretending to act as the intermediary for a new client who’s supposedly interested in our data.

The first buyer has immunity now, thanks to a deal with the FBI, so all we need is for Oliver to give them the stolen data and a real exchange of money through his computer.

Once it’s done, they’ll seize his device, securing every damn piece of evidence.

I grind my teeth as Oliver’s friendly tone comes through the headphones.

It’s the same voice he used every day in the office, the same voice he used to assure me that we were in this together.

And now he’s selling all our secrets—my secrets, of the companies I built from scratch without him—like it’s nothing.

My fingers curl into fists, and my pulse roars in my ears.

If I go in there right now, it will take everything Harris and Raphael have to keep me from tearing him apart.

Harris glances at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “Leonard, you’re doing fine. I know it must be difficult for you but we need this to be clean. You can’t mess this up with some rash decision.”

“Trust me,” I mutter, “I’m trying very hard not to kill him.”

On the screen, Oliver’s face comes into view as he sets up his laptop.

They’re preparing for the transaction. Harris gives me a nod, indicating that they’re doing exactly as planned.

Roxanne’s hand rests on my arm, a silent reminder that she’s here with me, that she understands.

It’s the smallest gesture, but it grounds me and keeps me from doing something reckless.

I lean forward, my eyes fixed on the monitor, watching as Oliver’s expression darkens.

His eyes narrow with concentration as he initiates the transfer.

I can see the familiar interface on his laptop, the same one we designed together in the early days, back when we were nothing more than two friends with a shared vision and enough stubbornness to keep going when no one else believed in us.

And now he’s using that same interface to betray me.

It feels surreal as we watch the transaction going smoothly.

Oliver types a few keys. He’s almost smirking as the guy initiates the money transfer—a lot of money.

The buyer plays his part like his life depends on it—which is actually true, considering the situation.

He acts excited, going so far as to flatter Oliver’s skill.

Oliver, a man I don’t recognize anymore, takes pleasure in the praise, his ego clearly soaring more than ever.

“There we go,” Oliver says smoothly, and a notification pops up on the screen, confirming the transfer.

“Payment’s cleared,” the buyer says. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

Oliver nods, a smug smile creeping onto his face. “If you need more, don’t hesitate to contact me,” he replies. I boil at the comment, but he has no idea he’s just condemned himself.

Harris moves quickly, signaling to the FBI agents waiting outside the door. “Now,” he murmurs into the radio connected to his men’s earpieces. His voice exudes command.

In seconds, the agents work in a smooth, practiced motion that will put an end to this torture.

I hear the muffled sounds of a door opening and the gasps of surprise through the earpiece.

Oliver’s indignant voice cuts through the audio, his protests filling the room as the FBI storms in, handcuffs him, seizes his laptop, and reads him his rights.

I should feel relief, or at least some sense of closure, but there’s nothing.

Just an empty pain where there should be…

something to fill the void. Disappointment grows in my chest, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Harris switches off the audio, turning to me with a curt nod. “It’s done. We have everything we need.”

I stare at the empty computer screen, my mind racing to find something to say.

I should be grateful—we’ve caught him and gathered the evidence we need to protect the company.

But all I can feel is emptiness, like someone reached into my chest and ripped my heart out, leaving a hole in its place.

He was supposed to be my friend, my partner, the man I trusted more than anyone else.

The room is silent for a moment, and the tension blinds me like a heavy fog. I feel like I’m gasping alone, trying to figure out what to do next. Roxanne turns to me, her hand reaching out to touch my arm again. “Leonard, you did the right thing.”

I want to believe her, but it doesn’t make it any easier. “Did I?” I ask, my voice sounding empty even to my own ears. “Because it sure doesn’t feel like it.”

Raphael speaks up, his tone gentler than I’d expect. “You didn’t have a choice. He dug his own grave.”

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t make me feel better, especially because I don’t understand why he did it.

He had everything; he had my undying friendship.

He could have asked and I would have given him anything he wanted, but still he decided to stab me in the back,” I say bitterly.

My mind is a storm of anger and sadness, a painful swirl of emotions that I can barely hold inside.

I can feel the pressure building, the urge to lash out, to find some release.

Harris gives me a sympathetic look. “Leonard, I know this is hard, but sometimes people do things because they are just bad people. You could have given him the moon, and it wouldn’t be enough. But I can assure you, he won’t get away with it.”

I nod numbly, but the words offer little comfort.

How did we even get here? How did the man I thought I knew like a brother, like myself, become someone capable of this level of betrayal?

Because he wasn’t like this in the past. When we started out, he had such good intentions.

I know him—or at least that’s what I thought.

Was it all a lie? I glance at Roxanne, seeing the worry in her eyes, and it cuts me even deeper.

She’s caught up in this mess too, all because of Oliver’s greed and my blind trust.

She must see the storm brewing in me because she steps closer, never dropping my gaze. “We’re going to get through this. You’re not alone. I will be with you every step of the way.”

Her words placate some of my anger, taking away some of the tension that grips my gut. I nod, trying to take in her calm words.

I take a deep breath, turn away from the monitors, and force myself to regain some composure. “I just need a minute,” I whisper in a broken voice.

Roxanne nods, watching me with an understanding that somehow steadies me. I head toward the window, looking out, trying to find some escape from what I’ve just witnessed. Everything just turned upside down.

Behind me, I hear Raphael and Harris talking, discussing the next steps and the logistics of the investigation. But it all feels distant, like background noise that I can barely hear.

It’s only when Roxanne comes up beside me that I finally feel a spark of something.

She stands beside me in silence, her presence calming the turmoil brewing inside me.

She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t push me to talk or pretend I’m okay.

She just lets me be, giving me the space I need, and somehow, that’s enough.

After a while, I turn to her, the weight of guilt crushing my chest. “I should have seen this coming,” I admit, the words taste bitter in my mouth. “I should have known.”

She shakes her head, her gaze never leaving mine. “Leonard, no one could have predicted this. You had a reasonable explanation for his odd behavior. You trusted him because he was your friend. That doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.”

I want to believe her, but the guilt crushes me. It constantly reminds me how badly I’ve fucked up judging the man I once considered a brother. “Maybe. But it still doesn’t change what happened.”

“No,” she agrees softly, “it doesn’t. And it doesn’t make it easier for you. Give yourself time to grieve this situation and the friendship that you lost. You are a person with a big heart, and it will take time to heal it.” She puts a hand over my chest, where my heart is beating erratically.

We stand there in silence, and for the first time, I allow myself to acknowledge the hurt, the betrayal, the defeat I can’t avoid. Roxanne’s words resonate in my mind, calming the spiraling thoughts. I need time to heal, and this time, the strength is coming from her.

When we finally leave the hotel, Harris assures me that the evidence we’ve gathered will be more than enough to bring Oliver down.

But even as we step out into the cool night air, the sense of closure feels out of reach.

I’m not done; it’s not a closed chapter for me, but I know where to start when it comes to healing my wounds.

Roxanne stands by my side; her hand slips into mine, and her fingers are warm and reassuring against my skin. It doesn’t make the pain go away, but somehow, with her here, I feel a little bit stronger facing whatever comes next.

And for now, that will have to be enough.