Chapter 95 Colluding

Chapter 95 Colluding

Susan spent her days in the hospital room, trying to keep Thomas's spirits up. Every now and then, she would drop a casual remark about Henry's movements.

"I heard Henry took Sophia to meet a client today. Sounds like a big deal."

"Yesterday, Sophia used Henry's card at the mall. Bought herself a bag worth hundreds of thousands."

Each comment was a small hook, tugging at Thomas's temper, feeding the fire inside him.

And every word made its way to Henry through Edward.

"Mr. Henry Caldwell, Mr. Oscar Caldwell has been visiting Mr. Thomas Caldwell a lot lately," Edward reported. "They've met with Eugene Bailey, Lloyd Wallace, and a few other board members. They've also made several copies of the company's core files."

He handed over a surveillance still — Oscar slipping into the records room, glancing over his shoulder.

Henry leaned back in his chair, fingertips drumming lightly on the desk. Sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows split his face in half — one side bright, the other in shadow. His expression was unreadable.

"Noted," he said quietly. "Keep watching."

"Yes, sir." Edward hesitated. "And Mr. Thomas Caldwell…?"

"Let him do as he pleases." Henry's voice was cold enough to frost glass. "When the bill comes due, he'll regret it."

Edward said nothing more and left.

Alone, Henry reached for a photo frame on his desk — the two of them as boys. Thomas was small then, always trailing behind him, calling his name with that unguarded, boyish smile.

When had it all turned into this?

His thumb traced the edge of the frame, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.

By the time Sophia knocked and stepped in, the office felt heavy with unspoken tension. Henry was leaning back, gaze distant, fingers tapping the desk in a slow rhythm.

"What's on your mind?" she asked, setting a file down.

"From Joseph," she added. "Transactions between Oscar and an offshore account."

Henry took the file, scanning quickly. His brow tightened with each page.

"So he is tied to the Midnight Accord Organization."

"With the shareholders' meeting coming up, he's bound to make a move," Sophia said, stepping closer. "As for Thomas…"

"Let him," Henry replied, closing the file. "It's the perfect chance to drag Oscar into the light."

He looked up at her. The setting sun traced her profile in gold. Her eyes were calm, sharp — as if nothing could slip past her.

"You don't seem worried," he said.

"Does worrying ever help?" she countered with a raised brow. "Better to spend that time planning."

Henry's mouth curved into a brief smile, the shadow in his eyes lifting. "You're right."

He stood and walked to the window, watching the traffic below. "I'm going to W City tomorrow. Need to check the warehouse myself. The company's in your hands until I'm back."

"Don't worry," she said. "If Oscar tries anything, he won't walk away from it."

Henry felt an unexpected warmth at her confidence. 

Sophia had a way of surprising him without even trying.

"Wait for me," he said, the softness in his tone catching even him off guard.

She blinked, then nodded. "Alright."

When Henry left, Sophia settled into his chair, flipping through Oscar's file. 

Moonlight spilled across the pages, the dense lines of text seeming almost alive.

She picked up her phone, dialing Joseph.

"Find out who Oscar's been meeting lately. Send me the list."

"On it, Miss Bennett!" Joseph's voice was cheerful. "Oh, and I told Celeste how I feel. She said yes! Once this mess is over, dinner's on me."

"Congratulations," Sophia said with a faint smile. "You really can juggle work and romance."

She hung up and leaned back, eyes on the night sky. Shareholder meeting. Company mole. Offshore networks. The Black Ice Project.

The threads were tightening into a single web — and she and Henry were standing in the center, waiting for the moment to pull it closed.

Across town, Oscar was standing in Thomas's hospital room, holding a share transfer agreement.

"Mr. Thomas Caldwell, sign this and Eugene and the others will back you," Oscar said.

Thomas stared at the terms, fingers hovering.

Susan's voice was gentle, "Thomas, sign it. This is our only shot."

He drew a deep breath, picked up the pen, and signed. He thought he'd just claimed the key to power. He didn't realize it was an open door to the abyss.

A few days later, Oscar dropped by again, planning to take Thomas out to dinner with the shareholders. But when he knocked, only Susan was there.

"Mr. Thomas Caldwell isn't here?" he asked, setting a fruit basket on the nightstand.

Susan lounged against the headboard in a silk slip, collarbone catching the light. "He went out for coffee."

She closed the magazine in her lap, eyes flicking over him. "You've been at the hospital a lot lately, Mr. Oscar Caldwell. Not worried Henry might notice?"

Oscar smiled, pulling up a chair. He plucked a strawberry from the basket. "Checking in on family is perfectly reasonable. Besides, Henry's too busy to care what I'm doing."

He glanced at her outfit. "Though I have to say, for someone in a VIP ward, you dress surprisingly plain."

"Even the finest clothes don't mean much in a hospital," she said, idly twisting the silver ring on her finger. "But you didn't come here just to see Thomas, did you? Something's happened?"

Instead of answering, Oscar asked, "Do you think Thomas can beat Henry?"

Susan let out a soft laugh, her shoulders shaking. "You make it sound like you actually want him to win."

She leaned forward, the neckline of her slip slipping lower. "You've been using him to get close to the board, copying company files. You think no one's noticed?"

Oscar's fingers froze for a beat. When he looked back up, the smile was gone from his eyes. "You see things clearly."

"We're both too smart to play dumb," she said, tracing idle circles on the bedspread. "You want to use Thomas to bring Henry down. I want to use the Caldwell name to cement my position. Our goals don't have to clash."

"Oh?" Oscar arched a brow. "Are you suggesting an alliance, Miss Simmons?"

"Mutual benefit," she said evenly. "I know Henry's weak spots. I know what Megan's hiding. You help me put Thomas in the chair, I'll get you what you want."

Oscar popped the strawberry into his mouth, the juice sharp and sweet. "You've got quite the appetite, Miss Simmons.