Chapter 113 The Home-Call
Chapter 113
RAVENNA
The door swung open almost immediately after I knocked, like Caleb had been standing right there waiting for my arrival.
He stood in the doorway wearing grey sweatpants and a tight black vest that showed off his toned arms. A grin spread across his face when he saw me.
"You actually came," he stepped aside to let me in.
I walked past him into the room and turned around. "Did you think I would not?"
"Hoped you would." He pulled me into a hug before I could respond. His arms wrapped around my waist, warm and solid.
I kissed his cheek lightly and pulled back, looking him over. "There is no wound on your body anymore. Not even a bruise."
He laughed and flexed his arm playfully. "Healed up already. Wolf abilities come in handy sometimes."
"Sometimes?" I raised an eyebrow. "Seems like they come in handy all the time."
"Fair point." He gestured towards the sofa. "Make yourself comfortable. I will grab us some drinks."
I settled onto the sofa, dropping my bag beside my feet. My eyes immediately found the Pike Holdings folder still sitting on his desk exactly where I had seen it last time.
It looked untouched, like he had not opened it since I was last here.
My heart beat faster. This was it. This was the opportunity I needed.
Caleb returned carrying two bottles of fizzy drinks.
He twisted the cap off one and handed it to me before opening his own and dropping onto the sofa beside me.
"So," he started, taking a sip. "I have been thinking about us and where this is going."
I took a drink, using the moment to gather my thoughts. My mind was still on that folder. On finding a way to get to it without raising suspicion.
"Raven?" Caleb's voice pulled me back. "You are lost in thought. Where did you go just now?"
"I am not lost in thought," I lied quickly.
"Really?" He leaned back with an amused expression. "Then what did I just say?"
I opened my mouth to answer, then closed it again. I had absolutely no idea what he had been talking about.
Caleb laughed softly. "Exactly. You were not listening at all."
"Sorry." I set my drink down on the coffee table. "I have just got a lot on my mind. School stuff. Hockey practice. Everything."
"It is fine." He reached over and took my hand. "Just think through my proposal. You do not need to give me an answer immediately."
I blinked at him. "What proposal?"
His smile widened. "You really were not listening. I asked you to be my girlfriend, Raven."
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. Girlfriend. He wanted me to be his girlfriend.
I looked away, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "That is... I mean, we have only been on one date."
"I know it seems too early," Caleb admitted, squeezing my hand gently. "But I really do have feelings for you. I would like to be your man properly. Not just whatever this is right now."
His eyes were so sincere. So hopeful. And I felt like the worst person in the world because all I could think about was that folder on his desk.
"I need to think about it," I managed finally.
"Of course." He nodded. "Take all the time you need."
I pulled my hand away and reached for my bag, desperate to change the subject. I dug through it and pulled out my business strategy textbook, flipping it open to the assignment page.
"Have you done the assignment yet?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the book.
Caleb groaned and leaned his head back against the sofa. "No. I am not in the mood to do anything academic right now. Besides, if you do it, you could just give it to me to copy."
I looked up at him with mock disapproval. "That is cheating."
"That is called being resourceful," he corrected with a grin.
I rolled my eyes but could not help smiling. "Fine. But I will need your laptop to work on it. Mine is back in my room."
"Sure." Caleb stood up and walked over to his desk. He grabbed the laptop and brought it back to me. "Password is Nightshade2024. All one word, capital N."
"Creative," I teased, taking the laptop from him.
He laughed. "I never claimed to be good at passwords. I am going to make us something to eat. Are you hungry?"
"Starving," I admitted.
"Good. I will be in the kitchen if you need anything." He headed towards the small kitchenette attached to his room.
The moment he disappeared around the corner, I opened the laptop and typed in the password.
My hands were shaking slightly as I navigated to his files.
I had to work fast. I did not know how long he would be in the kitchen.
I opened his documents folder and started scrolling through what was assignment files, class notes, hockey team schedules. Nothing useful.
I moved to his downloads folder. More of the same.
Then I spotted a folder buried near the bottom labelled "Private." My pulse quickened.
"Do you like pasta?" Caleb called from the kitchen.
I jumped slightly, my finger hovering over the mouse. "Yes! Make pasta and fried chicken too if you can."
"Demanding, are we?" His laugh echoed from the other room. "I like it."
I clicked on the Private folder.
It was locked. Of course it was locked.
A password prompt appeared on the screen. I stared at it, my mind racing. What password would he use for something this important? Surely not the same one he used for his laptop login. That would be too careless.
But then again, Caleb was confident. Maybe overconfident. Maybe he did not think anyone would ever get this far.
I typed in "Nightshade2024" and held my breath.
The folder opened.
My heart nearly stopped. Inside were dozens of files consisting of documents, spreadsheets and videos.
I clicked on the first video file, and Richard Pike's face filled the screen.
He was sitting in what looked like his office, talking to someone off camera. The audio was muffled, but I could make out enough words to understand this was not a casual conversation. This was business. Dark business.
"Raven, how is the assignment going?" Caleb's voice rang out from the kitchen. "Are you done yet? I am almost finished here."
Panic shot through me. "Not yet! I am still working on it. How much longer will you be?"
"Maybe five more minutes. Why, are you that hungry?"
"I am being a lion right now," I called back, forcing my voice to sound light and playful. "Tell me what part you are at so I know how much time I have."
"Just putting the chicken in the pan. It will be quick."
Five minutes. I had five minutes. Maybe less.
My hands moved on autopilot. I grabbed my phone from my bag and started recording the video playing on screen.
Then I opened my email and started attaching files, sending them to myself as quickly as I could select them.
Documents about Pike Holdings. Spreadsheets showing financial transactions. More videos featuring Richard and other people I did not recognize.
I sent file after file to my email, my eyes darting between the screen and the kitchen doorway.
"Almost done!" Caleb announced cheerfully.
"Great!" I shouted back, my voice slightly higher than normal.
I closed out of the email and went back to the Private folder. I needed to delete any trace that I had been here.
I cleared the browser history, deleted the recently opened files list and made sure everything looked exactly as it had before I opened it.
Then I closed the Private folder and navigated to the assignment document
I was supposed to be working on. I quickly typed out the first few answers, my fingers flying across the keyboard.
Caleb emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates of food. The smell of garlic and chicken filled the room.
"Almost halfway through the assignment," I announced, not looking up from the screen. "I will be done soon."
He set the plates down on the coffee table and leaned over my shoulder to look at the screen. "This is why I am falling in love with you. You are hardworking and resourceful."
The words should have made me feel guilty. Should have made me reconsider what I was doing.
Instead, I just smiled and kept typing.
I finished the assignment quickly, making sure to show my work clearly so Caleb could copy it easily.
"Done." I grabbed my textbook and held it out. "Bring this with you to class tomorrow so you can copy the answers into your own book."
"You are amazing." Caleb took the textbook and set it on his desk. "Now eat before the food gets cold."
After we finished eating, I told him I needed to get back to my room before Samantha started worrying.
He walked me to the door and kissed my forehead gently.
"Think about my proposal," he reminded me. "No pressure. Just... think about it."
"I will," I promised.
I walked down the corridor slowly at first, then faster once I was sure I was out of sight.
By the time I reached the stairwell, I was almost running.
I pushed through the door and stopped on the landing, pulling out my phone with shaking hands.
I opened my email and checked, all the files were there, downloaded and saved.
A smile spread across my face.
I had done it. I had actually done it.
"Darius and his papa are going to regret ever crossing paths with me," I whispered to the empty stairwell.
And I meant every word.