Chapter 26 : Realizing the Trap

Chapter 26 : Realizing the Trap
He paced a few steps, then stopped in front of his desk, leaning on it lightly. “You understand why this is a problem, right?”

“I do,” Emma said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I understand completely.”

“You realize how this looks?” he asked, fixing her with a piercing gaze. “I mean, someone could say you accessed information you weren’t supposed to have.”

Emma shook her head quickly. “I didn’t! I would never..”

“Emma,” he said, holding up a hand. “Calm down. I’m not accusing you.”

Relief washed over her, but it was mixed with anxiety. “Then… what?”

He straightened. “I need to figure out who’s behind this. Someone is trying to make it look like you accessed this folder without permission.”

Emma’s stomach dropped. “Someone is setting me up?”

“Yes,” Cole said simply. “And right now, I can’t tell who.”

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she admitted. “I’ve been careful. I don’t understand how this could happen.”

Cole leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “It’s simple, really. Someone wants to get to me through you. Or maybe they just want to cause trouble in the office. Either way, you’re caught in the middle.”

Emma’s heart pounded. “What do I do?”

“First,” Cole said, his voice calm but commanding, “you do exactly what I tell you. No exceptions. Second, you don’t discuss this with anyone. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Emma said firmly.

“Good.” He looked at her for a long moment. “And Emma—if you notice anything unusual, anything at all, you come straight to me. Don’t try to figure it out yourself. Not now. Not with something this serious.”

“I understand,” she said, nodding quickly.

Cole leaned forward slightly. “Now, I need a full report of everything you’ve handled in the past week. Every file, every note, every contract. I want a complete list.”

“Every single one?” she asked, already feeling overwhelmed.

“Yes. Every single one,” he said. “And be thorough, don’t miss anything.”

Emma swallowed, nodding. “I can do that, sir.”

“Good,” Cole said, straightening. “I’ll be reviewing it personally. And Emma…” His voice softened just a touch. “I trust you. That’s why I need you to be completely honest and meticulous. One mistake could make things worse for both of us.”

“I understand,” she said again, though her hands were trembling slightly.

He studied her for a moment longer, then finally moved back toward his desk. “I’ll need that report by the end of the day. No excuses.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, stepping back toward the door.

As she left his office, she felt her legs wobble. Her mind was racing. Someone was targeting her, and she didn’t know who but Cole trusted her, at least, he said he did. That gave her a thread of reassurance she clung to as she sat back down at her desk.

She pulled the folder toward her and began making notes, documenting everything she could remember. Every time she glanced up, she half-expected to see someone watching her, trying to gauge her reaction. The office felt too quiet, and the weight of suspicion pressed down on her chest.

Emma’s hands were shaking slightly as she worked. Every detail mattered now. Every misstep could be twisted, used against her. She double-checked names, dates, figures. She underlined sections, scribbled notes in the margins, and made a full list of documents she had touched over the last week.

By mid-afternoon, her eyes were stinging from staring at the screen so long. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She couldn’t afford to let panic take over.

Emma was hunched over her desk, reviewing the list she had made for Cole. Every file, every contract, every note, it was all meticulously recorded. She was determined not to miss a thing. Her phone buzzed on the side, but she ignored it. She couldn’t afford distractions now.

A soft knock at her office door made her start. “Come in,” she called, trying to sound normal.

The door opened slowly, and Chloe slipped inside, holding a folder. “Evening, Emily,” she said with that infuriatingly sweet tone, like she owned the place. “Busy as always, huh?”

Emma kept her eyes on the screen. “Yes, Ms. Chloe , very busy.”

Chloe leaned against the edge of the desk, glancing at the folder. “Funny, I came across something today that I think you’ll want to see.” She tapped the folder with her finger. “Found it in the supply room. Looks like it was meant for Cole.”

Emma frowned, glancing at her. “Supply room? How would you even know that?”

Chloe shrugged. “Oh, you know me. I notice things.” She opened the folder and held it out. “I thought I’d be helpful and bring it to you.”

Emma’s heart sank. She hesitated, then took the folder cautiously. The papers inside were copies of contracts, some of them she recognized immediately, but one page made her freeze. It was the same reference that had her old name buried in black ink.

“Where did you get this?” Emma asked, her voice low.

Chloe tilted her head, smiling. “I found it. But isn’t it interesting that it ended up on your desk yesterday?”

Emma’s fingers tightened around the papers. “You… you’re saying this was deliberate?”

Chloe shrugged again. “I’m just an observant person. Things have a way of appearing exactly where they’re supposed to.”

Emma’s chest tightened. “You did this.”

Chloe’s smile widened. “Me? No, darling. I wouldn’t dare, but I do know a little secret… someone is playing games here, and you’re in the middle of it.”

Emma swallowed hard. “Why me?”

Chloe leaned in slightly, whispering but still loud enough for a few passing coworkers to glance her way. “Because you’re close and some people don’t like that.”

Emma’s mind raced. “Close to who?”

Chloe’s eyes flicked toward Cole’s office, as if the man behind the closed door was the only answer. “You figure that out. Just know this, the right person is watching, and the wrong person could ruin everything.”

Emma blinked. “I don’t understand. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Oh, sweet Emily,” Chloe said, her voice soft but laced with sharpness, “this isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about control, about appearances and about loyalty.” She straightened and tucked the folder under her arm. “Remember that when you move in this office.”

Emma felt the tension coiling in her stomach. “And if I… if I refuse?”

Chloe gave her a long, assessing look. “Refusal is dangerous. Just remember that.” Then she turned and left, heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Emma let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She placed the folder back on her desk and opened it carefully, reading through the contracts again. Her old name stared back at her. It wasn’t a coincidence. Someone had planted it.

Her phone buzzed again. This time she answered. “Hello?”

“Emma?” Cole’s voice came through, calm but urgent. “Did you get the files I asked for?”

“Yes, sir,” she said quickly, her mind still spinning from Chloe’s visit. “I have everything ready.”

“Good. I’ll be by your desk in five
. And Emma…” His voice dropped slightly. “Be careful who you talk to about this.”

“I… understand,” she said.