Chapter 100: Poison and Dark Secrets

Chapter 100: Poison and Dark Secrets
The dining room exuded an unsettling stillness that evening.

Nicole sat at the head of the long, gleaming mahogany table, her posture upright, her gaze distant.

The weight of the upcoming board meeting lingered in her thoughts like an invisible storm cloud.

She had fought too hard to let anything derail her now.

As she took a sip of her water, her keen eyes scoured the room -- a coldness in the atmosphere that matched her mood to a tee.

Finally, there was the sound of light footsteps as the maid entered the room with a silver tray with a steaming bowl of soup on it.

Nicole nodded at her politely and went back into the sea of thoughts that consumed her.

But Collins, watchful and observant of minute detail, did not miss what Nicole had missed: the shaking hands of the maid, her scurrying pace almost as if she was stepping back.

Collins's sharp voice interrupted the silence. "Don't."

Nicole froze, the spoon inches from her lips.

Her eyes moved to Collins with confusion stamped across her face and then to the maid.

The girl's face went white, and her whole body seemed to sag under the burden of her guilt.

"Believe me, ma'am, you don't want to do that," Collins said, a hand stretched as if trying to stop his boss.

"Do what?" Nicole asked, feeling surprised.

"Please maay, put the trail down. Something is not right," he said and quickly turned to the maid. "You, stop right there!"

The spoon clattered back into the bowl as Nicole set it down deliberately, her expression hardening into an icy mask.

The maid couldn't hold it together any longer.

Her knees gave way, and she slumped to the floor, sobbing. "I didn't want to do it!" she wailed, her voice cracking with the strain. "They made me! They said they'd harm my family if I didn't!"

Nicole rose from her chair, her mere presence seeming to fill the room as if it were an ocean. "Who forced you?" she asked, unrelenting in her tone.

The maid hesitated, her frightened eyes jumping back and forth between Nicole and Collins. "I… I don't know her name," she stuttered. "It was a woman. She came to me, offered me money, and then threatened my family."

Nicole's lips tightened into a thin, tight line.

This was all a calculated smokescreen; this was designed to obscure the true mastermind.

She looked across at Collins and he nodded silently.

This was not enough evidence to take action againat anyone.

"Take her to the study," Nicole ordered coolly, firmly. "I will talk to her later."

Collins moved forward and caught the maid's arm in a firm grasp that wasn't unkind.

The crying reduced to muffled whimpering as the maid was pulled from the room.

Nicole sat back down, her mind racing. Someone had actually dared to orchestrate an attack within the walls of her home.

The brazenness of it sent a wave of anger razing through her. This wasn't some lame attempt on her life; it was a declaration of war.

Minutes later, the sound of the front door opening resounded through the mansion.

Nicole's head whipped toward the entrance, her body taut in automatic reaction.

When Carter entered, her initial relief at seeing him unharmed quickly turned into concern.

His face was cloudy with fatigue, his jaw held in a tight straight line

"What happened?" Nicole asked, rising to meet him.

Her words mingled with worry and authority.

Carter's eyes met hers, steady but heavy with the weight of his words.

"He's gone."

Nicole's brows furrowed, and her mind was already jumping to conclusions. "Gone? You mean he escaped?"

Carter shook his head slowly. His expression had darkened. "No, ma'am. He's been eliminated."

Nicole's jaw firmed, and anger flared in her eyes. "Eliminated? Carter, I told you to turn him over to the police!"

Carter sighed, his exhaustion more evident. "It wasn't on purpose," he said, irritation lacing his tone. "He was ex-military. Guys like that don't raise their hands. He... he wanted to die in battle rather than be captured."

Nicole's fists clenched at her sides, frustration simmering just below the surface. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Without him alive, we have no testimony. Nothing to directly tie this back to whoever sent him."

For a second, Carter worked his jaw open. "It's not all lost," he said finally. He produced a small USB from his jacket pocket. "I was able to get this before... well, before it ended."

Nicole's gaze narrowed as she took the USB from him. "What is this?"

"That's a video, ma'am." Carter explained, "His confession. He named who hired him."

Nicole's breath caught in her throat, and a spark of hope flickered in her eyes. But her face quickly fell again.

"How do we know anyone will believe that? If he's not alive, the video may not stand in court."

Carter met her gaze quietly, his eyes shining with determinism. "It's better than nothing. At least now you know who is behind it."

Nicole's lips pressed into a thin line as she weighed his words.

Finally, she nodded, her voice soft and yet firm. "Fine. Who did he name?"

Carter seemed to falter; his face was inscrutable. "You'll want to see it for yourself, ma'am."

Nicole's patience thinned, and she crossed her arms. "Why can't you just tell me?"

"Because you need to hear it from him," Carter said simply.

The weight of the words hung there in the air between them and Nicole searched the face for deception.

Finding none, she sighed and turned toward the hallway. “Fine. I’ll watch it now.”

Carter watched her retreating figure, his expression a mix of relief and unease. He knew the truth on that drive would change everything.

And for Nicole, the path forward was about to get even darker.