Chapter 38: Growing Suspicion

SARAH'S POV

I sat on the couch in the living room with a loud sigh as I cradled on of the twins in my arm, rocking her while the other laid asleep in the crib a few feet from me. It's been weeks since I gave birth and the the exhaustion was finally catching up with me.

Still, my brain refused to rest.

I still was trying to recover from childbirth, and my thoughts was already tangled up in the mess that were unfolding around me. Alex had surprisingly gone silent ever after leaving the hospital, the man that I had thought would bring about the international breakthrough of my company turned out to be a fraud, Freya too was silent which didn't seem like her.

The phone in my free hand buzzed, bringing me out of my thoughts. Startled, I looked down at the screen.

"Mia?" I exhaled before answering.

"Sarah, we have a problem," Mia's voice came before I could even say a word, her tone laced with worry.

I straightened up, my brows creasing with a frown. "What's happening?"

"Customers are calling to say orders aren't showing up and their shipments are wrong," she said, the sound of fingers hitting keys a backdrop. "I thought it was a mistake at first, but it's happening too frequently. Some of them are threatening to take their business elsewhere."

My phone hand clenched. That... just did not make any sense. I had put everything in place before I stepped back to deliver my babies. My staff was well trained, and I had confidently left Mia in charge.

'Not again...'

"Are you sure this is not a warehouse mix-up?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

"I double-checked. It's like someone is trying to mess things up on purpose, but I don't know who."

My throat tightened. "Keep looking, and let me know if anything else comes up."

"Definitely."

As I dropped the phone back down on the coffee table, my nervousness grew. Was this happening again? Someone was trying to sabotage my company?

Before I could give it any more thought, a knock sounded on the door, the sound pulling me from my daydream. I made to stand up but then stopped as my baby stirred in my arms.

"Who is it?" I asked as quietly as I could.

"Gabrielle," came the voice behind the door.

Gabrielle? What was she doing here?

"Come in," I said, adjusting my baby in my arms.

The door creaked as Gabrielle slowly entered. She had on her usual elegant, simple attire, but something seemed very... different about her. Her hands trembled slightly as she pushed her hair behind her ear, and she avoided my gaze for a split second longer than usual.

I furrowed my brow. She'd been acting like this ever since I saw her getting out of that black car weeks ago. What was the new behavior all about?

"Gabrielle?" I asked, turning to study her.

She gave a nervous laugh as she dropped her bag on the couch beside me. "I, uh, hope I'm not imposing. I just wanted to check on how you and the babies are doing."

Her voice was friendly, but her body language screamed unease. I asked her to have a seat, my eyes never leaving hers as she sat down in the chair across from me.

"Thanks," I said slowly, still watching her play with her bracelet. "You're restless. Something on your mind?"

Her head snapped up. "N-No. Nothing at all. Just..  a bit tired, I think." I grunted, skeptical, but decided to let it go for now. She glanced at the sleeping baby in my arms and smiled. "Motherhood suits you."

"Thanks," I muttered, shifting the baby slightly.

There was a pause before Gabrielle coughed. "Been keeping up with what's been happening at your store?"

My heart skipped a beat at the abrupt change in topic. "Why do you ask?"

She shrugged relaxedly, though the tension in her posture didn't lessen. "I've been listening to some of the staff members talking. They're telling me things haven't gone very well while you've been away. A few of them seem to feel Mia isn't doing a great job of taking care of business."

I tensed. "Mia?"

Gabrielle nodded. "I don't know whether it's true or not, but I wanted you to be aware. If there is one thing I do know, it's that businesses collapse when the wrong individuals take over."

I didn't respond right away. I had known Mia for years, even before I had opened up my business, and I trusted her. She was one of the most competent people that I knew. Would she mess up? No. That was not her style.

But Gabrielle's words had already  planted a seed of doubt in my mind.

"Do you think Mia is making poor decisions?" I asked tentatively.

Gabrielle hesitated, then sighed. "I don't want to accuse her of anything. But... sometimes people change when they get a taste of power."

My stomach churned with a sensation of nausea.

Was... Mia betraying me? Or was Gabrielle simply trying to cause trouble?

I forced a smile as I nodded at her. "I'll look into it. Thanks for letting me know."

Gabrielle waved her hand. "Of course. I just want what's best for you."

She stood, smoothing her dress. "I should let you rest now. Take care of yourself, okay?"

As she made her way to the door, I could tell her shoulders were tense. She paused for half a second before opening it, as if waiting for me to speak.

But I didn't.

I just stood there and watched her leave, my mind reeling with thoughts.

The moment she walked out, I let out a deep sigh. Something was definitely wrong. I glanced at my phone, wanting to call Mia and confront her. But I restrained myself. I couldn't just call Mia after her report and begin to drop accusations.

But still, Gabrielle had been the person who helped when this same thing happened before. She exposed the thief. How could she lie?

I let out a loud sigh as I ran my hand through my hair.

'Not again...'