Chapter 92 Hidden Agendas
Lena and I stood frozen in the doorway, our mouths wide open as we stared at what was in front of us.
Parked right in front of our house was a brand-new car, which was probably delivered by magic.
It was a sleek, midnight-blue sedan, with a giant red bow perfectly tied on the hood, not flashy but clearly expensive. It was the kind of car that whispered money without shouting it.
There was also a small white envelope tucked under the windshield wiper.
I couldn’t close my mouth.
“It seems someone is getting a surprise gift,” Lena let out a low whistle.
We walked down the steps slowly and towards the car, as if we were approaching a wild animal.
The car was spotless and it still had the temporary dealer plates.
I reached for the envelope under the wiper and opened it with shaky hands.
Inside was a handwritten note on thick cream paper.
“For my girlfriend.
Because you deserve to drive something as beautiful as you are.
You don’t have to worry anymore about breakdowns or old engines.
Enjoy your new ride. I love you.
Your man.”
A small key fob was taped to the bottom of the note.
I stared at it, tears pricking my eyes.
Lena read over my shoulder and let out a dramatic gasp, holding her chest.
“Oh my God. He bought you a whole-ass brand new car. Joan, this man is raising the bar so high, the rest of us are going to need ladders.”
I laughed even with the sudden lump in my chest.
“He… he didn’t have to do this,” I said, blinking my eyes rapidly to stop the tears from rolling out.
“Yeah, but that’s real boyfriend behavior,” she grinned.
“Come on, let’s test run your new baby,” she added.
I smiled and pressed the key fob.
The car beeped softly and the lights flashed once, welcoming me.
I walked around it slowly, tracing the smooth paint with my fingers. It was perfect.
Lena leaned against the hood, arms crossed while smiling like a proud parent.
“So… are you going to call him and scream ‘I love you’ into the phone, or are we going to stand here and admire it like it’s a museum piece?” she asked.
I pulled out my phone, already smiling so hard that my cheeks almost hurt.
But before I could dial his number, a message popped up on the screen.
“I hope you like it. You deserve better… always.”
I typed back immediately, tears clouding my eyes.
“I love it. Thank you and I love you so much.”
“I love you more. Drive it and let me know how it feels.”
Lena watched me, smiling sheepishly.
“He’s a keeper,” she muttered.
I nodded, still staring at the car as if it might disappear if I blinked.
“He really is,” I whispered.
We stood there for a while longer, before Lena looped her hand through mine.
“Don’t you think we should drive it around the town to celebrate?” she said with a wink.
I laughed and we both got into the car.
MARCUS REED’S POV
I was drinking whiskey in my living room when my phone beeped.
I picked up on the third ring.
Then Cassandra’s voice came through, low and relaxed.
“Hope I’m not late,” she said.
“No. Is there any update?” I asked.
“Have you heard from Jude since that incident?”
“No…”
“Good for him. I don’t think he’s reaching out to Alex again either,” I replied.
“Make sure you stick to the plan. We need those merger documents and the client's list from his private drive. Once we have them, we move.”
“I’m close. I just need a little more time,” she said, letting out a soft breath.
“When this is over, what happens to us?”
I leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
“We’ll talk about that when it’s done. For now, focus, get the files, keep him distracted, and remember no public contact. You can’t let him find out about us.”
“Understood. I will call you when I have something.”
Then the line went dead.
I set the phone down and picked up the whiskey glass, swirling the liquid slowly.
Cassandra was useful, ambitious, and willing to do whatever it took, but she was also emotional.
If she ever became a liability…
I took a slow sip.
I would deal with that when the time came.
For now, the plan was moving exactly as I wanted.
And soon… very soon, Hart & Associates would no longer belong to Alex Hart.
ALEX HART’S POV
I lay on my back, one arm behind my head as I stared at the ceiling as if it had answers to my questions.
Sleep refused to come.
My mind kept replaying the same thing over and over again: the Horizon sudden contract termination, the anonymous texts, and the missing $187,000 that had vanished into offshore accounts. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw spreadsheets, unanswered calls, and Marcus’s face when I showed him the transfers. He looked angry, protective, and ready to burn everything down to find the culprit.
But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.
Sarah Kline had been with us for four years. She was quiet and diligent. Why would she suddenly start siphoning money? And how had she done it so cleanly that even our internal audit hadn’t caught it until now?
I turned onto my side, punching the pillow into a better shape.
Then I remembered the anonymous text again, just like I always did anytime I was in deep thought.
“The enemy is closer than you think.”
My stomach dropped.
I tried to dismiss it again, but my mind drifted back to that evening.
The evening I had walked into my study and found Cassandra standing there, holding one of my private files.
She had looked guilty and terrified.
But she gave me an excuse and I believed her.
Or at least I had wanted to.
But now, I have a different opinion.
What if she wasn’t just snooping?
What if she was looking for something specific?
What if she were in league with Sarah?
The thought felt ridiculous the moment it formed.
Cassandra and my accountant? What possible connection could they have?
It didn’t make any sense, but then again nothing made sense anymore.
I sat up slowly, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I rubbed my face with both hands, trying to clear the haze.
No.
“I can’t keep doing this... Second-guessing everyone including myself,” I muttered under my breath.
If Cassandra was hiding something, I would find out.
I would catch her red-handed.
I would do whatever it took, because if the enemy was really closer than I thought…
… I was done being blind.