Chapter 3 - The Enemy Inside
By midnight, Callum Russo’s entire organization was awake.
Nobody slept.
Nobody left.
Nobody asked questions.
Because when Callum Russo called an emergency meeting, everyone understood one thing.
Someone was about to lose everything.
The private conference room was silent.
Eight executives sat around the table.
All of them nervous.
Except one.
Evan Blake.
He sat calmly.
Too calmly.
Callum noticed.
He noticed everything.
Sadie sat beside Marcus near the back of the room.
She looked uncomfortable.
Callum glanced at her.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m involved.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
Everyone in the room became silent.
Nobody spoke to Callum like that.
But Sadie did.
And somehow, that made him trust her more.
Callum leaned against the table.
“Fine.”
He turned toward the executives.
“Someone used my security access tonight.”
The room immediately changed.
Everyone looked at each other.
Confusion.
Fear.
Suspicion.
Callum continued.
“Someone attacked Sadie Miller.”
Silence.
Evan finally spoke.
“That’s impossible.”
Callum looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because nobody would be stupid enough.”
A small smile appeared on Callum’s face.
“That’s exactly what worries me.”
Evan shifted.
Only slightly.
But Sadie noticed.
And Callum noticed that she noticed.
“Show them.”
Marcus placed the warehouse footage on the screen.
The video played.
A figure entered the building.
Black jacket.
Face hidden.
But the security badge was visible.
Everyone leaned closer.
Then the room went silent.
Because the badge belonged to Callum Russo.
Evan looked shocked.
“This is fake.”
“Maybe.”
Callum looked at him.
“Maybe not.”
The footage continued.
The attacker grabbed Sadie.
The room became tense.
Then Sadie suddenly spoke.
“Stop.”
Marcus paused the video.
Callum looked at her.
“What?”
She pointed at the screen.
“The hand.”
Everyone looked.
Sadie stood.
“The attacker wore gloves.”
“Yes,” Marcus said.
“But look at the left hand.”
She stepped closer.
“The glove is damaged.”
Callum stared.
“What does that mean?”
Sadie looked at the screen.
“The person had a scar.”
Everyone looked confused.
Sadie continued.
“I saw it.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed.
“When?”
“During the attack.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She looked at him.
“Because I was trying to survive.”
That answer hit harder than he expected.
For a second, Callum forgot about the investigation.
He saw the woman in front of him.
Not an employee.
Not an art expert.
Someone who had been terrified and alone.
And still walked through the rain to meet him.
Callum turned back toward the screen.
“Find everyone in this organization with a scar on their left hand.”
Marcus nodded.
Then his phone buzzed.
He checked the message.
His expression changed.
Callum noticed.
“What?”
Marcus looked up.
“Boss…”
“Say it.”
Marcus hesitated.
“We checked employee records.”
“And?”
“There are only two people who match.”
Callum waited.
Marcus looked at Evan.
Then back at him.
“Evan Blake.”
The room exploded.
Everyone started talking.
Evan stood.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Callum raised one hand.
The room went silent instantly.
“Evan.”
“I didn’t do this.”
Callum stared at him.
“Then you won’t mind answering a few questions.”
Evan swallowed.
“What questions?”
Callum walked closer.
“The first one is simple.”
He stopped directly in front of him.
“Why did the person who attacked Sadie have your scar?”
Evan said nothing.
And that silence…
was the answer Callum needed.
But before anyone could react, the lights suddenly went out.
The room fell into darkness.
A second later—
A gunshot exploded.
Everyone screamed.
When emergency lights came on…
Evan was gone.
And on the table in front of Callum…
was Sadie’s missing portfolio.
Opened.
May you like
With one message written inside:
"You’re looking in the wrong direction, Russo."
