Love by the Contract

Chapter 138

The weight of the past days clung to Emma like a shroud as she walked into the foundation’s headquarters. It was early, the kind of hour where the world still felt half-asleep, but Emma hadn’t slept at all. The revelations of the poisoning and the corrupted footage haunted her thoughts. She could feel the walls of trust she had carefully built around her crumbling. Somewhere within her circle, someone had turned against her.

Today, she resolved, she would find out who.

In her office, Emma laid out the steps of her plan on a notepad. She couldn’t afford to openly question everyone at the foundation—that would only spread panic and tip off the mole. Instead, she decided to approach this methodically, starting with those who had the most access to the fundraiser and the foundation’s internal systems.

She called Jason, her head of security, into her office. His sharp, no-nonsense demeanor was a comfort amid the chaos.

“Jason, I need your help with something sensitive,” she began. “This stays between us for now.”

Jason nodded, his expression serious. “What’s the task?”

“I suspect the poisoning and the corrupted footage are connected to someone inside the foundation. I need to investigate discreetly. Start by running background checks on anyone who had direct access to our security systems or who was heavily involved in organizing the fundraiser. Look for anything unusual—financial issues, sudden changes in behavior, external connections that might raise red flags.”

Jason frowned. “That’s a significant task, Emma. If someone is compromised, they might notice if we’re digging around.”

“I know,” Emma said, her voice firm. “But we don’t have a choice. We need to root this out before it does more damage.”

Jason nodded again, standing to leave. “I’ll get started immediately. If there’s something to find, I’ll find it.”

Emma spent the next few hours reviewing personnel files herself, focusing on those closest to her—people she had trusted implicitly. The exercise felt like a betrayal of her own values, but the stakes left her no choice.

Her assistant, Sofia, had always been a steady presence, efficient and loyal. But Emma couldn’t ignore that Sofia had handled many of the fundraiser logistics.

Then there was Mark, her financial advisor, who had access to sensitive donor and budget information. And Maria, her event coordinator, who had been instrumental in ensuring the gala ran smoothly.

Emma’s stomach churned as she made a list of names. Each one felt like a betrayal waiting to unfold.

Later that afternoon, Jason returned with an update. He handed Emma a tablet, his face grim.

“I’ve flagged a few anomalies,” he said. “But one stands out.”

Emma’s breath caught as she read the highlighted report. It detailed unusual financial activity connected to Sofia—an unexplained deposit into her bank account two weeks before the fundraiser. The amount was substantial, enough to raise serious questions.

“No,” Emma whispered, shaking her head. “There must be a mistake. Sofia’s been with me since the beginning. She wouldn’t—”

Jason interrupted gently. “I understand how this looks, but the deposit is real. And it was made by an untraceable account, which only adds to the suspicion.”

Emma stared at the report, her heart sinking. “Could she have been blackmailed?”

Jason hesitated. “It’s possible. But we won’t know until you confront her.”

Emma nodded slowly, her mind racing. If Sofia was compromised, it was better to approach her carefully. She needed answers, not denials or panic.

That evening, Emma waited until most of the staff had left before calling Sofia into her office. The younger woman entered with her usual efficiency, a notebook in hand and a look of quiet anticipation on her face.

“You wanted to see me, Emma?”

“Yes,” Emma said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. “Please, sit.”

Sofia complied, her expression shifting to mild concern. “Is something wrong?”

Emma took a deep breath. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest with me.”

Sofia’s eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. “Of course.”

Emma leaned forward, her voice steady but firm. “Two weeks before the fundraiser, a large sum of money was deposited into your account. Can you explain where it came from?”

Sofia froze. The color drained from her face, and her hands tightened around the edge of her notebook.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered.

Emma’s chest tightened. “Sofia, please. Don’t lie to me. I need the truth. If someone coerced you, we can handle it together, but I need to know what’s going on.”

Tears welled in Sofia’s eyes as she looked down at her hands. For a long moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“They… they said they’d ruin me if I didn’t do it.”

Emma’s heart broke at the admission. “Who, Sofia? Who are ‘they’?”

Sofia shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t know their names. They contacted me anonymously, saying they had evidence that could destroy my career. They promised the money would be enough to pay off my debts if I just… looked the other way during the fundraiser.”

“What did they ask you to do?” Emma pressed, her voice both gentle and firm.

“They told me to give someone access to the security systems. Just for a few minutes. I didn’t think it would lead to this,” Sofia said, sobbing. “I didn’t know they’d hurt Thomas.”

Emma closed her eyes, a wave of anger and sadness washing over her. She wanted to comfort Sofia, to reassure her, but the betrayal cut deep.

“I trusted you,” Emma said softly, her voice trembling.

“I’m so sorry,” Sofia cried. “I didn’t think they’d go this far. I was scared, Emma. Please believe me.”

Emma stood, pacing the room as she processed the revelation. Sofia’s betrayal wasn’t born out of malice but fear. And yet, the consequences of her actions had been catastrophic.

“Did you recognize the person you gave access to?” Emma asked.

Sofia shook her head. “No. They were wearing a uniform, but it wasn’t anyone I knew. They didn’t say anything, just plugged something into the system and left.”

Emma nodded, her resolve hardening. “You need to give a full statement to the authorities. Detective Simmons will want to hear everything you just told me.”

Sofia nodded tearfully. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.”

As Sofia left the office, Emma sank into her chair, the weight of the day pressing down on her. Her worst fears had been confirmed: someone close to her had been compromised, and the foundation’s security had been breached as a result.

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