Love by the Contract

Chapter 153

The lights of the foundation’s headquarters cast long, wavering shadows as Emma stepped into her office, Thomas close behind. The air inside felt heavy, saturated with the weight of betrayal and uncertainty. Boxes of disturbed files and scattered papers served as haunting evidence of the previous night’s burglary. Staff milled about in hushed tones, their expressions a mix of shock and unease.

“Where are we on the investigation?” Emma asked sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. She addressed Marcus, the head of their newly reinforced security team, who stood by the entrance with a grim expression.

“We’ve combed through most of the damage and isolated the breach to the server room,” Marcus replied. “The data accessed includes donor lists, upcoming project plans, and several files on proprietary research. Our initial analysis suggests it wasn’t a random burglary.”

Emma’s heart sank. “So, someone knew exactly what to target.”

Marcus nodded. “It gets worse. We’ve identified unusual access patterns on the server logs, originating from within the building. This wasn’t an outsider, Emma. Someone on your team gave them the key.”

A chill ran down Emma’s spine as her worst fears began to take shape. Beside her, Thomas let out a quiet curse, his hand tightening into a fist.

“I want names,” Emma demanded. “Who had access?”

“We cross-referenced the log-ins,” Marcus said, handing her a tablet. “One employee’s credentials flagged multiple times during the breach: Lisa Taylor.”

Emma froze, her breath catching. Lisa had been one of her most trusted aides—sharp, loyal, and always willing to go the extra mile for the foundation. The thought of her being involved felt like a knife twisting in Emma’s chest.

“There has to be a mistake,” Emma murmured, shaking her head. “Lisa wouldn’t do this. She’s been with us since the beginning.”

“I understand this is hard to believe,” Marcus said gently. “But the evidence is clear. She accessed files outside of her authorization level, and the timestamps align with when the breach occurred.”

Thomas stepped forward, his tone resolute. “We need to confront her. If she’s innocent, she’ll have a chance to explain herself. But if she’s guilty... we can’t let her walk away with what she knows.”

Emma hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on her. Finally, she nodded. “Bring her in.”

Lisa arrived at the headquarters within the hour, her expression one of confusion and mild alarm. She sat across from Emma in the conference room, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

“What’s this about, Emma?” Lisa asked, her voice tinged with worry. “Marcus said it was urgent.”

Emma’s eyes searched Lisa’s face for any sign of guilt, but all she saw was the familiar confidence of a woman she’d come to rely on. Taking a deep breath, Emma slid the tablet across the table.

“These are the server logs from last night,” Emma began. “They show unauthorized access to sensitive data, and the credentials used were yours.”

Lisa’s face paled, her hands trembling as she reached for the tablet. “That’s... that’s not possible,” she stammered. “I didn’t access anything last night. I left early after the gala to take care of my mom.”

Thomas, standing near the doorway, folded his arms. “The logs don’t lie, Lisa. If someone used your credentials, you need to explain how it happened.”

“I don’t know!” Lisa said, her voice rising in panic. “Maybe someone stole my password or accessed my computer when I wasn’t around. Emma, you have to believe me. I would never betray you.”

Emma leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. “Lisa, if you’re innocent, we’ll figure it out. But if you’re hiding something, now is the time to tell me. The damage caused by this breach could destroy everything we’ve built.”

Tears welled in Lisa’s eyes as she struggled to find her words. Finally, she broke. “They blackmailed me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emma’s stomach turned. “Who?”

“A group claiming to be from a rival nonprofit,” Lisa said, her gaze dropping to the table. “They approached me months ago, saying they had dirt on my brother—his gambling debts. They said if I didn’t cooperate, they’d ruin him.”

Thomas’s jaw tightened. “And you thought helping them compromise the foundation was the answer?”

“I didn’t have a choice!” Lisa shot back, her voice cracking. “They didn’t want money. They wanted data—donor lists, research plans. I thought if I gave them just enough, they’d leave me alone. I never imagined it would escalate like this.”

Emma’s hands clenched into fists as a storm of emotions surged within her—anger, betrayal, and a flicker of sympathy. “Why didn’t you come to me?” she asked quietly.

“I was ashamed,” Lisa admitted, her voice trembling. “And scared. I thought I could fix it on my own.”

Emma leaned back in her chair, the weight of Lisa’s confession pressing down on her. “This isn’t just about you, Lisa. The information you leaked puts our entire mission at risk. Lives depend on the work we do.”

“I know,” Lisa said, her tears spilling over. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right. Please, just don’t turn me in.”

Emma exchanged a glance with Thomas, whose expression was unreadable. After a moment, she spoke. “This is bigger than any one of us. We’ll cooperate with the authorities, but I’ll also make sure they know you were coerced. In the meantime, you’re suspended until we sort this out.”

Lisa nodded silently, the weight of her actions etched on her face.

By the end of the day, the police had taken Lisa into custody for questioning. Emma watched from her office window as the patrol car pulled away, her heart heavy with disappointment. Marcus entered the room, a fresh stack of reports in hand.

“We’ve recovered some of the stolen data,” he said. “But the most sensitive files are still missing. If they end up in the wrong hands...”

Emma nodded, her expression grim. “We’ll need to get ahead of this. Assemble the PR team. We have to control the narrative before anyone else does.”

Thomas stepped into the office, his face lined with worry. “And the data that’s still out there?”

Emma’s gaze hardened. “We find it, no matter what it takes.”

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