Chapter 3Warnings Saved Me From Her Trap

The night before the final bid sealing, Trent suddenly ordered me to head to our client's East District headquarters.

"The client representative requires the project lead to confirm a clarification letter in person. It should only take thirty minutes back and forth."

I scanned the email CC list.

Sam was included in the client communication thread.

The bullet comments refreshed rapidly.

[Classic diversion tactic.]

[They're breaking into your apartment right now.]

[Don't go alone. Take legal counsel with you and keep your GPS location active.]

I turned around and grabbed Audrey. "Come with me."

Trent's expression turned sour. "Why are you bringing legal? The client will think we don't trust them."

Audrey clipped her employee badge onto her blazer. "Company policy requires legal presence for any offline confirmations during the blackout period before bid submission."

Trent didn't say another word.

On the drive to the East District, I activated continuous audio recording and shared my real-time location with Ray.

When we arrived at the client's corporate building, the receptionist informed us that the representative had left minutes ago.

When I dialed his cell, his assistant offered a vague excuse: "He must have gotten the meeting time mixed up."

Audrey and I exchanged a sharp glance.

We turned around and raced back toward the city.

Halfway through the drive, my phone buzzed violently.

It was Mr. Davis, the property manager at Chestnut Street, his voice trembling through the speaker.

"Ms. Ellis, you need to get back here right now! Something terrible happened inside your apartment!"

My blood ran cold. "Who is in my apartment?"

"A pregnant woman! She said she's your coworker. She collapsed in your living room, there's blood on the floor, and the ambulance is already on its way!"

Audrey gripped my wrist firmly. "Stay calm. Don't say anything over the phone."

I stared out the car window at the streetlights flashing past in a blur.

The bullet comments flared up, blindingly dense.

[Her performance has started.]

[Someone has already posted photos in your work group chat.]

[The corporate security system is about to sound an automated alarm.]

Sure enough, a second later, the main project chat exploded.

Someone had uploaded a photo.

It was my living room.

Simone lay motionless on the hardwood floor, her face deathly pale, her hands clutching her stomach, and a streak of blood smearing her dress.

The caption read: Something horrible happened at Nora's place! Simone looks like she's having a miscarriage!

Immediately after, an automated IT security alert popped up on my screen.

Alert: Core bidding file transmission detected. Source IP: Unit 602, Chestnut Street, Nora Ellis residential network.

The group chat went completely chaotic.

"Her home network? Are you serious?"

"Why was Simone even at her apartment?"

"Nora turned her down yesterday, and now Simone's injured in her living room? That's way too suspicious."

"The confidential bid was leaked from her home? Isn't her boyfriend that project director from Nexus Systems?"

My fingertips turned ice-cold.

Sam's name lit up my screen.

I answered the call.

"Nora, where are you? Simone said you two got into an argument... She fell."

I asked, my voice flat, "What else did she say?"

He paused for a heartbeat.

"She said... you found out about the baby."

"What baby?"

"Nora," he lowered his tone, sounding deeply concerned. "Now isn't the time to assign blame. Come back right now, cooperate with everyone, and keep your attitude cooperative. I'll help you hire a top defense lawyer."

A cold, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"You'll help me, Sam?"

"I'm doing this for your own good, babe."

"Then meet me at the scene."

I hung up.

Ten minutes later, I sprinted up the stairs to the sixth floor.

The hallway was packed with onlookers.

Paramedics were wheeling a stretcher out of my doorway. Simone lay on it, cold sweat glistening on her forehead.

The moment she caught sight of me, tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks.

"Nora, I just wanted a place closer to work so I could help finish the project!"

"Even if you found out the baby belongs to Sam, how could you do this to me?"