Elena barely slept.
The reflection in the photograph haunted her.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it.
The blurred face.
The familiar face.
Someone she had seen inside Volkov Industries.
Someone who belonged there.
Someone close enough to move unnoticed.
The realization made her stomach turn.
Because if she was right, then this wasn't just about Victoria anymore.
It was about Adrian.
His company.
His people.
His trust.
And someone had betrayed all three.
The next morning, Elena found Adrian already in the kitchen.
Coffee in hand.
Phone pressed to his ear.
His expression told her the conversation wasn't pleasant.
"No."
A pause.
Then:
"I want every security report from the last six months."
Another pause.
His jaw tightened.
"I don't care how long it takes."
The call ended.
Adrian looked up.
Immediately, he noticed her expression.
"You didn't sleep."
It wasn't a question.
"No."
He sighed.
"Elena—"
"I recognized someone."
That got his attention.
Instantly.
The room became very still.
"What do you mean?"
Elena placed the photograph on the counter.
"The reflection."
Adrian stepped closer.
His eyes narrowed.
For several seconds, he studied the image.
Then he looked back at her.
"You can identify him?"
"I'm not completely sure."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
Because saying the name out loud felt dangerous.
But she did it anyway.
"I think I've seen him at your company."
The silence that followed was deafening.
An hour later, Elena found herself back inside Volkov Industries.
This time with Adrian beside her.
The atmosphere felt different.
He wasn't taking any chances anymore.
Employees greeted him nervously.
Some avoided eye contact altogether.
Others watched him carefully.
News traveled fast.
People knew when Adrian Volkov was angry.
And right now...
He was furious.
They entered a private conference room.
Daniel was already waiting.
"So?" he asked.
Elena handed him the photograph.
Daniel studied it.
Then frowned.
"That's impossible."
"What is?" Elena asked.
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
"I know that face."
The room froze.
Adrian's gaze snapped toward him.
"Who?"
Daniel hesitated.
A mistake.
Because Adrian immediately noticed.
"Daniel."
The warning in his voice was clear.
Daniel exhaled heavily.
Then finally answered.
"His name is Michael Reed."
Elena had never heard the name before.
But Adrian clearly had.
His expression darkened instantly.
"Michael worked security."
Elena's pulse quickened.
Security.
Just like the mysterious man from the old photographs.
"Worked?" she asked.
Daniel nodded.
"He left years ago."
"Why?"
Neither man answered.
Which told her everything.
Something had happened.
Something bad.
Later that afternoon, Elena found herself wandering through the executive floor.
She needed air.
Space.
Time to think.
Everything felt connected now.
Victoria.
Michael.
The photographs.
The messages.
The black car.
But she still couldn't see the whole picture.
As she rounded a corner, she heard voices.
Instinctively, she stopped.
The voices were coming from an office nearby.
One of them belonged to Sophia.
The other belonged to a man Elena didn't recognize.
"I don't care what Adrian thinks," the man said.
His voice was low.
Agitated.
"We should have destroyed everything years ago."
Elena froze.
Destroyed what?
Sophia answered immediately.
"Keep your voice down."
"Then tell me I'm wrong."
A long silence followed.
Then Sophia spoke.
Quietly.
Carefully.
"He can never find out."
Elena's heart nearly stopped.
Find out what?
The office door suddenly opened.
Elena barely managed to step away before being seen.
Footsteps approached.
She turned the corner quickly.
Her pulse racing.
Her mind spinning.
She didn't know what Sophia was hiding.
But she knew one thing.
Sophia knew far more than she had ever admitted.
---
That evening, Elena returned home with more questions than answers.
The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
She dropped her bag onto the couch.
Then noticed something.
A small package resting on the coffee table.
Her name was written across the top.
No sender.
No note.
Nothing.
A chill ran down her spine.
Slowly, she picked it up.
Inside was a flash drive.
And attached to it was a single handwritten message.
**Victoria kept a copy.**
Elena stared at the words.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
A copy of what?
As if sensing something was wrong, her phone began ringing.
Adrian.
But before she could answer—
A second notification appeared.
Unknown Number.
A new message.
Just four words.
**Don't let Sophia see it.**
And suddenly...
Elena realized she no longer knew who she could trust.