Someone deep inside Raymond's circle had been quietly leaking highly sensitive documents.
And Rebecca… she had access.
Was she the buyer or a middle player?
Alex didn't know yet.
But what he did know?
Raymond's fears weren't paranoia. They were real.
And things were much, much worse than they imagined.
Right there, on Rebecca's computer, sat a word-for-word copy of one of the most confidential files in ADIG's strategy archive, Strategic Divestment.
A document only top board members were supposed to see.
How did she get it?
Why was it there?
Alex didn't panic. He knew panic was the enemy now.
He stayed calm.
Clicked the file again. Scanned the metadata. Took screenshots of the open page. Cross-checked the timestamps, last modified, last opened, and created date. Everything matched the original from Raymond's server. Same structure. Same phrasing. Same numbers.
It was undeniable.
He carefully closed the file, deleted any trace of recent activity, logged out of her system, and left the office quietly.
No alarms. No one noticed him. No one questioned why he had stayed late.
But inside?
His mind was on fire.
"..."
Back in his apartment, the walls seemed smaller and the ceiling lower. He paced the floor like a man whose feet wouldn't stay still. Every few seconds he looked at the screenshots on his phone, like they'd disappear if he blinked.
Who gave Rebecca these documents? Why does she have them? Is she the mole… or just the receiver? Is she using them for something… or what?
He wanted answers, but all he had were questions.
And this wasn't something he could Google.
He thought of going straight to Raymond.
Tell him everything. Show him the evidence. Let the boss blow the roof off this.
But something in his gut held him back.
No. Not yet.
If Raymond reacted too fast… the mole might go underground. The real leaker could cover their tracks. And Rebecca, if she wasn't involved directly, might get thrown under the bus without a fair chance.
Alex needed to move smart.
He needed someone who could help him confirm things before the fire started.
That's when a name flashed in his mind.
Philip.
Of course. Philip.
The calm one. The sharp one. The diplomat.
He was the one who introduced Rebecca to the project in the first place. He vouched for her. Said she was "strategic, sharp, and reliable."
If anyone knew something or could help him figure this out quietly, it would be Philip.
It was still early. The sun had barely risen. Alex didn't get to sleep well. Just coffee, scattered notes, and too many thoughts. But this couldn't wait till morning meetings. He had to act now.
Alex picked up his phone and stared at the screen for a while.
He hesitated.
This wasn't just another office drama. This was about corporate betrayal, high level leaks, and possibly millions, maybe billions, of dollars on the line.
A wrong move could cost people their careers. Or worse.
But the risk of doing nothing? Far more dangerous.
He opened his contacts. Found Philip's name. Hovered his thumb over the call button.
Then he pressed it. His hands were slightly trembling, not out of fear, but urgency.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Philip picked up on the second ring, his voice sounding groggy but curious. "Alex? Everything okay? It's early."
Alex didn't even bother with greetings. "Hey, were those ADIG Construction files ever shared with Rebecca's team?"
There was a short pause on the line.
Then Philip replied, casually, "Nope. Those were strictly internal. Why?"
That was it.
Red flag. A big one.
Because Rebecca had the file. Not just a version of it. The exact document.
Alex felt his stomach twist. He took a deep breath and began to explain everything, how he saw the confidential file on her computer during their review session, how he went back later to confirm it, how it matched perfectly with what he had seen on Raymond's private server.
Philip stayed quiet for a bit. There was a pause. Long enough to matter. Then, a breath was measured. Calculated. His voice came back casual, but Alex wasn't convinced.
Then he chuckled lightly. "Alex… I think you're overthinking this."
"What?" Alex asked, confused. "You just told me those files were strictly internal. So how did she get it?"
"I mean," Philip continued, "these big companies share overlapping documents all the time. It's probably just a draft or similar proposal from another deal. Don't get carried away. Focus on what you're building."
Now Alex was annoyed.
This wasn't just some similar draft. This was a copy-and-paste internal strategy memo that hadn't even gone public. And here was Philip, the same man who brought Rebecca in, brushing it off like it meant nothing?
He didn't like it.
"Philip," Alex said, with a steady voice but pointed, "you're not listening. I'm not making this up. This is sabotage, and someone is feeding her information. I don't know what she plans to do with it, but this isn't normal."
Philip sighed deeply. "Alex, relax. If you start seeing ghosts in every file, you'll lose focus. Trust me, there's nothing here."
Alex clenched his jaw. He knew that tone, calm, calculated, dismissive.
Too calm.
Something was wrong. But Philip wasn't going to help. Not now. Maybe not ever.
"Alright," Alex said quietly. "Thanks for your time."
He ended the call.
But in his mind, things were far from over.
He wasn't going to let this slide. Not until he had real proof. Not until he could put everything in front of Raymond without a single doubt.
He was going to get to the bottom of this, even if it meant stepping on toes.
"..."
Meanwhile…
Philip sat frozen in his chair, staring at his phone screen long after the call ended.
He hadn't expected Alex to catch on so soon.
He was quiet for a moment, processing everything Alex just said. Then, out of nowhere, his phone lit up again.
Unknown Number.
He hesitated. Something in his chest tightened.
He answered.
A deep, cold voice came through the line. "The boss wants to see you. Immediately."
That was all the voice said. No explanation. No questions.
Then the line went dead.
Philip got up slowly, slipped on his jacket, and walked out of his apartment with a grim expression on his face.
*****
Elsewhere, In the Heart of the City...
The glass building stood tall, glowing with power and secrecy. On the 10th floor, in a corner office wrapped in shadows and silence, George Agnew sat alone, still and silent.
He stared out at the skyline with eyes like ice. On his desk places an unopened folder. His fingers tapped slowly and rhythmically as a man counting moves in a game no one else knew was being played.
The only sound was the soft hum of the city lights far below.
Then a man in a black suit stepped in, it was David, his righthand man. "He's here, sir."
George didn't even lift his head. "Good. Let him in."
Philip walked in with a stiff posture. His eyes met George's, unreadable. But the air between them was thick.
Philip spoke at last, calm, but colder than before.
"You wanted to see me in person, Father."