Elena's POV
Three days later.
Mariah walked into my office with a furrowed brow.
"I thought you said we weren't doing any overseas partnerships."
I looked up slowly. "We're not. Why?"
She hesitated. "There's a rumor going around. Something about a foreign investor buying in. It came from the lower floors—someone claimed they overheard it in the elevator."
I kept my face calm.
Inside, my pulse ticked higher.
The trap had started to whisper.
I didn't react.
Just nodded like it meant nothing.
Mariah lingered at my door, watching me the way someone does when they're not sure if you're surprised—or pretending not to be.
"That rumor," I said finally, voice cool, "where exactly did it start?"
She shifted. "A temp in HR overheard it. Said someone mentioned a silent buy-in. No names, just whispers."
I smiled. "There's always whispers."
She nodded once and left.
As soon as the door clicked shut, I exhaled.
They took the bait.
