Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN IN THE RED COAT
The first direct attack came on a rainy Thursday.
Evelyn was leaving her office when a woman in a red coat approached.
“Ms. Vale?”
Evelyn stopped.
“Yes?”
The woman looked frightened.
“My name is Sarah Whitcomb.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Do I know you?”
“No.”
Sarah glanced over her shoulder.
“I worked for Crosswell Capital.”
Evelyn's pulse accelerated.
“What do you want?”
Sarah handed her a small envelope.
“Proof.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
Before Evelyn could ask another question, Sarah stepped backward.
“Don't trust anyone who says they're trying to protect you.”
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
Evelyn called Detective Ruiz.
The envelope contained copies of internal emails.
Payment records.
And a list of shell companies.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Sloane Maritime Trust.
Ruiz examined the documents.
“This could be important.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Sarah seemed terrified.”
Ruiz looked up.
“We'll try to locate her.”
That night, Evelyn received a message.
Unknown number.
You should have stayed out of this.
She stared.
Then another message appeared.
Moretti cannot protect you forever.
Evelyn called Lucien.
He answered immediately.
“What's wrong?”
She told him.
His voice became cold.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Lock the doors. I'm calling Ruiz.”
Twenty minutes later, police officers arrived.
Lucien came soon afterward.
He stood in Evelyn's living room while Ruiz reviewed the messages.
Evelyn looked at him.
“I'm not moving into your penthouse.”
Lucien blinked.
“I didn't ask.”
“You were about to.”
He almost smiled.
“Possibly.”
She folded her arms.
“I won't let fear decide where I live.”
Lucien nodded.
“Then we improve security here, with your permission.”
Evelyn studied him.
Then smiled.
“That's better.”
He looked at her.
“You're impossible.”
She grinned.
“So I've been told.”
But later that night, when she finally slept, Lucien remained awake.
He sat in the living room.
Not watching hidden cameras.
Not ordering anyone punished.
May you like
Just waiting for the morning.
And wondering how a woman he'd known for only weeks had become the person he was most afraid to lose.
