Cole stared at the crumpled envelope in Lucy's trembling hands. The edges were already soft from her grip, like whatever message inside had aged in her nerves before it even had a chance to breathe in open air.
"Open it," Cole said gently, his voice low but urgent.
Lucy hesitated. Her fingers were cold. She glanced around his apartment—chaotic from their last strategy sprint. Sticky notes still clung to the whiteboard, a colorful testament to their shared ambition. A half-eaten sandwich stared at her from the table, a silent witness to their late-night hustle. Everything felt normal. Except her pulse, which hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
She tore it open.
Inside, a typed letter. Brief. Brutal.
> "I can save your company. I'll make you an offer. But you have to walk away from Cole. One shot. One decision. Call this number by midnight. - X"
>
