Lia was not able to concentrate on anything for the rest of the afternoon. Her mind replayed Leo's words over and over again:
"I want you to help me catch them."
How was she supposed to act normal after that? She had been hired as an entry-level assistant, not as some undercover investigator for a billionaire CEO. And yet… she had said yes.
At 6:00 p.m., her phone buzzed.
Leo: Dinner. Tonight. We discuss next steps.
Her breath caught. Dinner? With him?
But before she could overthink it, another message followed:
Wear something comfortable. It's not a date.
Her cheeks warmed anyway.
An hour later, Lia found herself stepping outside her apartment building. She'd expected one of Leo's drivers, but instead, he himself was there: hands in his pockets, his expression cool, yet his eyes tracking her silently from head to toe.
"You're late," he said.
"You said 'tonight,' not a time."
He gave her that infuriatingly calm half-smirk. "Get in, Carter."
The ride was quiet, tension thick. Lia kept replaying what she'd discovered on the USB—those missing transactions, the hidden pattern. Someone inside the company was stealing millions. And now she was involved.
When they reached a quiet, private restaurant, Lia's nerves settled enough for her to breathe—until a woman stepped into their path.
Tall. Stunning. Obviously acquainted with Leo.
"Leo?" she said, her voice full of surprise. "You're here. With… someone?"
Lia froze.
Leo's jaw clenched. "Vanessa."
The woman looked Lia up and down, her smile sharp. "And who is this?"
Before Lia could speak, Leo answered, his voice firm:
"She's with me."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting."
Lia swallowed, suddenly aware this night wasn't going to be about dinner. This was a battlefield—and she had just walked into the crossfire.