A Night of Secrets and Betrayals

Mia couldn't sleep. The strange text message kept flashing in her mind. Three purple bands. A new threat.

What if Ethan was still alive?

The morning sun streamed through her apartment windows as she paced, still wearing yesterday's clothes. Her phone rang, making her jump.

"Hello?" she replied, her voice rough from lack of sleep.

"It's me." Olivia sounded just as tired. "Can you meet me? It's important."

"Where?"

"My office. One hour."

The line went dead before Mia could ask more questions.

Olivia's office was set on the top floor of the Chen Industries building, with views of the city. When Mia arrived, security took her right up to Olivia's office. The guard remarked that Olivia was expecting her. Inside, Olivia stood by the window in a white suit, looking away from the door. She thanked Mia for coming and explained that Derek was out on bail. Olivia then indicated a chair for Mia to sit and explained that the papers scattered on her desk were related to a pivotal project. 

Olivia explained that the project was the real reason for the Chen-Phoenix merger, which Derek tried to sabotage. The development plan, called Phoenix Rising, aimed to create a self-sustaining community with affordable housing and clean energy. This was Olivia's major project, developed over five years with large funding. 

Olivia shared that the land was tied to her father's crimes and held evidence of wrongdoings. She explained her plan included safe environmental practices to avoid sharing the past. Mia was shocked to learn that Olivia planned to turn her father in once the project started, seeking justice for those he harmed. Mia then questioned what Derek wanted.

"To stop the project. Expose everything now, before we can limit the damage." Olivia's hands clenched. "It would kill the growth. Harm thousands of innocent people. All for his revenge."

"That's why you've been playing him," Mia realized. "Letting him think he was using you."

"I needed to know his plan." Olivia gazed down. "I never expected to fall in love with him."

Before Mia could answer, Olivia's assistant knocked and entered.

"Ms. Chen, Mr. Mercer is here to see you."

Olivia's face hardened. "Send him in."

Derek walked in, looking perfectly put together despite his night in jail. His smile was arrogant, but his eyes were cold.

"Ladies," he said, nodding to them both. "Lovely morning for business."

"You have some nerve coming here," Mia snapped.

"I still own twenty percent of Phoenix Investments," Derek answered smoothly. "And despite last night's... excitement, the merger talks continue."

"What do you want, Derek?" Olivia asked, her voice flat.

"A second chance." He put a folder on her desk. "A new proposal for Phoenix Rising."

Olivia didn't touch the box. "Why would I consider anything from you?"

"Because Mason is still out there. With copies of everything." Derek's smile didn't change. "And because deep down, you still love me."

The air in the room seemed to thicken. Mia felt like she was watching a dangerous game of chess.

"You tried to destroy me," Olivia said quietly.

"I tried to get justice for my cousin." Derek moved closer. "But I've had time to think. Your plan could work. Clean up the mess without destroying lives."

"And what do you get out of this sudden change of heart?"

"A seat at the table. Recognition of Lily's sacrifice." Derek glanced at Mia. "And a promise that no one else gets hurt."

Mia was skeptical of Derek from the beginning, thinking he was untrustworthy. She asked Olivia to speak quietly, warning her that Derek wasn't to be trusted and was likely trying to deceive her again. Olivia acknowledged the risks but insisted that the Phoenix Rising project was important and worthy of her attention, as it would help many people. She planned to play along with Derek's agenda to uncover his real intentions, seeking Mia's assistance for her efforts. 

Mia was hesitant about being used as a spy but was persuaded by Olivia's passion for the project and its potential effect. Just then, Mia got a text from an unknown number, which she suspected was from Mason or Ethan, asking her to meet at an old café. Despite the dangers, she felt driven to go and find out what was happening. 

Back in the office, Olivia told Derek that she needed more time to consider his plan. Derek reminded her that there was little time left before an important board vote on the merger. After he left, Olivia asked Mia again for help, and despite her apprehensions, Mia agreed to assist but demanded that they would do things her way. 

At the café, Mia waited for her contact and was surprised to see Ethan instead of Mason. Their conversation showed that Ethan had changed and was no longer the person she once knew. He offered Mia information about the Phoenix Rising project, suggesting that it was happening regardless of Derek's plans, and handed her a flash drive holding critical information about the land. 

Ethan suggested that there were dark secrets hidden beneath the land, including bodies tied to Olivia's family. When Mia hesitated to accept the drive, Ethan prodded her to consider the consequences of not facing these truths, particularly how they related to the mysterious death of Lily. He urged her to take action, showing that she had to help Olivia face the realities of her family's past. 

As Mia processed the information, she got a frantic call from Derek, who was concerned about Olivia's well-being. Derek tied Olivia's disappearance to Mason, begging Mia to help him find her. He mentioned going to the Phoenix land, which he thought would be the most logical place to start searching. 

Mia met Derek at the Phoenix property, where he admitted he had been tracking Ethan. She showed him the flash drive Ethan gave her, but Derek dismissed its significance, saying there were no bodies tied to the project. Mia challenged his claims, saying he might not have looked closely enough. They found survey stakes marking a buried area that Derek recognized as related to the planned community center. 

They searched a nearby shed where Mia used a key given by Ethan. Inside, they found a laptop showing a live feed of Olivia quietly reading papers in a basement. Upon seeing Olivia smile at the camera, both Mia and Derek knew she was not a captive. 

Olivia's actions on camera suggested she was choosing justice over her family's legacy. The laptop displayed a message instructing to dig down ten feet to find Lily's remains, showing Olivia's determination to confront the truth about her father's actions. 

As Derek struggled to comprehend Olivia's choice, Mia stayed steadfast in her belief that Olivia was not following another trick but was striving for justice. Together, they took up a shovel and started digging, hoping to uncover the secrets buried alongside the past.

"This is insane," Mia panted, leaning on her shovel. "We need real equipment."

"Keep digging," Derek urged, his face grim. "We're close."

Another foot down, Mia's shovel hit something that wasn't dirt. Something that made a dull, hollow sound.

They traded looks, then dug faster, more carefully.

A metal box rose from the earth. About four feet long. Sealed tight.

"Is that—" Mia couldn't finish the question.

Derek knelt beside the box, his hands shaking as he brushed dirt from the surface. There was a small plate welded to the top.

"Lillian Mercer," he read, his voice breaking. "1983-2013."

Mia stepped back, her stomach roiling. "They buried her here. Like garbage."

"No," Derek said quietly. "Like evidence." He pointed to the box's seals. "This is a forensic case. Preserved. Protected."

Before Mia could ask what that meant, the sound of a car approaching made them both turn.

A black SUV rolled to a stop nearby. The back door opened.

Olivia stepped out, followed by Ethan.

"You found it," she called, walking toward them. "Good."

Derek confronted Olivia, expressing his anger about her knowing Lily was living. Olivia revealed that she only learned the truth three days ago from Ethan, revealing that Lily was not murdered but was in witness protection for ten years. Ethan admitted that the grave was fake and called it a precaution. Olivia shared that her father had tried to kill Lily but she had sent copies of important information to trusted people, including her mother, who had been working against her father. Derek demanded to know Lily's location, and Ethan assured him she was safe until the Phoenix Rising project started. Olivia urged Derek to help them convince the board to approve the idea. After voicing doubt, Derek asked for proof of Lily's survival. Olivia gave him her phone to confirm her existence, leading to an emotional response from Derek, who learned Lily was truly alive.

Derek studied him for a long moment. "I believe her. You? Never."

Ethan just smiled. "Fair enough."

"So what's your decision?" Olivia asked. "Are you with us or against us?"

Derek looked at the empty grave, then at the spread of land around them. Future homes. Community centers. New starts.

"I'm with Lily," he said finally. "Whatever she wants."

As they walked back to their cars, Mia noticed something glinting in the dirt near where they'd been digging. She stooped to pick it up.

A small key. Different from the shed key. Older.

When no one was looking, she slipped it into her pocket.

That night, alone in her apartment, Mia studied the key more carefully. There was a number stamped into the metal: 1013.

Her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:

"Some locks should stay closed. Some secrets should stay hidden. Choose wisely."

Attached was a picture of a safety deposit box. Box 1013.

The game wasn't over yet.