The Betrayal Code

Outside Adrian's office, Allegra sat at her desk with her fingers resting lightly on the keyboard, her mind far from the spreadsheets displayed on her screen. The name from the USB drive—Graham Case—loomed like a specter in her thoughts, clawing at the carefully constructed walls she had built around her emotions. 

She had expected to find traces of Adrian's involvement in her father's downfall, but the reality was proving to be much more complicated. Diana Cross. Victor Navarro. Ethan Hale. The players were moving faster than she anticipated, and now, the hunt for the truth had twisted into something far more unpredictable. 

Her mission had been simple: infiltrate CrossTech, expose Adrian, and destroy him. 

But now, with the weight of a conspiracy pressing in from all sides, one question haunted her—what if she was wrong about Adrian? 

A low chime from her laptop pulled her from her thoughts. A secured email. 

She clicked it open, expecting another internal update, but what she found sent a chill through her. 

Anonymous Sender: Stop digging, Ms. Graham. You're in over your head. 

Her breath hitched. 

She scanned the email headers. No traceable IP. No digital footprint. Whoever sent this knew how to cover their tracks. 

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but before she could type a response, Adrian's door swung open. 

"Inside. Now," he ordered. 

Allegra stood, schooling her expression into something neutral before stepping into his office. 

Adrian leaned against his desk, arms crossed, his gaze sharp. "Tell me what you think of Ethan Hale." 

Allegra hesitated, carefully choosing her words. "He seemed… desperate." 

"Desperation makes people reckless," Adrian said, his tone cold. "But desperation alone doesn't explain why he suddenly decided to betray me." 

Allegra met his gaze evenly. "You think he was manipulated?" 

Adrian exhaled sharply. "I think Diana is playing a game I haven't fully figured out yet. And I think Ethan was a pawn." 

Allegra studied him, searching for cracks in the façade. Did he already suspect her? Or was he genuinely blindsided by his sister's betrayal? 

"I need you to do something," Adrian continued. "Ethan's departure left loose ends, and I don't have time to clean up his mess." 

Allegra nodded. "What do you need?" 

Adrian pushed a file toward her. "His last major project was overseeing our acquisition deal with Hartman Tech. They're skittish now, and if we don't reassure them, they'll pull out." 

Allegra flipped through the file, her mind racing. "And you want me to handle it?" 

"Think of it as a test." His gaze sharpened. "Can you be trusted to put CrossTech first?" 

The question was deliberate. A trap. 

Allegra smiled. "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't." 

For a moment, Adrian held her gaze, as if trying to read between the lines of her carefully chosen words. 

Then he nodded. "Good. Don't screw it up." 

Allegra turned to leave, but as she reached the door, Adrian spoke again. 

"And, Ms. Blake?" 

She glanced over her shoulder. 

"If you find anything… unusual in Ethan's dealings with Hartman Tech, I expect to be the first to know." 

Allegra's pulse quickened. A test. A warning. A challenge. 

She gave him a small, unreadable smile before stepping out. 

The pieces on the board were shifting. And now, she wasn't sure whose game she was playing. 

Allegra stepped into the sleek, glass-walled conference room, a practiced calm settling over her as she faced the Hartman Tech representatives. They sat stiffly on the other side of the table, their expressions wary. The tension in the air was palpable, their trust in **CrossTech** already shaken by Ethan Hale's sudden disappearance. 

She set her portfolio down, taking a measured breath before speaking. 

"I understand you have concerns about the acquisition," she said, her voice smooth and professional. "I'd like to address them directly." 

Across the table, Robert Langley, Hartman's CFO, exchanged a look with his colleague before leaning forward. 

"Ms. Blake, we were assured by Mr. Hale that this deal was solid," Langley said, his tone clipped. "Then, without warning, he vanishes, and now we're supposed to trust that CrossTech still has its house in order?" 

Allegra didn't flinch. "CrossTech is fully committed to this acquisition. Mr. Hale's departure does not change the terms of our agreement." 

Langley scoffed. "That's easy to say, but our legal team flagged inconsistencies in the latest financial projections. They don't match the reports Hale gave us two weeks ago." 

Allegra frowned, flipping through her own documents. Financial inconsistencies? 

"Are you saying he altered the reports?" she asked carefully. 

Langley nodded. "Either that, or CrossTech's numbers don't add up." 

Allegra kept her expression neutral, but her mind was racing. Ethan had been planning his exit for weeks. If he tampered with the financials, was it an act of sabotage—or something more? 

"I'd like to review the documents myself," she said. "If there was an error, we'll correct it." 

Langley's eyes narrowed. "And if it wasn't an error?" 

Allegra met his gaze evenly. "Then I'll find out exactly what it was." 

---

Back in her office, Allegra wasted no time. She pulled up the most recent CrossTech financial reports, comparing them against the data Hartman Tech provided. At first glance, everything looked clean—until she spotted the discrepancies. 

Two sets of numbers. One legitimate, one manipulated. 

Ethan had been cooking the books.

Her stomach twisted. Why would he do this? 

She tapped her fingers against the desk before grabbing her phone. She needed answers. Now. 

The line rang twice before Jace picked up. 

"Tell me you're calling with something more exciting than another coffee run," he said. 

"I need you to pull Ethan Hale's financials," she said. "Everything—personal and professional." 

A pause. "Damn, you don't waste time. What are we looking for?" 

Allegra glanced at her screen, scanning the altered numbers again. "There are inconsistencies in CrossTech's financial reports. I think Ethan was laundering money before he disappeared." 

Jace let out a low whistle. "If that's true, someone was paying him off. You think Diana?" 

Allegra clenched her jaw. "She was working with him. But I need to know who else had their hands in this." 

"Give me an hour," Jace said. "If there's dirt, I'll find it." 

She ended the call, her pulse hammering. 

Before she could process her next move, a shadow crossed her doorway. 

Adrian. 

She straightened, closing her laptop just as he stepped inside. 

"What did you find?" he asked, skipping formalities. 

Allegra hesitated. "I'm still reviewing the numbers." 

Adrian studied her, his gaze razor-sharp. "And?" 

She exhaled slowly. "Ethan manipulated the financials. Hartman Tech noticed the discrepancies." 

Adrian's expression darkened. "Son of a bitch." 

Allegra watched him carefully. "Did you know?" 

His eyes snapped to hers, ice-cold. "If I knew, do you think he'd still be breathing?" 

For a moment, the room was silent. Then Adrian leaned against the desk, exhaling sharply. "What's the damage?" 

"Not catastrophic," Allegra said. "But if Hartman loses confidence, they could pull out. And if that happens—" 

"We look vulnerable," Adrian finished. He ran a hand through his hair, a rare glimpse of frustration slipping through. "Ethan was in deeper than I thought." 

Allegra hesitated before pushing further. "What if he wasn't acting alone?" 

Adrian's jaw clenched. "You think Diana?" 

"She was involved in something with him," Allegra said carefully. "I just don't know how deep it goes." 

Adrian's expression darkened. "Then it's time we find out." 

Allegra nodded. **She had every intention of doing exactly that.** 

But as Adrian turned away, a single thought sent a chill down her spine. 

**If Ethan had altered the reports to launder money… whose pockets had he been filling?** 

The city lights stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Allegra's apartment, casting a dim glow across the hardwood floors. The laptop in front of her hummed softly, screen filled with spreadsheets of **CrossTech's altered financials**—proof that **Ethan Hale** had been moving money through offshore accounts before his sudden disappearance. 

Jace's voice crackled through her earpiece. "You're gonna love this—or hate it, depending on how much you like playing with fire." 

Allegra leaned back in her chair. "Hit me." 

"The payments Ethan was moving? They didn't start recently. They go back almost a year." 

Allegra stiffened. "A year?" 

"Yeah. And here's the kicker—his payouts were coming from an entity linked to **Navarro Dynamics**." 

Allegra inhaled sharply. Victor Navarro. The man who'd approached her just days ago, offering an alliance against Adrian. 

"You're sure?" she asked. 

Jace scoffed. "Come on, Allegra. It's me." 

She tapped a finger against the desk, mind racing. "That means Navarro's been inside CrossTech for months. Ethan wasn't just running—he was cashing out." 

"Exactly. And my guess? He was getting ready to hand over something valuable." 

Allegra's stomach twisted. Project Zenith. CrossTech's biggest initiative. Was that what Navarro had been after all along? 

Before she could respond, a sharp knock at her door made her freeze. 

Jace's voice lowered. "You expecting company?" 

Allegra's fingers hovered over her laptop. "No." 

A second knock. More deliberate. 

"Hang on," she murmured, standing. She crossed the room carefully, checking the peephole. Victor Navarro. 

Allegra's pulse quickened. 

She pulled the door open just enough to meet his sharp gaze. 

"Mr. Navarro," she said smoothly. "I wasn't expecting visitors." 

Victor gave a slow, knowing smile. "I don't believe in waiting for invitations." 

Allegra didn't move. "If you're here about CrossTech, I'm afraid you'll have to go through the proper channels." 

Victor chuckled, stepping closer. "Come now, Allegra—" 

She stiffened. He used her real name. 

Not Elena Blake, her alias. Allegra Graham. 

Her fingers curled against the doorframe, but her voice remained steady. "I think you have me mistaken for someone else." 

Victor's gaze held hers. "Let's not insult each other's intelligence. I know exactly who you are." 

Silence stretched between them. Allegra's mind spun, calculating exits, counters, possible leverage. Had he known from the start? Or had someone tipped him off? 

She pushed the door open slightly, just enough to let him inside. "You have two minutes. Make it worth my time." 

Victor stepped in, taking in the space with a flick of his eyes. He moved with the ease of someone who never feared being unwelcome. 

"I'll get straight to it," he said, turning to her. "Ethan Hale was working for me, but I assume you already figured that out." 

Allegra folded her arms. "And you came all this way to confirm it?" 

"No," Victor said. "I came to offer you something better." 

She raised an eyebrow. "You think I'd work for you?" 

"I think you're already working against Adrian Cross," Victor replied easily. "And if that's true, then we're on the same side." 

Allegra let out a short laugh. "I don't pick sides." 

Victor smirked. "Then pick a deal." 

He reached into his coat and pulled out a slim, black envelope. "Inside is a direct line to my private account. Seven figures. All you have to do is help me finish what Ethan started." 

Allegra didn't touch the envelope. "You want Zenith, don't you?" 

Victor tilted his head. "I want CrossTech dismantled, piece by piece. Zenith is just a bonus." 

Allegra held his gaze, keeping her expression unreadable. "And if I say no?" 

Victor's smile didn't waver. "Then I walk away." He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "But let's not pretend you don't want revenge, Allegra. You infiltrated CrossTech for a reason. Let me help you finish what you started." 

The air between them grew charged, thick with unspoken truths. He knew too much. And now, he was giving her an out. 

She exhaled slowly. "I'll think about it." 

Victor's smirk widened. "I knew you were smart." 

Without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving the black envelope on her coffee table. 

Allegra stood still, her pulse hammering. 

She had spent years planning Adrian's downfall. But now, with Navarro offering to speed up the process, a single question burned in her mind— 

Why did it suddenly feel like she was making a deal with the devil?

 The black envelope sat on Allegra's coffee table like a loaded gun. Seven figures. A single decision.

She hadn't touched it. Not yet. The weight of Navarro's offer pressed against her like a vice. This was everything she wanted—wasn't it? An easy way to dismantle CrossTech, take Adrian down, and finally get the revenge she had spent years chasing.

And yet, something about it felt too neat. Too easy.

Her phone vibrated. Adrian.

For a moment, she considered ignoring it. Then, she exhaled, steeled herself, and picked up.

"Yes?"

"Where are you?" Adrian's voice was sharp, controlled.

"At home," she replied evenly.

"Change of plans. I need you at my penthouse. Now."

Her fingers tightened around the phone. "Is this about the Hartman Tech deal?"

"No." A pause. Then, a quieter, more dangerous tone. "It's about Ethan."

Twenty minutes later, Allegra stepped into Adrian's penthouse, a sleek, glass-and-marble fortress overlooking the city skyline. It was the kind of place that exuded power—silent, calculated, and untouchable.

Adrian stood near the bar, a tumbler of whiskey in hand, but his stance was rigid, his expression unreadable.

She didn't bother with pleasantries. "What happened?"

Adrian turned, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "Ethan's dead."

Allegra's breath hitched. Dead?

She forced herself to stay calm. "How?"

"They're calling it a suicide," Adrian said flatly. "Gunshot to the head, hotel room wiped clean." He took a slow sip of his drink. "Convenient, isn't it?"

Allegra crossed her arms, schooling her expression. "You don't believe it."

"No." Adrian set his glass down. "And neither do you."

She hesitated. He was testing her.

"Ethan had secrets," she said carefully. "He was desperate. Maybe more than we realized."

Adrian studied her. "And yet, less than twenty-four hours after you and I confront him, he winds up dead."

She didn't flinch. "You think someone silenced him."

"I think someone made sure he wouldn't talk," Adrian corrected. His gaze sharpened. "The question is—who?"

Allegra swallowed, her mind racing. Diana? Navarro? Someone else?

Adrian moved closer, voice dropping. "You were digging into Ethan's records."

She met his stare. "Yes."

"Did you find anything?"

Allegra hesitated for half a second too long.

Adrian's expression darkened. "You're lying."

She exhaled. "I was going to tell you once I had more."

He arched a brow. "Tell me now."

She chose her words carefully. "The financial discrepancies weren't just an error—Ethan was laundering money. Through offshore accounts."

Adrian's fingers tapped against the glass countertop. "Who was paying him?"

"Navarro."

Something flickered in Adrian's expression, something cold and knowing. "Of course."

Allegra studied him. "You don't seem surprised."

Adrian exhaled sharply, walking to the window. "Victor Navarro has been circling CrossTech for years. I assumed he had an informant on the inside. I just didn't expect it to be Ethan."

She watched him carefully. "What now?"

Adrian turned back, his gaze assessing. "Navarro played his hand too soon. Which means he's desperate."

Allegra's pulse quickened. If Adrian saw Navarro's move as desperation, it meant he was already strategizing. But was he underestimating just how deep Navarro's reach went?

Adrian's eyes flicked to her again, sharp as a blade. "You're new to this world, Ms. Blake. Let me give you some advice—when someone offers you an easy way out, it's never free."

The words hit harder than he realized.

Allegra forced a tight smile. "Good thing I don't take shortcuts."

Adrian held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded. "Good. Because we're not done yet."

Allegra turned to leave, but as she reached the door, she hesitated.

"You said Navarro was desperate," she said. "What happens when he realizes you're onto him?"

Adrian's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.

"Then we see who makes the next move."

Allegra stepped out into the night, her mind spinning.

Behind her, the black envelope still sat on her coffee table. Waiting.