"OH, SHIT." I muttered under my breath as my head throbbed painfully the moment I woke up.


    The sun was too bright. Instead of opening my eyes, I opted to stay under the covers, pulling the nket over my head. I just wanted to sleep a little longer.


    I was drunk, but I remember everything. Ash''s presence, Finnick'' confession... and me, getting wasted after that conversation between Senator Windwood and Simon.


    "It''s fucking mutual, Sapphire."


    "Damn it." I shot up from the bed, remembering Ash''s wordsst night.


    I forced myself out of bed and dragged myself to the bathroom.


    I was aplete mess. My curly hair was all over the ce, drool streaked the corner of my mouth, and my cheeks were so red it looked like I''d been pped ten times. I winced as I tried to recall how many bottles I had drunkst night. I remember the conversations but not the number of drinks. I''d lost count.


    After washing my face, I brewed a cup of coffee. I took out the SD card I had hidden beneath the espresso machine. It was one of the least likely ces for intruders to check if they ever searched my ce.


    "How can I use this?" I examined the card carefully. "I need to use this in the best way possible..."


    It''s like the world''s most dangerous firecracker. If I used it recklessly, I''d only end up hurting myself. I needed to be careful.


    For now, I had to figure out if anyone else already knew about this.


    Later, I headed to our hideout to take care of business. As the representative of the Parker Organization, I had to be present for significant transactions. Today, we were dealing with a VVIP client purchasing weapons from us. Simon was supposed to be here, too, but he said he wasn''t avable today, so we went ahead without him.


    "Good deal," my client said, extending his hand for a handshake, which I epted with a smile.


    "Til next time, sir," I replied.


    The transaction went smoothly. Since it was a VVIP, the tip I received for facilitating the deal was mind-blowing-five hundred thousand dors for something that requires almost no effort on my part.


    It''s no wonder why so many people choose to run mafia organizations and engage in illegal activities rather than start legitimate businesses.


    I would stay in this dirty organization for now, but once everything was settled, I nned to leave. If there''s one dream I have for Chiara and Thunder, it''s to keep them away from this kind of life. I''ve experienced the worst, so I want only the best for my children.


    Once the transaction was done, I called Simon. He''d told me to contact him once the meeting was over. While he trusted Mason to make decisions, I always needed his approval.


    "Transaction sessful," I told him as soon as he picked up. "I don''t have any missions for now, right? I need to take care of my other business."


    "Are you sure you''re not hiding something from me?" he asked, his voice authoritative over the phone.


    I wasn''t sure how much he knew, but I could tell he was fishing for information. He wanted to find out if I was lying about what I saw at that ce.


    "Do you think I can hide something from you?" I shot back, leaning back on the couch. "I spend more time here at the hideout than at my ownpany. Do you really think I have the energy to keep secrets?"


    He was silent for a few seconds before replying. "That''s good. You can handle your other obligations for now. I won''t call you in the meantime."


    The call ended. I smirked as I stared at his name on my contact list. I was ying with fire.


    If I gave him the card, he''d kill me. If I didn''t, someone else probably would. No matter what I did, the oue would be the same. I''d die-with a purpose.


    "I''m on my way, Rita," I told my secretary as I drove my new Ferrari. "Tell the board to get ready."


    "Noted, ma''am," she replied.


    I ended the call and sped up the car. I nced at the rearview mirror, smiling at the sight of the gold ne with a cross pendant.


    For now, this was the safest ce to hide the card. But it couldn''t stay here forever. Someone might try to kidnap me sooner orter. And I was right.


    When I arrived at my penthouse, I immediately sensed something was wrong. The ce was so messy. Even the flower vases were broken all over my unit.


    "Call the maintenance and security team," I told my secretary in a low voice as I scanned the ce. "Someone broke in."


    I added, "Do this quietly. Clients might freak out if they knew that the CEO got robbed. I don''t want the stock price to drop."


    Is mypany''s security system not strong enough that someone could cause trouble here? Or maybe... Did the intrudere from within thispany itself? "Yes, Ma''am," she affirmed.


    "Go straight to the meeting room after this. We still have a board meeting," I ordered and ended the call.


    After changing into a white formal dress paired with white heels, I went to the meeting room.


    Thankfully, the meeting went fine. They just raised concerns and tasks that needed to be assigned to different departmentster.


    "Meeting adjourned," I dered.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The board members left, and Rita went to the penthouse to take care of the mess there.


    That person after me wasn''t just after the SD card. They were threatening me... like telling me that if I go against the current, that wouldn''t be the only punishment I''d face.


    I stayed inside the meeting room for a while, thinking about where I could hide the pendant. The safest ce I know is the house where I hid Chiara and Thunder... No, I couldn''t. I''d be risking their lives if I did that.


    What''s the strangest ce I could hide something that no one would ever think of? Right now, I really don''t know... until an idea struck me. Why didn''t I think of this earlier? Minutester, I left the meeting room and went to the parking lot. I''m certain someone''s following me, but I couldn''t tell who it was.


    With so many people here in thepany, it would be hard to make a random usation.


    Simon already knows something... or if it wasn''t him, it''s someone else who also has an interest in the card. But at this point, a n was already forming in my mind. Well, I''ll give that person a mystery to solve.