Chapter 10: The Trap Behind the Door
The first thing Marcus did was call the police.
The second thing he did was lock every exit from Carter Dynamics.
The third thing he did was look at me and say the one thing I didn’t want to hear.
“You can’t go.””
I stared at him.
“My mother is with him.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You don’t know what it feels like to watch someone you love become a weapon.””
Marcus didn’t respond.
Because he did know.
That was the problem.
He knew exactly what it felt like.
“I’m going,” I said.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Vanessa.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“For four years, everyone decided what was best for me.””
I pointed toward the screen.
“My father.””
“My mother.””
“You.””
“Daniel.””
“Everyone.””
My eyes burned.
“I’m done being the person everyone protects while they make decisions behind my back.””
Marcus looked at me.
And for a moment, he didn’t look like the CEO of Carter Dynamics.
He looked like the man who used to sit on my apartment floor eating cheap takeout because we couldn’t afford anything else.
“You think I don’t understand that?””
His voice was quiet.
“I spent four years watching you hate me because I made a decision without you.””
I looked away.
The words hurt because they were true.
“But if you go there alone,” he continued, “you’re doing the same thing.””
Silence.
I hated him for making sense.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
*Warehouse 17. Forty minutes. Come alone.*
Marcus saw my expression.
“What?””
I showed him.
His face immediately changed.
“No.””
“What?””
“That location.””
“You know it?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Because that’s where Carter Dynamics started.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Before this building. Before investors. Before everything.””
He walked to his desk and opened a drawer.
Inside was an old photograph.
A warehouse.
A younger Marcus standing in front of it.
“I rented that place when I had nothing.””
He looked at the picture.
“I built the first version of the company there.””
I studied his face.
“Why would your father take my mother there?””
Marcus was quiet.
Then:
“Because he knows it matters to me.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“He’s not just trying to get to me.””
“No.””
Marcus looked at me.
“He’s trying to make me remember where I started.””
I grabbed my coat.
“Then let’s go.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
I stared.
“Seriously?””
“You said you’re tired of people deciding for you.””
“Yes.””
“Then decide.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Decide whether you’re walking into a trap because you’re angry…”
He paused.
“Or because you have a plan.””
That stopped me.
Because he was right.
My entire life, I had mistaken emotion for action.
I thought leaving Marcus was brave.
Maybe it was just impatience.
I looked at the message again.
“What does he want?””
Marcus answered immediately.
“Evidence.””
“The files?””
“Yes.””
“Can he destroy them?””
“No.””
“Then why ask?””
Marcus’ expression hardened.
“Because he wants the original.””
I looked at him.
“You have a copy.””
“Yes.””
“But not the original.””
“No.””
“Where is it?””
He didn’t answer.
That silence bothered me.
“Marcus.””
He looked at me.
“I don’t have it.””
I froze.
“What?””
“The original disappeared four years ago.””
My heart sank.
“Then what do you have?””
“Copies.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because the original is the only thing that proves how far your father went.””
I stared.
“Who has it?””
Marcus looked toward the door.
“I thought I knew.””
The office door opened.
Daniel walked in.
Everyone went silent.
His face looked exhausted.
Not like the confident executive from months ago.
Like a man who had finally realized the damage he helped create.
“I know where it is.””
My body went still.
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
“You.””
Daniel stopped.
“I deserve that.””
“Yes.””
Marcus’ voice was cold.
“You do.””
Daniel nodded.
“I know.””
I looked between them.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He placed a small flash drive on the desk.
“The original evidence.””
Marcus stared at it.
“Where did you get this?””
Daniel looked down.
“Your father gave it to me.””
A dangerous silence filled the room.
“He trusted you with it?””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“He trusted that I would destroy it.””
My stomach tightened.
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Because after I met you, I realized I wasn’t destroying a company.””
His voice cracked.
“I was destroying people.””
Marcus picked up the flash drive.
“Why bring it now?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Because your father crossed a line.””
“What line?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He threatened my sister.””
I froze.
Marcus looked at him carefully.
“Explain.””
Daniel’s eyes filled with anger.
“He said if I didn’t bring him Marcus’ files, he would make sure my sister lost custody of her children.””
The room became silent.
Even Marcus looked surprised.
Because for the first time, Daniel wasn’t defending himself.
He was admitting how he was controlled.
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
*You have twenty minutes.*
Then another.
*Bring Marcus.*
Marcus looked at the screen.
“He wants both of us.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
Marcus held the flash drive.
“Because this was never about the evidence.””
“What was it about?””
He looked at me.
“It was about proving he could still control us.””
I picked up my coat.
“Then let’s show him he can’t.””
Marcus stared at me.
Then slowly nodded.
But as we walked toward the elevator, I noticed something.
The flash drive in Marcus’ hand.
The one Daniel gave him.
The one my father wanted.
The small red light on the side was blinking.
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
He turned it over.
His expression changed.
“What is it?””
Marcus looked at me.
“It’s not just a drive.””
The elevator doors opened.
Inside was a message written across the screen.
*You opened it.*
May you like
Marcus’ face went pale.
And then every light in the building went out.
