Natasha's POV
Natasha stared at Marcus's text, her tears drying on her cheeks.
Your apartment. Now. We need to talk about what really happened tonight. Come alone.
Every rational instinct screamed at her to ignore it. Marcus had destroyed her once already. Meeting him alone, in her apartment, at nearly midnight was insane.
But he'd warned her about Richard at the gala. He'd looked genuinely afraid.
And right now, Marcus was the only person who might have answers about what had really happened to Meilin Chen.
Change of plans, Natasha told the driver. Take me to my apartment instead.
Twenty minutes later, she stood outside her building, scanning the dark street for any sign of Marcus. Nothing. Just empty sidewalks and dim streetlights.
She climbed the stairs to her floor, her hand shaking as she unlocked her door.
The apartment was dark.
Marcus? she called out, flipping on the light switch.
Nothing happened. The power was out.
Natasha's pulse quickened. She reached for her phone to use as a flashlight, but a voice stopped her.
Don't. Marcus stepped out from the shadows near her window, his face illuminated by the city lights outside. They might be tracking your phone.
Who's tracking my phone?
Richard's people. The same ones who've been watching you since the day you met Elias. Marcus moved closer, and Natasha saw he looked terrible—tie loosened, hair disheveled, eyes wild with fear. I need you to listen very carefully, Tasha. Everything that happened tonight was planned. The blackmail, Simone's confession, your grandmother's collapse—all of it.
Meilin isn't my grandmother, Natasha said automatically.
She was supposed to be. Marcus pulled out his phone and showed her a document. This is Richard's timeline. He's been orchestrating this entire thing for months. The fake relationship was never supposed to work. He wanted Elias to fail so spectacularly that the board would have no choice but to remove him.
Natasha grabbed his phone, reading through the document with growing horror. Everything was there—dates, names, strategies. Including her name, highlighted in red.
Natasha Quinn: Primary leverage point. Use her connection to Webb Media investigation to justify destruction. Frame for plagiarism to ensure desperation. Deploy as fake girlfriend to create scandal.
I was part of the plan from the beginning, she whispered.
Yes. Richard knew Elias would need a fake girlfriend to satisfy his grandmother's ultimatum. He made sure you were desperate enough to accept, damaged enough that exposing the relationship would destroy both of you. Marcus ran his hands through his hair. Tonight was supposed to end with Meilin dying and Elias being exposed as a fraud who hired a disgraced journalist to manipulate his dying grandmother. The board was going to vote him out tomorrow morning.
But Simone deleted the photos. The blackmail failed.
The blackmail was never the real plan. It was a distraction. Marcus's voice dropped to barely a whisper. Richard poisoned Meilin's wine, Tasha. But he didn't use enough to kill her. Just enough to make her sick, to make it look like the stress of Elias's fake relationship caused a heart attack.
Natasha's stomach turned. That's insane.
That's Richard. He's been planning this for years, ever since Elias took over the company that Richard thought should be his. Everything—your career destruction, Marcus's promotion, Simone's betrayal—it all leads back to Richard wanting Elias broken and alone.
Why are you telling me this? Natasha demanded. You worked for Richard. You helped him destroy me.
Because I'm done being his puppet. Because what happened tonight crossed a line I can't uncross. Marcus's eyes were wet with unshed tears. Meilin Chen never hurt anyone. She's a kind woman who just wanted her grandson to be happy. And Richard poisoned her like she was nothing.
If you have proof, why not go to the police?
I did. An hour ago. Gave them everything—Richard's plans, the poison he used, recordings of our conversations. They're building a case, but it takes time. Time Meilin might not have.
Natasha's mind raced. If Marcus went to the police, if he was telling the truth, then Richard's entire conspiracy was about to collapse.
But that didn't save Meilin.
The doctors need to know what poison he used, Natasha said urgently. If they're treating her for a heart attack when it's actually poison—
I already called the hospital anonymously. Told them to test for oleandrin. It's a plant-based poison, causes symptoms that mimic cardiac arrest. If they catch it in time, she'll survive.
Relief flooded through Natasha. So she'll be okay?
If they believed my anonymous tip. If they act fast enough. If Richard doesn't have someone at the hospital making sure the right tests don't get run. Marcus grabbed her shoulders, his grip desperate. That's why I need your help. You have access to Elias. He can make sure his grandmother gets the right treatment. He can pressure the doctors to run the tests.
Elias told me to stay away from him and his family. He ended the contract.
He ended it because he's scared and hurt and watching someone he loves die. But he needs to know the truth, Tasha. He needs to know this wasn't random, that Richard planned it, that there's still time to save her.
Natasha pulled out her phone, her hands shaking. She needed to call Elias, needed to tell him everything.
But would he even answer? After the way they'd left things, after he'd pushed her away so completely?
Her phone rang before she could dial, making both of them jump.
James Park's name flashed on the screen.
Natasha answered. James?
Ms. Quinn. His voice was tight with barely controlled emotion. I apologize for the late call, but something's happened. The doctors ran additional tests on Mrs. Chen and found traces of oleandrin poisoning in her system. They've started the proper treatment. She's stable now. They believe she'll recover fully.
Natasha's knees went weak with relief. That's wonderful news.
There's more. Mr. Chen received an anonymous package at the hospital containing evidence that his cousin Richard orchestrated the poisoning. Police are currently searching for Richard Chen to bring him in for questioning.
Natasha looked at Marcus, who nodded. He'd sent the evidence.
I need to speak with Elias, Natasha said. Please, James. I know he told me to stay away, but—
He's asking for you, James interrupted quietly. He's been asking for you for the past hour. I think he realized he made a mistake sending you away.
Natasha's heart stuttered. He wants to see me?
Very much. I'm sending a car to your location now. It should arrive in five minutes.
The call ended.
Natasha turned to Marcus, who was already heading for the door.
Wait, she called out. What happens to you now? If you testified against Richard—
I'll probably lose everything. My job, my reputation, possibly face charges for my role in your framing. Marcus paused at the door. But at least I'll be able to sleep at night knowing I finally did the right thing. Even if it's six months too late.
Marcus. Natasha's voice stopped him. Thank you. For warning me. For helping save Meilin. For finally telling the truth.
He looked back at her, his expression sad and resigned. I loved you once, Tasha. Really loved you. Before Richard, before the lies, before I became someone I don't recognize in the mirror. I know I can never make up for what I did. But maybe stopping Richard from hurting anyone else is a start.
What about Simone?
She's the one who convinced me to go to the police. She's testifying too. We're both done being Richard's weapons. He smiled bitterly. We make a good team when we're destroying ourselves instead of other people.
He left, disappearing into the dark hallway.
Natasha stood alone in her apartment, processing everything that had happened in the last three hours.
Meilin would survive.
Richard's conspiracy was exposed.
Marcus and Simone were finally telling the truth.
And Elias was asking for her.
Her phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number that made her blood run cold:
You think this is over? You think Marcus's testimony and some poison evidence will stop me? I've been planning this for thirteen years. One setback won't end it. Tell Elias to enjoy his grandmother's recovery. It won't last long. —R
The threat was clear. Richard wasn't done. Even with the police searching for him, even with the evidence against him, he was still out there.
Still dangerous.
Still planning.
A car horn honked outside. Natasha looked out the window and saw the black town car waiting.
She grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and desperate hope.
Richard might not be finished.
But neither was she.
And if Elias wanted her back, if he was ready to stop pushing her away and start fighting together, then maybe they actually had a chance.
The car pulled away from her building, heading toward Metro General Hospital.
Toward Elias.
Toward whatever came next.
Natasha's phone buzzed one more time. A text from Elias that made tears spring to her eyes:
I'm sorry. For everything I said. For pushing you away when I was scared. Please come. I need you. Not because of the contract. Because I don't want to do this alone anymore. —E
Natasha pressed her hand against her chest, feeling her heart race.
This wasn't fake anymore.
Whatever this was between them—this messy, complicated, terrifying thing—it had become real.
And she was done running from it.
The hospital loomed ahead, bright lights cutting through the darkness.
Natasha took a deep breath and prepared to face whatever waited inside.
Together with Elias.
Finally, honestly, terrifyingly together.