As the night wore on, the staff's energy began to wane.
Jack glanced at the clock, noticing it was already 11:30 PM.
"Alright, everyone," he said, his voice gentle but firm.
"You've all done an amazing job. Go home, get some rest. I'll
take care of the rest."
The staff nodded, relieved, and began to pack up their
things. As they filed out of the office, Jack called out, "Great
job, everyone! Get some sleep!"
Once the office was empty, Jack settled back into his
chair, determination etched on his face. He worked tirelessly,
pouring over reports and slides, making sure everything was
perfect.
The hours ticked by, and the office grew quiet, the only
sound the soft hum of the computers. Jack's eyes grew heavy,
but he refused to give in to fatigue.Finally, at 4:00 AM, Jack saved the last document and
leaned back in his chair, exhausted but triumphant. He had
done it. The presentation was ready.
As he stood up, stretching his cramped muscles, Jack felt
a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had pushed himself
to the limit, and it had paid off.
But as he glanced out the window, he couldn't shake the
feeling that this was only the beginning. The real challenge lay
ahead, in the boardroom, where he would face the top-level
executives and fight for the future of his company.
Eva's voice was laced with concern as she called Jack.
"Hey, is everything okay? You sounded really stressed earlier."
Jack exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. The stolen
documents had thrown everything into chaos, and with the
high-stakes meeting looming, the pressure was unbearable.
"Someone broke into my office last night, Eva. Critical
documents are missing—confidential reports I need for the
deal. I don't know how I'm going to pull this off."
Eva listened intently, her mind already working through
possible solutions. "Don't panic, Jack. You're an incredible presenter. Even without those papers, you know this project
better than anyone. I believe in you."
Jack sighed, a hint of gratitude softening his features.
Her unwavering confidence in him was the anchor he needed.
"Thanks, Eva. I just wish I knew who took them and why."
The next morning, Eva arrived at the office determined
to be there for Jack. As she rushed toward the elevator, her
thoughts were solely on ensuring he stayed calm before the
meeting.
But fate had other plans.
As she turned a corner, she collided hard with a man,
sending papers flying across the marble floor. "I'm so sorry!"
she exclaimed, quickly kneeling to help him gather the
documents.
Then she saw it.
Her breath hitched as her eyes landed on the papers—
Jack's stolen documents. The same reports he had been
frantically searching for.
The man's gaze locked onto hers, sharp and calculating.
A silent understanding passed between them. He knew she
had recognized the files. Without a word, he snatched the
papers from her grasp and bolted.
Eva sprang to her feet and chased after him, her heels
clicking against the floor. "Stop!" she shouted, weaving
through the crowded office lobby. The man was fast, pushing past startled employees and knocking over a coffee cart in his
escape.
Adrenaline surged through her veins. She couldn't let
him disappear.
Eva followed him through the glass doors of the building
and onto the busy street. The city roared around her—horns
blaring, pedestrians moving in every direction. But the thief
was already blending into the crowd.
Then, just as she thought she had him in sight, he turned
a corner and—gone.
She stood there, panting, scanning every face, but it was
useless. He had vanished.
Frustrated, she pulled out her phone. Jack needs to
know.
Back in the office, Jack checked his watch. Only forty
minutes until the meeting. Where is Eva?
A gnawing sense of unease settled in his gut. He flagged
down one of his staff. "Has anyone seen Eva?"
One of his junior employees hesitated before replying, "I
saw her near the elevator earlier, but she looked like she was
in a hurry."
Jack's concern deepened. Something wasn't right.He strode into the security room and pulled up the
camera footage. His stomach clenched as he saw the
playback—Eva sprinting after a man, her expression frantic.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
"Find her." His voice was sharp, commanding. "Track
her phone. I need to know she's safe."
Pinky, his ever-efficient assistant, nodded. "I'm on it,
Jack. But you need to focus. The meeting starts soon."
Jack clenched his fists. How can I focus when I don't
know if she's okay?
Jack gripped his phone tightly, waiting for Eva to say
something else. But just as he was about to speak, the line
went dead.
"Eva?" he called, his voice edged with panic. He checked
the screen. Call disconnected.
He tried calling back—once, twice. No answer. A sinking
feeling settled in his stomach. Then, the worst confirmation
flashed across his screen: Eva's phone is switched off.
A cold dread washed over him. Something's wrong.
He immediately turned to Pinky, his assistant. "Track
Eva's last known location. Now."
Pinky nodded, fingers flying across her keyboard.
Within seconds, a red dot appeared on the map.Jack's grip tightened around his phone as he stared at
Eva's last known location. Pinky placed a firm hand on his
arm.
"Jack, we'll handle it. You need to stay for the meeting."
But Jack was already shaking his head. "No. I'm going to
find her. I'll be back before the meeting."
His tone left no room for argument. Grabbing his car
keys, he rushed out, his pulse hammering as he sped through
the city streets. Every second that passed only fed his worst
fears.
Eva was in danger. And he wasn't going to let anything
happen to her.
The GPS led him to a desolate building on the outskirts
of town. It was old, barely maintained, with a rusted gate
hanging ajar. The place screamed trouble.
Jack killed the engine, stepping out cautiously. His
instincts screamed at him—Eva was inside.
He moved swiftly, his footsteps eerily silent as he
navigated the dimly lit hallway. Then, a faint noise—a muffled
sound, like someone struggling.
Eva.
Without hesitation, he pushed forward, reaching a room
at the end of the corridor. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
With one powerful kick, the door flew open.Eva sat tied to a chair, her eyes wide with relief as soon
as she saw him. A gag was secured over her mouth, her hands
bound tightly behind her back.
Jack's vision blurred with rage. They took her. They hurt
her.
He rushed forward, quickly untying the ropes, his hands
shaking with urgency.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Eva coughed as she pulled the gag away. "Jack, watch
out!"
But before he could react, a shadow moved in the
doorway. The man who had stolen the documents stood there,
a smug smirk on his face.
"You shouldn't have come, Jack," he sneered.
Jack's rage erupted. "Big mistake."
With lightning speed, he lunged at the man, fists
swinging. They crashed against the walls, the fight brutal and
unforgiving. Jack took a hit to the ribs but retaliated with a
powerful punch, knocking the man to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Jack pressed his knee into the man's
chest, pinning him down. "Tell me the truth. Who sent you?"
The man struggled, but Jack's grip was ironclad. Finally,
the intruder caved, his voice trembling."James. It was James," he stammered. "He wanted to
sabotage your presentation and ruin your chances of
continuing as CFO."
Jack's eyes darkened. James? His own colleague?
"Why?" Jack demanded.
The man swallowed hard. "Because James was supposed
to get the promotion. But the company chose you instead. He's
been planning this for weeks."
Jack felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Betrayal.
"You're just a pawn in his game," he spat, standing up.
With Eva safe by his side, he knew what he had to do.
James would face the consequences.
And the meeting?
Jack had never been more determined to win.