"What happened?" Ss asked as he stepped into his brother''s office.


    There were two unfamiliar men sitting there with Thomas and Wade.


    "Mason bloody Hunter happened," Thomas replied, a frown etched on his face. "We don''t know that yet," Wade interjected.


    Ss took the empty chair next to Wade. "I''m so confused about what''s going on."


    The two unknown men stood up and nodded politely at Ss. One of them turned to Thomas. "Shall we discuss those listster, sir?"


    "Yes," Thomas said, dismissing them with a wave.


    Once both men left, Ss scooted his chair closer. "What happened?"


    "Well," Wade began, "your brother has been sued by Sonia Raj."


    How is that even possible?" Ss asked, stunned. Sonia was one of Thomas''s


    most trusted clients. How had their rtionship gone so wrong?


    Thomas leaned forward, his eyes zing with anger. "Sonia called me this morning, screaming. She wanted to know why I''d released her financial statements to investors. Apparently, she''s been bombarded with emails from them about investments."


    Ss leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "But how does she know it was you? It could''ve been anyone."


    "I''m the only external party with ess to her financial information," Thomas said tly.


    "Ah," Ss murmured.


    "I can''t think straight," Thomas said abruptly, standing up. "I need a drink." Without another word, he stormed out of the office.


    Ss smacked his lips, still processing the situation. He turned to Wade, who had a grim expression. "Don''t you think it''s high time we sued Mason?"


    "We can''t draw conclusions like that," Wade said, a frown on his face. "We don''t know anything going on."


    "But it''s obvious Mason leaked the information," Ss argued.


    "Alright," Wade said calmly. "What''s your proof? Do you have any evidence Mason was involved?"


    Ss wracked his brain, trying to recall anything tangible Thomas must have said. When nothing came to mind, he shrugged. "It''s just a feeling."


    "Well, news sh: feelings don''t hold up in court," Wade said, his tone slightly harsh.


    Ss dismissed Wade''s tone, trying to process the whole Sonia situation. If Sonia sessfully sued Thomas, it would only make matters worse. Thomas would lose credibility with his other clients, nobody would want to do business with him, and even his marriage to Ivy wouldn''t be enough to distract the media.


    Right now, he could already imagine the headlines.


    Thomas returned to the room with arge bottle of alcohol and a small ss. He poured into the ss and downed it before sitting down.


    "If Sonia suing me goes public, I''m done," Thomas muttered, to nobody in particr,


    Ss''s chest tightened at the defeated look on his brother''s face. It hurt to see Thomas like this. "Do you have any evidence linking Mason to the crime?" he asked gently.


    "No." Thomas shook his head. "But I know he''s involved. Who else would want to bring me down this badly?"


    "Still, we can''t be sure," Wade said cautiously.


    Thomas shot him a re. "Do you have evidence it''s someone else?"


    Wade looked away, and Thomas poured himself another ss, gulping it down at


    once.


    "Easy now, bro," Ss said softly, concerned that Thomas was getting drunk.. Thomas''s phone dinged. He picked it up, ncing at the screen. "It''s Uncle Mike," he said before answering. "Hey, Uncle."


    Mike''s voice sounded over the loudspeaker. "Hey, my boy! How are you holding up?" Mike always referred to both Thomas and Ss as "my boys."


    "Terrible," Thomas admitted. "Did you see my message about Sonia?"


    "I did," Mike said, sounding distressed. "How did that even happen?”


    "I have no idea. I really don''t, but I''ve my guesses," Thomas said, reaching for the bottle.


    Ss took the bottle away, cing it far away from Thomas''s reach. "That''s enough."


    Thomas didn''t argue. "Uncle Mike, I need your help. You''re close to Sonia. Tell her it''s a misunderstanding, and that I''m working on it.”


    "Don''t worry, I''ll talk to her," Mike assured him. "She''ll stop thewsuit. Just make sure you resolve this quickly."


    will," Thomas sighed.


    "Alright. I''ll check inter. Bye."


    "Bye, Uncle," Thomas said before ending the call. He then turned to Ss with a re, "Give me the fucking bottle."


    "No," Ss said, shaking his head. "We need to focus on finding solutions and you getting drunk won''t help."


    "Agreed," Wade said softly.


    Thomas groaned. "I just want to drown in my misery."


    Ignoring him, Ss turned to Wade. "How do we tackle this?"


    Wade adjusted in his chair. "First, we need to identify what information was leaked, that is if Ms Raj is willing to cooperate with us. We will then use this information to rule out internal data breach. From there, we assess the threat-" "What if you can''t rule out an internal breach?" Ss interrupted.


    "What?" Wade asked, frowning.


    Thomas looked at Ss sharply. "What are you implying?"


    "I''m saying it''s possible someone on the inside leaked the information," Ss said cautiously. He knew he was treading on thin ice but he had to voice his suspicion.


    Thomas''s face darkened. "Are you using my staff?"


    "I''m just considering the possibilities," Ss replied. "With information as sensitive as that, it would take an inside person leaking-or Mason working with the person."


    The room went awkwardly silent before Thomas spoke. "That''s impossible." He shook his head. "I have loyal staff."


    "But Ss has a point," Wade added hesitantly. "It could''ve been someone internally or Mason hacking your systems."


    “I said it''s impossible!” Thomas snapped. “Don''t use my people. Do you see


    me using your wife even when it''s ring?"


    Ss stiffened, stunned that Ivy had been dragged into the conversation. "What does Ivy have to do with this?"


    "I don''t know! You tell me!" Thomas yelled. "She was the one talking to Mason, making secret ns. For all I know, they could be working together!"


    "That''s enough!" Ss shot back, his temper ring. "I won''t let you talk about her like that. After all, I married her for you!"


    "And how''s that working out?" Thomas sneered. "Nothing''s changed! I''m still in this fucking mess!"


    "Guys, let''s calm down," Wade interjected, trying to case the tension.


    "I didn''t ask you to have problems," Ss hissed, "I''m doing everything I can to


    clear your name. You wanted a distraction-I gave you one,"


    "No, nope!" Thomas red up, his voice rising asked for a distraction, and you brought more problems! I didn''t tell you to marry my rival''s ex-wife. For all I know, she could be using this to gather information to harm me."


    Ss''s jaw tightened as Thomas spoke about Ivy that way. He knew he shouldn''t


    defend her, but he couldn''t stand hearing his brother talk ill about her.


    "Well, she''s not,” Ss said, standing up. "She''s even working hard to take the heat off you."


    "Of course Thomas scoffed, “That''s why she hit her ex-mother-inw? It''s all part of the distraction! Open your eyes, Ss-she''s keeping us busy while Mason gets away with his schemes."


    That was it. That was thest straw. Without looking at his brother, he said, "Goodbye," and walked out.


    As he left Thomas''s office, a heavy thought settled in his chest: He had just argued with his brother for the first time in years-and it was all because of Ivy,