<h4>Chapter 13: Masks and Motives</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    Iy on my bed with a cooling face mask stered over my skin, watching as Catherine’s wide eyed face filled my phone screen.


    "I can’t believe it," she gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. "Uncle Marcus actually defended you? And Aunt Elizabeth didn’t give you a full-blown lecture on propriety?"


    I couldn’t suppress a small smile. "What can I say? Maybe your uncle isn’t as severe as you all think."


    Catherine snorted. "Oh, please. You have no idea. Last time I went clubbing, he cut off my pocket money and said I was tarnishing the family name. The double standard is insane."


    "Maybe he just has better judgment than you give him credit for," I teased, adjusting my pillow so the mask didn’t slip. "He probably knew I was just keeping an eye on you. Making sure you didn’t get into too much trouble."


    Catherine raised an eyebrow. "You? The girl in the ck dress with the thigh high slit?"


    I rolled my eyes. "Supervising in style."


    Sheughed. "Well, either way, you might want to stay on your best behavior. Word is... Uncle Marcus isn’t leaving Skyview anytime soon."


    I sat up straighter, nearly dislodging the mask. "What do you mean?"


    "Grandfather let it slip," she said, eyes gleaming. "Marcus is staying because he’s interested in someone."


    I blinked. "Marcus Murphy. Interested in someone?"


    "The eternal bachelor himself," she confirmed with a dramatic nod. "Can you imagine? He’s never even brought a date to family functions. Grandfather’s practically hosting a parade."


    A memory of Marcus at the club shed across my mind how his shirt had clung to his broad shoulders, the quiet control in his movements, the way his eyes found mine across the room.


    "Has he never... dated anyone seriously before?"


    Catherine tilted her head, thinking. "Well, there was one time about six years ago. He came back from Europe over some girl, but apparently she was already seeing someone else. After that, poof. Gone again. This is the only other time I’ve seen him look remotely interested in someone."


    I frowned. "A man like that sessful, intelligent, athletic he could have anyone."


    Catherine arched a brow. "And yet here he is. Focused, disciplined,pletely unavable... until now."


    I peeled off my face mask slowly, deep in thought. "Your grandfather really knows how to raise them."


    "Unlike some people," she muttered with a pointed re, clearly referencing Jack.


    Before I could respond, she added with a grin, "Oh and you should’ve seen Marcus’s face when he spotted us at the club. For a second, I thought he was going to drag me out by the ear."


    I was halfway through reviewing quarterly reports when Daniel burst into my office, his usuallyposed demeanor visibly shaken.


    "Ms. Shaw," he said, breathless. "There’s an emergency at the Phoenix Project."


    My pen stilled mid signature.


    Jack hade to me about problems on Phoenix a few weeks back. I’d brushed him off, chalking it up to exaggeration. Apparently, I was wrong.


    "Get Rachel. Bring the car," I said sharply.


    We reached the research facility in under twenty minutes. Jack’s car was already parked out front.


    Of course.


    Inside, raised voices echoed through the halls. The tension led us to a chaotic conference room, where Jack and Lucy stood over Trevor Torres, our chief engineer. Trevor’s face was flushed, his sses askew, caught between fury and shame.


    "I didn’t do it!" Trevor shouted, fists clenched. "I would never—"


    Lucy hurled a folder at him with theatrical ir. "The emails came from your personalputer. Your ount. What more do you need?"


    The moment she saw me, her expression flipped to faux-concern. "Anna! Thank goodness. This has been such a... difficult discovery."


    "Stop." My voice cut through the room like ss. I had no patience for her performance.


    Lucy blinked but pressed on, her tone still honeyed. "Trevor Torres has been stealing Phoenix’s research data. The technical team found the proof on hisputer."


    I raised a hand, silencing her again.


    "I won’t ept usations of theft without concrete evidence." I turned to Trevor, his back now a little straighter. "Mr. Torres, did you do this?"


    "Ms. Shaw..." His voice cracked. "I swear I would never betray thispany."


    Trevor had been with Shaw Corp for nearly a decade. His loyalty wasn’t just assumed it was proven.


    I picked up the papers Lucy had dramatically scattered across the table. "This is your evidence? Some printed emails?"


    Lucy’s expression twisted. "Surely you’re not suggesting we ignore this? The digital trail leads right to his machine."


    "Jack," I said, turning to him. "Can you confirm no one else had ess to Trevor’s workstation?"


    His jaw clenched. "The evidence speaks for itself."


    "Does it?" I folded my arms. "Just like appointing someone with zero experience to lead Phoenix spoke for itself?"


    The jab at Lucynded.


    Jack’s eyes narrowed. "Shaw Corp has invested heavily in this project. Don’t let personal feelings cloud your judgment."


    I gave a dryugh. "That’s riching from you."


    Lucy’s smug expression faltered.


    "I trust the judgment of a man who’s given ten years to thispany," I continued. "Not someone who showed up three months ago and got handed the reins because she knows how to flirt with upper management."


    Lucy’s face flushed crimson.


    "Trevor wille with me," I announced. "Effective immediately, the Phoenix Project is suspended pending a full internal review."


    "You can’t just—" Jack started.


    "I can and I will," I said, voice steely. "And if I find out someone’s trying to sabotage this project..."


    My gaze shifted deliberately to Lucy.


    "They’ll regret it."