<h4>Chapter 80: Unseen Moves</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    Logan’s lips curved into an easy smile, his good arm casually draped over the back of the sofa across from my desk.


    "Don’t worry about that. With Catherine Murphy joining in, this project looks promising. I’m getting a great deal here, actually. You wouldn’t deny me this opportunity, would you?"


    I returned his smile, feeling a wave of warmth mingled with concern. "That’s not what I meant. Every investment carries risks. I just want you to be careful. Do your parents approve?"


    "Of course they do," Logan replied with a casual wave of his hand. "Doris said if the Murphy heiress is partnering with you, it can’t be a mistake. She actually rushed me over here to sign before someone else takes the spot."


    I couldn’t help butugh. In the past, I would have approached this with extreme caution. But now, with the Porter family showing interest in Skke District, bringing Logan on board didn’t seem like a bad idea.


    Especially since his proposal clearly stated that the Porter family would invest without interfering, leaving decision-making power with Shaw Corp-it perfectly addressed my concerns, leaving me with few reasons to refuse.


    Yet after reviewing the agreement, I still hesitated to sign. I took a deep breath, deciding honesty was the best approach.


    "Logan, I need to be clear about something. You know I don’t like mixing personal matters with business." I met his gaze directly, my tone serious.


    Logan joked, "I’m not proposing marriage here. What are you afraid of?"


    My heart stuttered slightly, but I pressed on, determined to express what I truly felt. "I’m not afraid. I treasure my rtionship with you and Oscar. You’re like brothers to me.


    You’ve both looked after me all these years, and having you in my life makes me truly happy."


    I looked at him sincerely. "Logan, thank you, truly."


    Logan pushed his sses up slightly, his eyes soft as he regarded me.


    "Annie, I’m willing to do anything for you."


    His words sent a pang through my chest. It was precisely because I knew the sincerity behind them that I couldn’t ept. I pushed the agreement back toward him. "That’s why I can’t sign this."


    Logan clearly froze, caught off guard.


    "Why not?"


    "As I said, I don’t want to owe anyone favors," I stated firmly.


    Watching Logan lean back against the sofa, his expression turning forlorn, I felt my own heart sink. But I knew this was the right choice.


    "Anna, do you really need to draw such clear lines between us?" His voice carried unmistakable disappointment.


    "I’m sorry, Logan." My voice was soft, filled with regret.


    After Logan left, Rachel approached my desk, clearly puzzled. "Ms. Shaw, didn’t Marcus say the Skke District project was guaranteed to be profitable? Why not include Mr. Porter?"


    "How can any business be absolutely guaranteed to be profitable?" I sighed, still picturing Logan’s dejected expression as he left. "He’s staking the entire Porter family on this. How could I possibly repay such a huge favor?"


    Profit considerations aside, the weight of such an obligation was already giving me a headache. Logan and Doris’s intentions were obvious—I couldn’t marry Logan, so it was better not to umte debts I couldn’t repay.


    - --


    The afternoon brought Samuel Griffin to my office, also bearing an agreement. Like with Logan, I didn’t sign.


    "Ms. Shaw clearly doesn’t trust me," Samuel said self-deprecatingly, his expression slightly crestfallen. "I suppose I’m getting my just deserts."


    No matter what he said, I held firm.


    Finally, Samuel gave up, tossing a bag to Rachel.


    "What’s this?" I asked curiously.


    Samuel exined, "Someone asked me to deliver it to you."


    It was the coat I had lent to Nora. I thought to myself, it was just a coat, nothing I’d been concerned about, but apparently Nora had remembered it all this time.


    Samuel added, "She also wants to thank you for your generous gift. She loves it and says you shouldn’t have spent so much."


    I smiled. "I’m d Ms. Price liked it.


    It was just a small token." Though I had absolutely no recollection of what gift I’d supposedly sent her.


    Samuel quipped, "Then I’ll wait until Mr. Murphy leaves before approaching Ms. Shaw again. At that time, I hope you won’t disappoint me?"


    I responded politely, "Mr. Griffin, please believe that I’ve genuinely wanted to coborate with you since you first arrived in Skyview City. That hasn’t changed."


    Seeing Samuel’s expression visibly rx at my words, I felt my own tension ease slightly. After he left, I turned to Rachel curiously.


    "What did you send Nora that warranted Samuel personally conveying thanks?"


    Rachel shrugged. "Nothing special, just an annual membership to Skyview City’s premium spa." Then she casuallyined, "It was expensive though-eighty thousand dors for just one card."


    Hearing that price, I raised an eyebrow, secretly appreciating Rachel’s choice.


    "That was an excellent gift selection."


    Peter’s POV


    Skyview Cityy eerily quiet around us, the winter air biting through my suit as 1 stepped out of my car.


    We’d parked near the edge of park, a strategic choice-secluded enough to avoid prying eyes, yet just public enough that our presence wouldn’t seempletely out of ce if someone did happen to drive by. This time of night, the only souls crazy enough to be out werete-shift workers and the asional drunken reveler stumbling home.


    I approached the Bentley, my shoes crunching on the light dusting of snow covering the asphalt. Mr. Murphy rolled down his window, the warm air from inside the car creating a small cloud as it hit the freezing night.


    "Sir, the hotel security staff were all passed out like the useless pigs they are. I’ll bring our target now?" I kept my voice low despite the emptiness surrounding us.


    Marcus Murphy merely nodded.


    "Proceed."


    I returned to my car, started the engine, and drove the short distance to where my men were holding our target. Less than thirty minutester, I was back, dragging a terrified man in a hotel security uniform from the backseat.


    I threw him roughly onto the ground, watching with satisfaction as hended with a dull thud on the frozen earth.


    His eyes bulged with fear above the duct tape covering his mouth, his uniform wrinkled and stained from our not-so-gentle extraction.


    Casually, I pulled out my knife, letting the street light catch the de as I turned it slowly in my hand. The man’s eyes followed the movement, terror evident in his expression.


    "When I ask you something, you answer directly. If you waste my time..." I ced the knife tip just below his navel, applying just enough pressure to make my point without breaking skin. "I hear you’re your family’s only son? Would be a shame if your bloodline ended tonight."


    His muffled whimpers increased in volume, head nodding frantically. I nodded to one of my men, who ripped the tape from his mouth in one swift motion.


    The security guard immediately began groveling, rising to his knees despite his bound hands. "Please, sir, I don’t know what I did to offend you! I have an elderly mother - she’s eighty years old! My wife just got pregnant! I can’t -"


    I grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back to cut off his pathetic babbling. "Shut up. I don’t care about your life story. That extra cash you’ve been pocketingtely—who paid you?"


    His eyes darted back and forth, calcting whether lying would save him. "What... what extra money? I don’t know what you’re-"


    My fist connected with his stomach before he could finish the lie. He doubled over, gasping and spitting, the wind knockedpletely out of him.


    "Let me be clearer," I said, my voice dropping to an icy whisper. "We know everything already. Who paid you to tamper with the terrace at the Porter estate the night Ms. Shaw fell?"


    The fight seemed to drain from him as he realized we weren’t bluffing. His shoulders slumped in defeat.


    When he finally spoke, the name that came out of his mouth hit me like a bucket of ice water. I maintained myposure, but inside, my mind reeled with the implications. This wasn’t just unexpected—it was potentially explosive.


    The car window rolled down, and I could feel Mr. Murphy’s gaze without even looking. He’d heard everything. I signaled for my men to gag the security guard again and put him back in the car.


    "Sir," I approached the window cautiously, "do we take him directly to Ms. Shaw?"


    Marcus sulked and didn’t say anything; it was the first time I’d ever seen him so torn up.