<b>Chapter </b>505
Patrick’s slightly trembling fingertips betrayed that he wasn’t as rxed as he pretended to be. He forced a chuckle. “Calling all of us in <i>so </i>suddenly…
He hesitated, <b>eyes </b>shifting toward the row of phonesid out on the table. They had been summoned abruptly and, upon entering the room, were ordered to hand over their devices.
Patrick silently broke into a cold sweat. He thought he had been exposed.
But then he reasoned. He hadn’t done anything overtly suspicious. Neither Birgitte nor Aubree had shown any indication they suspected a mole in their midst. He’d saved both of them, and he <b>was </b>even in a rtionship with Birgitte. If they knew something, surely he’d be informed.
That fleeting thought calmed him. Putting his trademark grin back on, he said cheerfully, “Birgitte, <b>if </b>you want to check my phone, that’s fine, but isn’t it a bit much to take everyone’s<b>?</b><b>” </b>
He winked. “Besides, what’s this all about anyway?”
Birgitte finally looked up, <b>eyes </b>sweeping across the room. “Sit down.”
Her expression was cold, her tone <b>stern</b>, showing no special treatment despite her rtionship with Patrick.
Others in the room shifted uneasily. They didn’t know what had happened. Birgitte even treated Patrick like that.
Patrick <b>gave </b>a sheepish smile and obediently sat back down. As he lowered his head, a flicker of resentment passed through his eyes<b>. </b>But from the look of things, Birgitte wasn’t here to check the phones. He would just let her y her game.
Everyone present had been handpicked by Birgitte as top suspects. She’d called them in first thing that morning, so none of them knew what was happening online yet.
The sound of fingers tapping on the table made everyone tense and restless.
Birgitte <b>crossed </b>her arms, tapping her fingers rhythmically. “Unless something extraordinary happens, you’ll all be free to leave after the end of the workday. If you’re innocent, you’ll get five times your normal pay aspensation.”
“What does that mean?” someone finally asked, unable to sit still. If they <b>were </b>going to be fired, they deserved an exnation.
Others didn’t care. “So we’re getting paid to sit here and do nothing? Can’t use our phones, but whatever.”
“Five times the pay? I’ll camp in this meeting room!”
Some shrugged it off. Others got irritated and began demanding to leave. One hot–headed employee grabbed their phone from the table.“I’m leaving! What<b>, </b>you gonna stop me<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Birgitte didn’t move. She simply gestured toward the door.
The moment the door opened, the ck–suited bodyguards standing outside turned to look inside.
“What the hell is this? Are we prisoners<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Patrick, ying the concerned voice of reason, said, “Birgitte, what are you doing? Just let everyone go.”
He added, “If there’s an issue, let’s deal with the issue. I know thepany’s in a rough spottely, but we can’t let ite to this. Ms. Miller’s not here. You need to stay calm.”
More people began to grumble.
<b>“</b>If thepany’s going under, then just dere bankruptcy. Why take it out on us<b>?</b>”
“What, are you saying we caused the mess? You trying to catch a mole or something?<b>” </b>
Birgitte raised her eyebrows and looked directly at the speaker. “Smart.”
“You can consider this <b>a </b>very special kind of meeting.” She stood up. For a moment, her <b>presence </b>filled the room, silencing everyone.
She added, “What I said earlier still stands. If you’re clean, you’ll walk out of here with extra pay. If not, expect prison time.”
<b>Faces </b>went pale. “Ms. Cherniavsky, what do you mean<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Birgitte replied, “Exactly what it sounds like.<b>” </b>
<b>2.32 </b><b>PM </b>
Patrick went quiet. His internal mental preparations crumbled instantly. ‘What did she mean? She knew? How could she know<b>? </b>Is she holding us here waiting for evidence?
Hiding among the others. Patrick lowered his <b>face</b>, his usual mask cracking to reveal something venomous beneath. He had to <b>stir </b>the others into rebelling, push them out of this trap.
But before he could act, a sudden ringtone broke the tension in the room.
<b>It </b>was the sound <b>of </b>a phone ringing.
Patrick recognized the ringtone instantly. His face fell.
He asked, “Birgitte, that might be my phone… Can I answer it without leaving the room?<b>” </b>
Birgitte had already nced at the caller ID. An unmarked number. <b>Her </b>brows lifted, and she smiled.
Patrick saw her expression and rxed. He reached for the phone. If it <b>were </b>from Bryan, he would be doomed. And she answered…
*Patrick, you…<b>” </b>
“Ms. Cherniavsky!” His shrill voice interrupted the call, startling both ends of the line.
You… why are you answering my phone?” His protest halted abruptly, like <b>a </b>car driven off a cliff.
“You <b>were </b>just calling me by my first name earlier. What, changed your mind already?” Birgitte smiled, her voice calm, though her heart was heavy. She should’ve known. When Aubree was arrested during the first incident, they’d suspected an internal mole. The timing had been too perfect.
But every trap they <b>set </b>afterward failed. At the time, she thought Aubree was just being paranoid. In hindsight, it was because she had treated Patrick too leniently. Even with the tiniest hints, he had guessed too much.
This time, though, only she and Aubree knew the truth, and no one else. That was how he finally slipped up and showed his true colors.
They had long suspected him, but she didn’t want to believe it.
She sighed, then answered the phone. “Mr. Wilson? Long time no see. How have you been?”
…Birgitte?”
“d you still recognize my voice. Your mole has been exposed.”
The line went dead.
Birgitte looked up at Patrick. “So, from the beginning, even the sulfuric acid attack was your doing?”
Seeing that he <b>was </bpletely exposed, Patrick no longer bothered pretending. His lips curled into a wide grin, and his gaze was filled with malice.
He said, “Can’t catch a big wolf without sacrificing a few sheep. A sharp woman like you, surrounded by suitors… I had to think of something, right?*
He shrugged, carefree. “Honestly, you’re a bit older, but you’ve got a killer body. I won’t lie, I’ve had fun these past few months.”
He added, “Corporate espionage is serious. The maximum sentence is seven years. When I get out, you won’t forget me, will you, Birgitte?”
He smirked,pletely unafraid of the looming prison sentence. Worse, he had the audacity to verbally humiliate her.
Patrick mocked, “I remember the first guy you gave it up to was some old fart, right? Bet I was better than that limp–dicked geezer.”
A brutal pnded squarely on his face. Birgitte’s eyes were as cold as ice. “You? Don’t tter yourself.”
Chin slightly raised, she flexed her tingling hand. “You think I’ll lose it, or break down? Trash like you isn’t even worth it. You better pray you don’t bumr.
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