Chapter 3 - The Name That Appeared on the Shipment Records
Khloe Bennett had spent the last three months rebuilding her life.
A new apartment.
A new routine.
A new version of herself.
But sitting across from Alexander Varga inside a private office above the restaurant, she felt like everything she had rebuilt was slowly collapsing again.
Because the man who had protected her from Jared was now looking at her like she might be the person he needed protection from.
Khloe noticed immediately.
The distance.
The silence.
The way his eyes studied every detail.
“You think I did it.”
Alexander didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Khloe stood.
“I should leave.”
“No.”
His voice stopped her.
Not harsh.
Just certain.
She turned.
“Why?”
Alexander placed the phone on the table.
“Because someone used your identity to authorize a shipment connected to my company.”
“I told you, I’ve never touched any shipment.”
“I believe you.”
Khloe stared.
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
Alexander leaned back.
“Because someone wants me to believe you did.”
The room became quiet.
Khloe slowly sat back down.
“Who would do that?”
“That is what I intend to find out.”
She looked at him carefully.
“You don’t know me.”
“No.”
“Then why help me?”
Alexander looked away for a moment.
A question he clearly didn’t expect.
Finally, he answered.
“Because I know what it looks like when someone is trapped.”
Khloe noticed the slight change in his expression.
A hidden memory.
Something painful.
But before she could ask, the office door opened.
A tall man entered.
“Mr. Varga.”
Alexander nodded.
“Damien.”
The man placed a folder on the desk.
“We checked the shipment records.”
Alexander opened it.
Khloe watched his expression change.
“What?”
Damien glanced at her.
Then back at Alexander.
“The authorization came from inside Bennett Solutions.”
Khloe frowned.
“My company?”
“Yes.”
Her face went pale.
“That’s impossible.”
Alexander looked at the documents.
“Who had access to your credentials?”
Khloe thought.
“My assistant. My manager. The IT department.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
A pause.
Then Alexander asked:
“Jared Sloan?”
Khloe immediately looked up.
“No.”
Too fast.
Alexander noticed.
“Why did you answer that quickly?”
“Because Jared doesn’t work there anymore.”
“Was he ever connected to your company?”
Khloe hesitated.
“He consulted for us.”
“How long?”
“Almost a year.”
Alexander closed the folder.
“And when did he leave?”
“The same week I ended our relationship.”
That was not a coincidence.
Both of them knew it.
Khloe whispered:
“He wouldn’t.”
Alexander looked at her.
“Why are you defending him?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
She became quiet.
Because he was right.
Even after everything, part of her still struggled to believe Jared was capable of something worse.
Alexander softened slightly.
“Khloe.”
She looked at him.
“People who hurt you don’t always stop when you leave.”
The words hit her.
Because she knew.
Deep down, she knew.
Her phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
She froze.
Alexander noticed.
“Answer it.”
Khloe hesitated.
Then accepted.
“Hello?”
No one spoke.
Only breathing.
Then Jared’s voice.
“You shouldn’t have gone to him.”
Khloe’s face changed.
Alexander immediately stood.
“Put it on speaker.”
She did.
Jared continued.
“You always make things complicated, Khloe.”
Her hand trembled.
“How did you get this number?”
“You still don’t understand.”
A pause.
“I know everything about you.”
Alexander’s expression became cold.
Jared laughed softly.
“Tell your new boyfriend he should check his own company before accusing innocent people.”
The call ended.
Silence filled the room.
Khloe looked at Alexander.
“He knows.”
Alexander nodded.
“He wanted us to know he knows.”
Damien looked concerned.
“Sir, this changes things.”
Alexander picked up the folder.
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
“It confirms them.”
He turned toward Khloe.
“Someone inside my company and someone from your past are working together.”
Khloe swallowed.
“And now?”
Alexander looked at her.
May you like
“Now we find out why.”
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