Chapter 4 - The Mafia Boss’s Secret Investigation
For the next forty-eight hours, Khloe learned something unexpected about Alexander Varga.
The rumors were true.
But incomplete.
People said he was cold.
They were right.
They said he was dangerous.
They were also right.
But nobody talked about the fact that he noticed when his employees skipped lunch.
Nobody mentioned that he remembered the names of security guards’ children.
Nobody knew that behind the intimidating businessman was a man who carried responsibility like a punishment.
Khloe sat inside his private office reviewing documents.
“I still don’t understand.”
Alexander looked up.
“What?”
“Why would someone use my identity?”
“Because your name gives them access.”
“To what?”
“My company.”
Khloe frowned.
“But I’m just a corporate analyst.”
Alexander studied her.
“No.”
She looked confused.
“What?”
“You are someone who sees patterns.”
Khloe didn’t answer.
Because he was right.
That was why she was good at her job.
She noticed things other people ignored.
Small mistakes.
Missing numbers.
Unusual behavior.
Alexander pushed a file toward her.
“Look at this.”
She opened it.
Shipment records.
Dates.
Names.
Numbers.
After several minutes, she stopped.
“Wait.”
Alexander leaned forward.
“What?”
“This shipment wasn’t approved from my account.”
Damien looked surprised.
“But the system says—”
“The system is wrong.”
Khloe pointed.
“Look here.”
She tapped the screen.
“The approval time.”
Alexander looked.
“What about it?”
“It happened seventeen minutes before I logged into work.”
Silence.
Damien checked.
“She’s right.”
Khloe continued.
“Someone copied my credentials.”
Alexander watched her carefully.
“You found that in five minutes.”
She shrugged.
“I told you. I analyze data.”
A small almost invisible smile appeared on Alexander’s face.
“You’re different than I expected.”
Khloe looked at him.
“What did you expect?”
“Someone who needed saving.”
Her expression changed.
“And what do you think now?”
Alexander answered honestly.
“Someone who survived.”
The words stayed between them.
Then Damien entered.
“We found Jared Sloan.”
Khloe immediately stood.
“Where?”
“Not physically.”
He placed a tablet down.
“He disappeared from Seattle two days ago.”
Alexander looked at the screen.
“But?”
Damien continued.
“His company accounts show he received payments from a shell corporation.”
Khloe felt cold.
“Whose?”
Damien hesitated.
“Someone connected to one of Varga International’s competitors.”
Alexander’s eyes hardened.
“So Jared was hired.”
“Yes.”
Khloe sat down slowly.
All this time, she thought Jared was chasing her because he couldn’t let go.
But maybe it was never about love.
Maybe it was about control.
Maybe she had been running from a man who wasn’t trying to get her back.
He was trying to use her.
Alexander noticed her silence.
“Khloe.”
She looked up.
“I spent two years thinking I was the problem.”
Alexander’s voice became softer.
“You weren’t.”
She looked away.
“He made me feel like everything was my fault.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“People who manipulate you always do that.”
A pause.
Then:
“But you left.”
Khloe looked at him.
“Yes.”
“And you survived.”
For the first time in months...
May you like
Khloe believed someone when they said that.
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