CHAPTER 24: FRACTURES AT PHOENIX

Anna’s POV

The tension at Phoenix Project headquarters was thick enough to cut with a knife. Lucy stood near the conference table, eyes already rimmed red the perfect picture of a woman wrongfully accused. Almost convincing.

Sean wasted no time. "Ms. Shaw, Mr. Simpson, we’ve uncovered significant financial irregularities in Simpson Group’s accounts. More alarming, during procurement reviews, we found serious quality issues with raw materials Simpson Group purchased while managing the production line."

I caught Jack’s expression shift from irritation to genuine surprise. He hadn’t expected this.

"Clear the room," I ordered Rachel and Daniel. Only the key players could stay.

Lucy’s confident mask faltered. Jack turned sharply to her. "What’s going on?"

"I... I don’t know what you’re talking about," she stammered, her composure cracking.

I watched her unravel, cold certainty settling in my veins.

Phoenix was my passion project Shaw Corp’s future. Someone had deliberately poisoned it. That was unforgivable.

Sean handed me a ledger. "Nolan Taylor, Ms. Taylor’s cousin, was the procurement officer responsible. He’s no longer with us." He passed a stack of purchase orders across the table. "Both his and Ms. Taylor’s signatures appear here."

I skimmed the documents and slid them to Jack. "Your turn, Mr. Simpson."

Jack ignored the papers, eyes locked on Lucy. "Where is Nolan now?"

Lucy scrambled. "I fired him."

"Why?"

Tears welled. "I’m sorry, Jack. When I found out Nolan ordered substandard materials, I was terrified he’d ruin Phoenix. I had no choice but to let him go."

Her voice wavered. "You know how things have been since my brother died. My parents treat Nolan like family. I only brought him in as a favor. I never imagined he’d betray that trust."

"That’s why I returned the production line to Shaw Corp," she added desperately. "I trusted Anna to manage it properly."

"Jack, please believe me. I would never hurt Phoenix," she pleaded.

Suddenly, everything clicked. Lucy abandoned control because the line was a liability. The warehouse materials were compromised. If faulty products reached the market, Shaw Corp would take the fall.

"Mr. Simpson," I said smoothly, "shall we inspect the warehouse? And who will cover the losses?"

Lucy’s eyes darted to me, realizing I’d seen through her ploy.

I pressed on. "As a major shareholder, I formally question Ms. Taylor’s management competence and request her removal as General Manager."

Jack’s jaw tightened. "Simpson Group will cover all losses," he said, withholding judgment on Lucy’s fate.

Lucy countered, voice defensive. "Ms. Shaw, you’ve misunderstood. The material problem isn’t my fault. I’m a victim, too."

"You represented Simpson Group," I shot back. "Your cousin caused this. How are you not involved?"

She bit her lip, eyes flicking nervously. "Even if you want me gone, who would replace me? Sean?"

Jack’s eyes darkened at the mention. I feigned consideration, then nodded. "Sean? Yes, excellent choice."

Jack jumped up, furious. "Are you mad? Lucy bears some blame, but termination? A bonus cut is enough."

I sipped my tea calmly, watching. "Interesting. So, data theft and substandard materials get treated differently."

Setting down my cup, I added, "Sean uncovered Simpson Group’s financial and material failings and found Shaw Corp’s data thief. He’s more than qualified to lead."

Lucy paled, eyes flicking to her assistant, panic edging her voice. "Ms. Shaw, you... you found the leak?"

The conference room door opened. John Fisher entered, and Lucy’s composure shattered entirely, her face drained of blood.

Sean and Rachel brought John in. Jack straightened, steeling himself.

"Just hand him over to the police," Jack barked. "Why bring him here?"

Lucy’s nervousness was almost visible.

"Ms. Taylor," I said softly, turning to her, "should we involve the authorities?"

Her smile was brittle, practiced. "That might not be necessary. Publicity could harm Shaw Corp and Phoenix. Perhaps we handle this internally."

I watched every microexpression the twitch, the averted gaze.

Jack sighed, sharp and tired. "Anna, if you have something to say, say it. I don’t have time for games."

I turned to Lucy’s assistant, impeccably dressed and tense. "Jared Wood, son of Ms. Taylor’s family driver. You recently ordered a sports car worth two hundred thousand dollars?"

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The room shifted. Jack snapped his head toward Jared, eyes dangerous. Lucy’s widened in shock.

"What are you talking about, Jared?" she whispered.

Sean fitted Jared with a hardshell suit and pushed a hat low over his face. "Mr. Fisher, do you know this man?"

John approached, studying Jared. "Yes. He paid me to steal data. Told me never to return to Skyview City for three years." His voice cracked. "The money wasn’t enough to restart. I thought I’d visit my parents before moving on. Never expected to get caught."

He looked at me, pleading. "Ms. Shaw, please don’t press charges. I made a mistake, but I—"

"YOU’RE LYING!" Lucy screamed, leaping up, shattered. "This is a setup! You’re trying to frame Simpson Group! Anna, this is outrageous even for you!"

Anna’s POV

"Do you know why the money wasn’t enough to start over, Mr. Fisher?" I asked softly, my voice slicing through the tension like a blade. I didn’t even glance at Lucy I didn’t need to. I could feel the panic radiating off her in waves.

Jack and Lucy were both staring at me now, their expressions tight with suspicion.

"Because you were supposed to receive three hundred thousand dollars," I continued, eyes locked on John Fisher. "But it seems two hundred thousand of that went toward someone’s shiny new car."

Jack’s chair scraped sharply against the floor as he shot to his feet. "Jared, is this true?" His voice was low too low the kind of quiet that comes before a storm.

Jared’s face drained of color. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then, like a coward, he turned to Lucy for help.

That single look was all Jack needed.

His gaze snapped back to Lucy. "Lucy," he said, his tone like a warning shot.

"Jack, you can’t honestly believe this," she whispered, reaching toward him. "Anna’s trying to tear us apart. She’s always hated me."

Sean stepped in smoothly, his voice measured but firm. "Shall I lay it out, Mr. Simpson? Ms. Taylor orchestrated the entire scheme. After her cousin Nolan caused chaos on the production line financial loss, procurement scandals she realized she couldn’t fix the mess. Nolan gambled away the funds and disappeared."

Lucy’s breathing turned shallow, her lips pressed tight. But Sean wasn’t finished.

"She panicked. Rather than taking responsibility, she used John here a desperate man from a struggling family. She fed him a lie: that the stolen data was discarded, that it wouldn’t matter. She let him believe Shaw Corp was already compromised, so if a scapegoat emerged, the project would shift back to Shaw, and she’d be off the hook."

Sean turned to Jared. "And the data it’s still in your email, isn’t it?"

I took another sip of tea, savoring the unraveling performance. Lucy’s skin had gone almost translucent. She clutched the arms of her chair like they were the only thing holding her together.

"This isn’t true," she said hoarsely. "I wasn’t involved."

But then Jared stood up abruptly, his expensive suit crumpling with the motion. "It was me," he said, voice cracking. "I orchestrated everything."

Silence slammed into the room.

For a moment, even I blinked. A full confession? I hadn’t expected that.

Inside, I was already smiling. Lucy must be cursing Jared’s stupidity if he hadn’t gotten greedy, if he hadn’t used the stolen money for that car, I might never have found John. She would’ve gotten away clean.

I looked at Jack. His face was now deep crimson, jaw clenched tight.

He was connecting the dots, slowly but surely.

"What are your terms?" he asked finally.

I almost laughed at how transparent he was still trying to protect her, even now.

But if Jack wanted to play defense, I would make sure I took back everything that was mine.

"Two conditions," I said coolly, placing my teacup down with precision. "First, the previous agreement is void. Simpson Group will reverse the profit distribution Shaw Corp gets an additional two percent."

I paused, letting the weight of it sink in.

"Second, Lucy steps down. Effective immediately. Sean takes over as General Manager."

Lucy’s breath hitched. "That’s impossible..." she whispered. I could practically see her world unraveling without Phoenix, what did she have left? No leverage, no seat at the table, no protection from Mary Simpson.

"It wasn’t me," she said again, barely audible.

Jack’s expression darkened. "And if I refuse?"

I didn’t blink. "Then I forward all evidence to the FBI."

Jack’s voice rose, his frustration spilling over. "Do you have to destroy her, Anna? This is personal. You’re not trying to protect the project you’re just angry I gave it to her. You’re being petty."

A cold, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"I’m petty?" I snapped. "You took my vision my creation and handed it to your mistress like it meant nothing. Phoenix was never yours to give. If Simpson Group won’t meet my terms, then get out."

Jack stared at me, a war raging behind his eyes.

"I’m done with the games," I finished. "You have three minutes. Otherwise, the FBI gets the file."

"You’re ruthless," Jack muttered as Sean handed him the already-prepared agreement.

"You even had the paperwork ready," he added bitterly. "You’ve been waiting for this day, haven’t you?"

I met his glare with a serene smile. "No, Jack. I’ve been working for this day. I’m not ruthless I’m just reclaiming what’s mine. You took it by force. I’m taking it back with facts."

And this time, no one was going to steal it again.