Chapter 8 - The Voice in the Background
Dakota asked Trinity to replay the message.
Adam began speaking.
Behind his voice came a faint whisper.
“Pause. Sound more hurt.”
Trinity replayed it again.
The whisper belonged to a woman.
Adam closed his eyes.
Dakota looked at him.
“Who was with you?”
“No one.”
Trinity raised the volume.
The background voice returned.
“Mention the hotel. She’ll believe that.”
Dakota recognized it.
Not from family gatherings.
Not from Adam’s office parties.
From the corporate ethics call.
The woman was Melissa Grant, Adam’s executive assistant.
Melissa had initially contacted Dakota privately.
She claimed she wanted to help.
She had provided dates, receipts, and internal schedules.
Dakota believed Melissa was a frightened employee exposing her boss.
Now it appeared Melissa had helped Adam construct his lies.
“Melissa knew about Trinity?” Dakota asked.
Adam said nothing.
Trinity’s eyes widened.
“Melissa booked the Paris hotel.”
Dakota felt the scheme rearranging itself in her mind.
Melissa had access to Adam’s calendar, travel, expense reports, and vendor submissions.
She could alter records.
She could also feed Dakota selected evidence while hiding worse crimes.
“Why would she report you?” Dakota asked.
Adam’s jaw clenched.
“She didn’t.”
“She contacted me.”
His head snapped toward her.
For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.
That reaction told Dakota the truth.
Melissa had been playing both sides.
She had helped Adam steal.
Then, when the audit tightened, she directed investigators toward him alone.
Trinity stared at her phone.
“She sent me messages too.”
“What kind?”
“Warnings that you were watching me.”
Adam whispered, “Trinity, stop.”
“She said Dakota would try to hurt my baby.”
Dakota’s controlled expression finally cracked.
“I would never hurt your child.”
Trinity looked at her and nodded slowly.
“I believe you.”
Adam stared between them.
May you like
The two women he had deceived were no longer fighting each other.
👉 While Adam watched his control disappear, a new message arrived from Melissa—with instructions for him to destroy evidence before landing.
