Crimson Desire Hollow Hearts 2

"Amari."

I looked up from the files on my desk, surprised to hear Thomas Barrett's voice on my phone. It's very surprising because the head attorney of the firm wasn't one to make casual calls!

"Thomas? What's up?"

"I need you in my office. Now." His tone was curt, urgent.

I could tell this wasn't a routine request. It is something...important.

I glanced at the clock. It's late, but nothing new. Still, the edge in his voice had me on alert. Without another word, I grabbed my things and made my way to his office.

When I entered, I saw Thomas sitting behind his desk. There is a folder open in front of him.

"Sup, boss?" I grinned, trying to be witty despite his serious face. 

He didn't greet me with his usual smile. Instead, his eyes were focused, serious.

I shut my mouth. Yeah, he's not happy right now, Amari. You stupid!

"Sit down," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. "We've been handed a major case, and I need you to take point on it."

I sat down, trying to mask the sudden tension in my body. "What's the case all about?"

He slid the folder across the desk before he spoke again.

"Grant Group. Sounds familiar?"

What?

"Grant Group. Corporate empire. Banks, tech, real estate. They're currently involved in a multi-million-dollar investigation-fraud, money laundering, insider trading. You name it. It's all here."

The what?

I blinked, processing the enormity of what he was saying. Grant Group? The Grant Group? The name alone made my pulse quicken, but...

Amari, you calm down!

"T...That's huge. Are we really taking them on?"

"This is the thing. You know Valerie knows a lot of cases like this but she's been handling serious cases in regards to the recent senator who's finally in jail. let's give her a break. And you also handled this kind of case before."

I sighed, feeling so problematic because I think I knew now what he would do. 

"This is exactly the kind of case we've been preparing for you, Amari. The stakes are high. We need someone with sharp minds to handle this, someone who can go toe to toe with them." Thomas' gaze was intense, focused. "And that someone is you. You're the best we have, Amari."

I glanced down at the file, scanning through the documents. The more I read, the heavier the weight in my chest became. And then, it hit me. There, in black and white, was the name that made everything freeze.

Lucas Trail Grant. Chief Executive Officer.

I almost dropped the file.

I hadn't seen that name in years. The memories hit me like a storm.

I took a sharp breath, my voice trembling just slightly.

"Lucas Grant?" I repeated, my mind struggling to comprehend. "The CEO?"

"Yup. We need you to go after him, Amari. This is a chance to bring down one of the biggest players in the game."

"He's the current CEO?"

I felt my hands begin to sweat, my pulse hammering in my ears. This was no longer just a case. This was personal. Too personal.

"Yes, and I heard there's a lot of people resigned in that company after he became the CEO. He's ruthless, I heard. Wait, you went to the same university, right?"

"I-" I started, but the words choked in my throat. I was supposed to be professional, to take control. But my mind was a whirlwind, racing through a thousand thoughts I couldn't silence.