Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm
Back at Marcus’s bungalow, the atmosphere was tense but focused. Daniela, Ethan, and Marcus sat around the kitchen table, the folder from Victor Kane spread out in front of them. The documents inside were a goldmine—bank statements, secret contracts, and a list of names that tied Alexander to illegal activities spanning years. It was more than enough to bring him down, but they had to be smart about how they used it.
“This is it,” Marcus said, flipping through the pages. “With this, we can take Bennett down for good. But we need to be careful. If he catches wind of what we’re doing, he’ll destroy the evidence—and us.”
Daniela nodded, her eyes scanning the documents. “So what’s the plan? Do we go to the police? The media?”
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “The police are risky. Alexander’s got people everywhere, including law enforcement. If we go to them, there’s a chance the information never sees the light of day.”
“Then the media,” Daniela said firmly. “If we make this public, he can’t cover it up. Everyone will know what he’s done.”
Marcus tapped the table, his brow furrowed. “It’s a good idea, but we need to be strategic. We can’t just hand this over to any reporter. We need someone we can trust, someone who’s not afraid to go after a guy like Bennett.”
Ethan’s eyes lit up. “I know someone. Claire Reynolds. She’s an investigative journalist—tough as nails and doesn’t back down from a story. If anyone can handle this, it’s her.”
Daniela felt a flicker of hope. “Can we trust her?”
“Absolutely,” Ethan said. “She’s been after Bennett for years. This’ll be the break she’s been waiting for.”
The meeting with Claire Reynolds was set for that evening at a small, out-of-the-way café. Daniela, Ethan, and Marcus arrived early, choosing a table in the back where they could talk without being overheard. When Claire walked in, she was exactly as Ethan had described—sharp-eyed, confident, and no-nonsense.
She sat down, her gaze immediately locking onto the folder on the table. “Ethan,” she said, nodding in greeting. “You said this was urgent. What’ve you got?”
Ethan slid the folder toward her. “Everything you need to take down Alexander Bennett.”
Claire’s eyes widened as she opened the folder and began flipping through the documents. Her expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief, then to determination. “This is… explosive. Where did you get this?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Ethan said. “What matters is what you do with it.”
Claire leaned forward, her voice low. “If this is real, it’s the biggest story of my career. But Bennett’s not going to sit back and let me publish it. He’ll come after me—and you.”
Daniela met Claire’s gaze, her voice steady. “We know the risks. But we can’t let him keep doing this. He’s hurt too many people already.”
Claire studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I’m in. But we need to move fast. I’ll start working on the story tonight. If we’re lucky, we can have it ready to publish in a couple of days.”
As they left the café, Daniela felt a mix of relief and anxiety. They were finally taking action, but the stakes had never been higher. Alexander wasn’t going to let this go without a fight, and she knew he’d stop at nothing to protect his empire.
Back at Marcus’s place, they spent the rest of the night going over the details. Claire had warned them to lay low and avoid drawing attention to themselves. That meant no phone calls, no going out, and definitely no contact with anyone connected to Alexander.
Daniela sat on the couch, staring at the folder on the table. “What happens after the story comes out?” she asked quietly. “What if it’s not enough?”
Ethan sat beside her, his voice calm but firm. “It’ll be enough. Once the truth is out, Bennett won’t be able to hide. The authorities will have no choice but to act.”
Marcus nodded in agreement. “And even if they don’t, the public will. A guy like Bennett can’t survive that kind of exposure. His empire will crumble.”
Daniela wanted to believe them, but the fear in the back of her mind wouldn’t go away. Alexander was powerful, and he had resources they couldn’t even imagine. What if he found a way to turn this around? What if he came after them before the story even hit?
As if reading her thoughts, Ethan reached over and took her hand. “We’re not going to let him win, Daniela. No matter what happens, we’re in this together.”
Daniela looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. Despite everything, she wasn’t alone. She had Ethan, Marcus, and now Claire on her side. Together, they had a chance.
The next two days were a blur of tension and waiting. Claire worked tirelessly on the story, sending updates through secure channels. The rest of them stayed hidden, jumping at every sound and watching the news for any sign that Alexander had caught wind of their plan.
Finally, on the morning of the third day, Claire’s message came through: “It’s done. The story goes live at noon. Be ready.”
Daniela’s hands trembled as she read the message. This was it. In a few hours, the world would know the truth about Alexander Bennett. But as the clock ticked closer to noon, the fear in her chest grew heavier.
What if this didn’t work? What if Alexander found a way to silence them before the story could break?
Ethan sat beside her, his presence a steady anchor. “It’s going to be okay,” he said softly. “No matter what happens, we’ve done the right thing.”
Daniela nodded, though her heart was racing. She knew he was right, but that didn’t make the waiting any easier.
As the clock struck noon, the story went live. Within minutes, it was everywhere—news outlets, social media, the front page of every major website. Alexander Bennett’s name was trending, and the world was watching.
Daniela stared at the screen, her breath caught in her throat. It was out. The truth was finally out.
But as the reality sank in, she knew this was only the beginning. Alexander wasn’t going to take this lying down. The storm was coming, and they had to be ready.
Because the fight wasn’t over yet.