Chapter 12: The Trap Springs
Harlee sat in her penthouse, the city lights flickering like distant stars outside her window. Her laptop was open, displaying the latest data from the satellite project. The false information she and Damien had planted had done its job—the leak had taken the bait. Now, it was time to reel them in.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Damien: “It’s done. The trap is set. Meet me at the estate.”
Harlee didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her coat and headed out, her mind focused and sharp. When she arrived at the Blackwood Estate, Damien was waiting for her in the study, his expression a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.
“It’s happening,” he said as soon as she walked in. “The leak took the bait. They’re making their move.”
Harlee nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Good. Let’s see who’s been playing both sides.”
Damien handed her a tablet, showing real-time surveillance footage of the National Astronomy Group’s headquarters. A shadowy figure was moving through the building, accessing files and sending data to an unknown recipient.
Harlee’s jaw tightened as she recognized the figure. It was Dr. Elena Carter, one of her most trusted team members.
“Elena,” Harlee muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment. “I should’ve known.”
Damien raised an eyebrow. “You sound surprised.”
Harlee shook her head. “Not surprised. Just… disappointed. She was good at her job. I didn’t think she’d betray us.”
Damien shrugged. “People will do anything for the right price. The question is, what do we do about it?”
Harlee’s expression hardened. “We let her think she’s won. And then we strike.”
Meanwhile, Adelina was meeting with Victor Kane at the same dimly lit bar. Victor slid a folder across the table, his expression smug.
“Here’s what I found,” he said. “Harlee Sanderson’s not as clean as she seems. There’s a trail of questionable decisions, shady deals, and a few skeletons in her closet. If you play this right, you can take her down.”
Adelina’s eyes gleamed as she opened the folder, scanning the contents. The documents were damning—evidence of Harlee’s involvement in controversial projects, her ties to powerful figures, and even a few unflattering personal details.
“This is perfect,” Adelina said, her voice filled with triumph. “With this, I can ruin her.”
Victor leaned back, his arms crossed. “Just remember, this kind of information doesn’t come cheap. I expect to be compensated accordingly.”
Adelina nodded, her smile sharp. “Don’t worry. You’ll get what you’re owed.”
Back at the National Astronomy Group, Harlee and Damien were putting their plan into action. They had set up a fake meeting to discuss the “next phase” of the satellite project, knowing Elena would be listening.
As the meeting began, Harlee kept a close eye on Elena, watching for any signs of suspicion. But Elena played her part perfectly, nodding along and asking the right questions.
When the meeting ended, Harlee stayed behind, pretending to review some documents. Elena lingered as well, her movements furtive as she accessed the files on her laptop.
Harlee waited until Elena had sent the data before making her move. She walked over to Elena’s desk, her expression calm but her eyes sharp.
“Working late?” Harlee asked, her tone casual.
Elena jumped, her face paling as she looked up. “Harlee! I didn’t see you there. I was just… finishing up some work.”
Harlee nodded, her gaze dropping to Elena’s laptop. “I see. Anything interesting?”
Elena’s hands trembled as she closed the laptop. “No, just… routine stuff.”
Harlee’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Funny. Because I just got an alert that someone accessed classified files and sent them to an external server. Any idea who that might be?”
Elena’s face went white. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Harlee leaned in, her voice low and steady. “Don’t lie to me, Elena. I know it was you. The question is, why?”
Elena’s shoulders slumped, her defiance crumbling. “I didn’t have a choice,” she whispered. “They threatened me. Said they’d ruin me if I didn’t cooperate.”
Harlee’s expression softened slightly, but her resolve didn’t waver. “Who’s ‘they’?”
Elena hesitated, then sighed. “I don’t know their names. They contacted me anonymously, offered me money, and then… threatened me when I refused. I didn’t want to do it, Harlee. I swear.”
Harlee studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to help us track down whoever’s behind this. And if you do, I’ll make sure you’re protected. But if you try to double-cross us again…”
Elena shook her head frantically. “I won’t. I promise.”
Later that evening, Harlee met with Damien to discuss their next steps. “Elena’s agreed to cooperate,” she said. “But we need to move quickly. Whoever’s behind this won’t wait long to make their next move.”
Damien nodded, his expression serious. “Agreed. But we also need to be careful. This could be bigger than we thought.”
Harlee’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Damien handed her a file, his tone grim. “I did some digging. The people targeting you aren’t just after your project. They’re after you. And they’re not playing around.”
Harlee opened the file, her heart sinking as she read the contents. It was a detailed dossier on her, filled with personal information, financial records, and even photos of her from years ago.
“Whoever’s behind this knows everything about you,” Damien said. “And they’re not going to stop until they get what they want.”
Harlee closed the file, her expression calm but her mind racing. “Then we’ll have to stop them first.”
Meanwhile, Adelina was putting her own plan into motion. She had leaked some of the information Victor had given her to the press, and the fallout was already beginning.
Headlines about Harlee’s “shady past” and “questionable dealings” were spreading like wildfire, and social media was ablaze with speculation.
Adelina smiled to herself as she scrolled through the comments, her heart racing with triumph. “Let’s see how you handle this, Harlee,” she muttered.
Harlee, meanwhile, was already one step ahead. She had anticipated the leak and had prepared a countermove.
As the headlines spread, she released a statement, calmly refuting the claims and presenting evidence to back up her side of the story.
The public’s reaction was swift and decisive. The tide turned in Harlee’s favor, and the backlash against her accusers was fierce.
Adelina watched in disbelief as her plan unraveled, her frustration boiling over. “How does she keep winning?” she screamed, throwing her phone across the room.
Harlee, meanwhile, was already looking ahead. She had the leak, the partnership with Damien, and a world of possibilities at her fingertips.
The Gills thought they had cast her aside, but Harlee was just getting started.
And she wasn’t going to stop until she reached the top.