Chapter 41
The spacious confines of Thomas Hamilton’s penthouse office felt unusually tense as Sophia Herrera stepped through the heavy oak doors. Dressed in a sleek navy blazer and matching heels, she looked every bit the polished socialite she projected to the world. Yet the faint tremor in her hands as she smoothed her skirt betrayed her nerves.
Thomas looked up from his desk, his sharp blue eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn’t expecting her, and Sophia’s sudden appearance made him wary.
“Sophia,” he said evenly, leaning back in his chair. “What brings you here?”
Sophia hesitated, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the leather folder she clutched tightly.
“We need to talk,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Thomas gestured toward the chair opposite him, his expression unreadable. “Then talk.”
She sat down, carefully placing the folder on the edge of the desk. For a moment, she seemed to gather herself, her gaze flicking to the window behind Thomas, where the city lights sparkled like distant stars.
“I’ve been keeping something from you,” she began, her tone cautious. “From everyone, really.”
Thomas’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”
Sophia took a deep breath. “For the past several months, I’ve been working against Luka and Elliana. From the inside.”
The statement hung in the air, its weight palpable. Thomas’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usual composure.
“Explain,” he said, his voice steady but edged with curiosity.
Sophia leaned forward, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk.
“When I first got involved with Luka and Elliana, it was because I thought they could help me rebuild my life. After everything that happened with Alex, my reputation was in shambles. I was desperate.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened at the mention of Alex, but he said nothing, letting her continue.
“At first, I didn’t question their methods,” Sophia admitted. “But it didn’t take long to see who they really were—the manipulation, the lies, the destruction they left in their wake. I realized I was just another pawn to them, and I hated it. So I decided to do something about it.”
Thomas leaned forward slightly, his curiosity now laced with caution.
“And what exactly did you do?”
“I started gathering information,” Sophia said, her voice gaining strength. “Luka trusted me—at least enough to let me see parts of his operations. I played along, acted like I was loyal to him and Elliana. But every time I saw something suspicious—an email, a financial report, a meeting—I took notes. I copied files. I even recorded conversations when I could.”
She tapped the folder in front of her.
“This is everything I’ve collected. It’s how you got some of the information you needed to take them down.”
Thomas frowned. “You’re saying you’ve been my informant?”
Sophia nodded.
“I couldn’t come forward directly—it would have been too risky. So I fed the information through intermediaries. Sometimes anonymously, sometimes through contacts I knew you trusted. I thought… I thought you’d figure it out eventually.”
Thomas reached for the folder, his movements deliberate. As he opened it, his eyes scanned the contents—financial records, transcripts of meetings, even photographs of staged “accidents.”
“This is comprehensive,” he admitted, his voice tinged with surprise. “And dangerous. If Luka had found out…”
“He didn’t,” Sophia said quickly. “I was careful. But yes, I knew the risks.”
Thomas closed the folder, his gaze returning to Sophia.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
Sophia hesitated, her confident facade faltering. “Because it’s over. Luka and Elliana are gone, and I… I needed you to know the truth.”
Thomas studied her carefully, his mind racing. He admired her bravery, but he couldn’t ignore the implications of her deception.
“You put yourself in an incredibly dangerous position,” he said, his tone measured. “I hope you understand the consequences if this has gone wrong.”
“I do,” Sophia said softly. “But I couldn’t just stand by and let them destroy everything—and everyone—I care about.”
Her voice caught on the last words, and Thomas’s eyes narrowed.
“This isn’t just about stopping Luka, is it?” he asked. “There’s more to this.”
Sophia looked away, her fingers twisting in her lap. “I wanted to make things right,” she admitted. “For Alex. For myself. For all the damage I caused.”
Thomas’s expression hardened slightly. “So this was about redemption?”
“Partly,” Sophia said, meeting his gaze again. “But it was also about Alex. I thought that if I could help you stop Luka, if I could prove I wasn’t the same person I used to be, maybe… maybe Alex would see me differently.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened, his emotions carefully masked. “And did it work?”
Sophia let out a bitter laugh.
“I don’t know. Alex barely speaks to me now, and when he does, it’s… distant. I thought this would fix everything, but it turns out some things aren’t that simple.”
Thomas leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped in front of him.
“You’ve been brave, Sophia. And you’ve done a lot of good by helping us take down Luka and Elliana. But if you’re hoping this will bring you and Alex back together, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment.”
“I know,” Sophia said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I had to try. For once in my life, I wanted to do the right thing.”
Thomas nodded, his expression softening.
“And you did. Whatever your motives, you helped us achieve something we couldn’t have done without you. That matters.”
Sophia looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Thank you, Thomas. For saying that.”
He stood, walking around the desk to stand beside her.
“But you need to be careful, Sophia. Even with Luka and Elliana gone, their influence isn’t completely eradicated. If anyone ties you to their operations, you could be implicated.”
“I understand,” she said, rising to her feet. “And I’m prepared to face the consequences if it comes to that.”
Thomas nodded, extending a hand. “Then thank you. For everything I’ve done to bring the truth to the light.”
Sophia hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand, a small but genuine smile crossing her lips.
As Sophia left the office, Thomas returned to his desk, the folder still open in front of him. He couldn’t deny the impact of her actions—her information had been instrumental in dismantling Luka and Elliana’s network.
But her confession left him unsettled. Sophia’s motivations were complicated, tangled in guilt, ambition, and lingering feelings for Alex. And while her bravery was undeniable, Thomas couldn’t shake the feeling that her story was far from over.
As he closed the folder, his thoughts turned to Emma. There was still so much at stake, and the fallout from Luka’s schemes was far from resolved.
The fight wasn’t over yet—not for any of them.
________________
