Chapter 3 - Charles Locks the Storage Room
At 6:30 the following morning, Claire swiped her employee badge at the side entrance of Whitmore Freight & Marine.
The magnetic lock didn't click.
Instead, a harsh red light flashed above the heavy steel door, accompanied by a sharp buzzing sound that echoed through the empty loading dock.
She tried her keycard again, but the system rejected her credentials with cold bureaucratic finality.
Footsteps echoed behind her, and Charles stepped out from the shadows of the loading bay wearing an expensive cashmere overcoat.
“You won't be needing that room anymore, Claire,” Charles said, his voice dripping with forced condescension and bitter satisfaction.
Claire looked calmly at her father, adjusting the strap of her leather handbag over her shoulder without showing a shred of panic.
“You locked my office? After twelve years of keeping this company afloat, you lock me out?” she asked quietly.
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“You crossed a line last night with Dominic Vale, and your administrative support services are no longer required at Whitmore Freight,” Charles snapped.
He turned on his heel and walked away, completely unaware that Claire had backed up every single corporate ledger, tax document, and audit file to an encrypted cloud drive three minutes before midnight.
