Chapter 7

Early the next morning, the company group chat was blowing up.

The main topic was how the company couldn't make payroll and the boss was planning to flee. The business was going under.

A former colleague chimed in: "Guys, I've got inside info! Word is the company's been bought out by an even bigger boss."

"Makes sense. Time to jump ship and find the next gig."

The chat was full of people speculating about the boss's recent suspicious behavior. It did seem to match up with the rumors.

People were wondering who this mystery buyer could be.

I couldn't help but smile. I had set aside money long ago, waiting for the day I could acquire my old company.

I was looking forward to seeing the look on Ryan's face.

My phone buzzed with an alert from the living room security camera. Mia was home.

She had left early this morning, probably not remembering much from her drunken state last night.

But why would she suddenly come back in the middle of the day?

Then I remembered - the acquisition contract was still on the coffee table at home.

On the camera feed, I saw Mia notice the papers.

She picked them up, her face filled with shock as she read.

Mia stuffed the contract in her purse. She called out my name a couple times to check if I was home.

Confirming the house was empty, she rushed back out.

I guessed she was going to find Ryan. The GPS tracker I had planted in his car showed he was parked outside our building.

I pulled up the audio from the hidden recorder on my phone and started listening.