Chapter 420 - Falling Into A Trap

~ Seattle, the Alpha group ~

Thursday

After lunch, Irene locked the door of her office and nervously paced how much the current space allowed.

Irene was painfully aware that outside her office she needs to act like nothing is wrong, but her gut feeling told her that things are not right. She dismissed her secretary and came here to think.

"Argh!", Irene let out a frustrated groan. She knew that Max is smart. Why did she accept to play this game? And now she was caught. It was all for nothing. The Alpha group is unscathed, and that wretched woman is still by Max's side!

Of course, no one confronted Irene openly about what she did, but she knew that it's only a matter of time. First, around 10 AM in the morning, Foxy came to Irene, telling her that the CEO wants to talk to her later in the afternoon. It might not be suspicious if Irene usually met with Max, but Max was obviously avoiding her. Why would he suddenly ask for a meeting? And Foxy's expression was grim.

"Do you know why he wants to meet with me?", Irene asked Foxy.

Foxy's brows furrowed. "It's not mine to tell. I believe that the CEO will discuss the pressing matter with you personally."

Irene didn't need to ask to confirm that something is wrong because Foxy's expression said it all. And that is how the worm of insecurity started gnawing through Irene's insides.

Next, during lunch break, she went to the restaurant on the third floor to have lunch with several directors, as usually. There, Irene found out that most of the directors are meeting with Max at 1:30 PM to discuss an important future strategy, yet she was not invited to that meeting. How come she was skipped for a meeting about the future strategy? As a director of marketing, she should be there!

As the last hint that things are not right, a few of the directors who passed by her in the hallway, directed scrutinizing looks her way.

Irene was unable to think straight because dread engulfed her, and her paranoia made her think that everyone is out to get her.

Her mind was clouded by the thought of how if they know what she did, her reputation and career are gone, and she might end up in jail as well.

'Yes, that is why Max wants to meet with me later. To expose me and put me in jail!', Irene thought while pacing back and forth in her office.

But she is not alone in this. Irene reached for her phone and made a call to Mr. Bolton.

"I need to see you. Now!", she said through her teeth.

Mr. Bolton assumed that she has useful information to share. He released a long sigh before responding: "OK. Usual place in one hour."

Irene ended the call and bit her lip before she continued pacing while waiting for the time to run out.

Time didn't move fast enough as Irene thought about possible outcomes. No matter what, she is done. She might make the most of it.

Irene took a USB memory stick from her bag and copied all current projects her department is working on before she left the office.

In the CEO's office…

Max was on the phone with Ian and he watched Irene on his screen through the security feed of the Alpha group.

"She copied contents of her hard drive and her team share, and it seems that she is leaving the building.", Ian told Max. "Do you want me to stop her?"

"No. Thank you for your good work, Ian. I will take it from here.", Max responded and ended the call.

Max was aware that Irene had access to many projects they are working on, but in order to find out what she will do with this information, he was willing to take a risk.

"Irene is playing as our big sis predicted. It seems that Irene is not collaborating with anyone else from the company because she didn't talk to people other than usual chatter after Foxy spoke to her", Hunter said with glee, happy that their other employees are not plotting against them. "If this works out, we should treat Rina with something good."

"Mhm…", Max hummed in agreement. "Let's hope Irene does the last step as well and introduces us to her partners."

…

Unaware that she was being followed, after a short drive, Irene reached the Silver Club where she usually meets with Mr. Bolton.

She ordered a drink and her eyes focused on the entrance as she waited for Mr. Bolton to show up.

After what seemed like forever, he arrived.

"You are late.", Irene hissed.

Mr. Bolton checked his phone. "Only by three minutes. What's the rush?"

"They know."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I am sure."

Mr. Bolton narrowed his eyes at Irene before he glanced through the club. He saw a few regulars mixed with some random people, and he didn't see anything unusual. No one looked their way, other than the waiter who obviously expected to see Mr. Bolton order a drink.

Mr. Bolton wanted to scold Irene for being stupid. If they know that she is the mole, why did she come here to meet with him? But after observing that there is nothing in the club that seems suspicious, he relaxed and waved at the waiter to come.

"My usual…", Mr. Bolton said to what waiter nodded and left.

"I thought you were careful. You said that you are smart and that you will not be caught.", Mr. Bolton had to rub it in. "What happened? If they know what you did, why would they let you go? Did you make sure no one followed you?"

Irene bit her lower lip. She gnawed on it so much, that it was aching. "I drove around the city before coming here. I was not followed. As for what happened, it's nothing direct, but the hints are there. I'm being excluded, dirty looks from coworkers, and Max wants to see me later in the afternoon."

Mr. Bolton looked at Irene with displeasure. "Are you sure that you are not imagining things?"

"I am not crazy! I know what I saw."

The truth is that Mr. Bolton didn't care what Irene saw or imagined. The fact that she looks psychotic means that she is not willing to go back to the Alpha group.

"So, what are you going to do?", Mr. Bolton smiled a little, enjoying to see an arrogant woman like Irene squirm. It seems that she is not used to the outcome of things not going her way.

Irene frowned, but she swallowed her words when the waiter came to bring Mr. Bolton's drink.

"What am I going to do?", Irene hissed in a half-whisper. "I can't go back. My career there is gone, and if they catch me, I will lose my freedom as well. You are not leaving me, are you?"

Mr. Bolton shrugged. "What do you expect me to do? You believe they are onto you, even though your strongest proof is a hunch. If you are right and they suspect you, your little stunt of escaping and coming here, only proved them that you are working behind their backs. You knew very well what is included with the deal of getting into the Alpha group and being part of this effort to take them down. The Alpha group gave you a generous sign-in package when you accepted the job, which should be plenty for you to settle down far away from here and find your next big thing. I hear that Australia has nice weather if you are into the sun."

Irene gritted her teeth. She already knows that she will need to grab her things and scram. Luckily, as soon as she started giving Mr. Bolton information on the Alpha group, she put necessities such as clothes and cash in storage, together with a car that has a full tank of gas. She can drive for hours until she is far away from Seattle, and then she will figure out what next.

However, there is one thing that is bugging Irene. "You said that you will take care of the woman."

"And you said that you will help me get enough information to take down the Alpha group. It seems that neither of us delivered."

"If I deliver, will you do your part?"

"I thought you said that you are not going back…", Mr. Bolton's voice trailed when he saw that Irene reached for something from her bag.

She put the USB memory stick on the table and covered it with her palm. "Here you will find everything I have on their current and future projects. It should be plenty to bring them a heavy blow that will reduce their value by more than 5%."

"Why didn't you give me this earlier?"

"Earlier I thought that I might have a future there. Now that the brakes are off, I have nothing to lose.", Irene said with a forced smile that looked more like a grimace. "Now, will you take care of the woman?"

"Don't expect me to do the dirty work for you, Miss Brooks.", Mr. Bolton said and reached for his inner pocket.

He gave her a business card. "This is how much I will do for you. These people can make your problems go away."

Irene took the card with her free hand and flipped it. It had only one phone number on it.

"How do I know you are not tricking me?", Irene asked suspiciously.

Mr. Bolton shrugged. "And how do I know that you are not tricking me?"

Irene pressed her lips into a line. Two seconds later, she pushed the USB memory stick toward Mr. Bolton.

"Let's not see each other again.", she said while putting the card in her purse.

Mr. Bolton watched Irene as she made her way to the hallway that leads to the ladies' room. He guessed that she might use the back exit to leave the club, but he didn't care. He put the USB memory stick in his pocket, downed his drink, and made his way out.

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