The Petty Secretary Vs The Literal Sister Chapter 11

The Petty Secretary Vs The Literal Sister Chapter 11

I thought things were pretty much wrapped up.

Gavin was facing multiple charges. His company was finished.

Sloane was looking at serious time for leaking trade secrets.

They had successfully wrecked each other’s lives.

Honestly, it would’ve been poetic if it had stopped there. It didn’t.

The real problem arrived a week later.

That afternoon, I’d just gotten back from taking Maren to therapy.

Mom called. Her voice was unusually heavy.

“Drew, don’t come home yet.”

My heart lurched. “What happened?”

“Someone reported our overseas project for suspected money laundering.”

“Regulators are already at Callahan Holdings.”

My first thought was Gavin.

But he was in custody. There was no way he could’ve moved this quickly or this precisely.

Unless somebody else had been pulling strings all along.

I was about to answer when a familiar voice spoke behind me.

“Miss Callahan.” someone called my name.

I turned around.

A man in a charcoal–gray suit stood a few feet away

Early thirties, gold–rimmed glasses–the soft–spoken, polite type.

I knew exactly who he was.

Felix Hollis. The second–largest shareholder in Thome Digital Solutions. The earliest investor in the

project.

Back in that conference room, he’d barely said a word.

Looking back, the quiet ones are usually the most scheming.

Felix smiled. “Do you have a moment to talk?”

I stepped in front of Maren. “Not really.”

He didn’t seem offended.

“Still as direct as ever. Then I’ll be direct too.”

“Gavin’s finished. Sloane’s finished. But the project that can’t die.”

“The report against Callahan Holdings is merely a reminder.”

“If your family reinvests and publicly clarifies that pulling out was all a misunderstanding, those

allegations can vanish overnight.”

I looked at him. “Is that a threat?”

He smiled. “Of course not. Just a joke.”

I smiled back. “Then I’ll call the cops.”

“Go ahead.” He held out a tablet. “But you should probably see this first.”

I took it. The screen showed surveillance footage. Our underground parking garage.

Dad’s car had just pulled in.

Someone dressed as a janitor crouched down and slipped an envelope under the chassis. The

timestamp was from this morning.

My face flickered.

Felix spoke calmly, “The most damaging evidence in that report is already sitting on your father’s

vehicle.”

“If regulators find it now, what do you think they’ll believe?”

“A setup? Or irrefutable evidence?”

I stared at him.

He kept smiling–warm, reasonable. The kind of smile that should’ve come with a warning label.

“Miss Callahan, I know you like chasing facts. But some games can’t be won by stubbornness

alone.”

“Gavin was too stupid, Sloane was too greedy–that’s why they lost to you. But I’m different.”

Maren grabbed my hand. Her fingers were ice cold,

But I felt completely calm.

“Mr. Hollis, do you know why I hate jokes so much?

He raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

“Because people hide cruelty behind humor.”

“They think calling it a joke lets them avoid responsibility.”

I smiled. “And I enjoy making them explain what they really meant.”

I took out my phone and dialed.

For the first time, the smile on his face weakened.

Mom answered.

I said, “Don’t move Dad’s car. Someone planted evidence in the garage.”

“And activate Protocol Three.”

There was a brief pause. Then she replied with a single word. “Done.”

Felix repeated it. “Protocol Three?”

I looked at him. “Oh, right. One more thing.”

“The moment we discovered the fake overseas documents had leaked, Callahan Holdings started

waiting.”

“We knew the people behind it would eventually make a move.”

“Want to guess who made sure that surveillance footage landed in your hands?”

Right at that moment, his phone rang.

He answered, listened for a moment–and went completely pale.

I helpfully suggested, “Let me guess–your office is being searched?”

“Or did your assistant hand over all the evidence showing how you’ve manipulated projects, moved

money around, and financed Gavin over the years?”

He stared at me. “You knew all along?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“But my mother always said something.”

“When someone offers you an easy weapon in business, don’t grab it right away.”

“First, figure out why they’re so eager to put it in your hands.”

Sirens grew louder in the distance.

Felix turned to leave. Two plainclothes officers blocked his path.

The gentle, civilized mask finally cracked. He clenched his teeth.

“Drew. You set me up.”

I nodded, beaming. “Yep. Sure did.”