Stacey’s POV
The park bench was cold under me, the wood worn smooth by years of weather and restless hands. The air was damp, carrying the faint scent of rain that threatened to fall at any moment. Marcus was late, as usual. I tapped my foot against the ground, clutching the folder of evidence tighter. The documents we’d gathered over the last few weeks were damning, enough to bring Monica and my dad’s schemes to light. But even with the weight of it in my hands, the task ahead felt monumental.
When Marcus finally arrived, he looked distracted, his hoodie pulled low over his face and his movements unusually slow. His shoulders were hunched, the usual swagger in his step replaced by a tension I hadn’t seen before.
“Took you long enough,” I muttered, scooting over on the bench as he dropped down beside me.
“Sorry,” he said, his tone subdued. He glanced at the folder in my hands, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Is that everything?”
“Almost.” I handed it over, watching as his fingers flicked through the pages with practiced precision. “There are still a few gaps. Monica’s smart—she’s covered her tracks well. But I found an account under her name connected to one of Dad’s subsidiaries. It’s small, but it’s enough to start unraveling the rest.”
Marcus let out a low whistle, pausing to read one particularly incriminating email. “This is bigger than I thought,” he murmured. “If we leak this, it could blow up their entire operation.”
I nodded, the weight of what we were doing settling heavily in my chest. “We have to be careful. If they catch wind of this…”
“They won’t,” Marcus interrupted, his voice firmer now. “I’ve got a plan. Just trust me.”
I frowned, crossing my arms. “Trust isn’t exactly your strong suit, Marcus.”
He smirked faintly, the shadow of his old arrogance showing for a brief moment. “Fair. But I’m here, aren’t I?”
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was thick with unspoken things. Finally, Marcus sighed and leaned back against the bench.
“Stace,” he said quietly, “whatever happens, you’re not going down for this. I’ll make sure of it.”
The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and I found myself nodding. “Thanks, Marcus.”
He gave me a small, almost shy smile before returning his attention to the folder.