Chapter 7 – Unveiling Shadows

The office hummed with an uneasy energy. Ever since Roli returned, the atmosphere had shifted—whispers trailed her footsteps, eyes lingered a bit too long, and the once familiar camaraderie had turned cautious, even cold.

Siddhant sat behind his desk, the weight of the documents Roli had handed him pressing heavily on his mind. She had uncovered alarming irregularities—transactions draining company funds, carefully hidden under layers of legitimate expenses. Whoever was behind this betrayal was someone with intimate access.

He looked up as footsteps approached. Roli entered quietly, her expression tight with worry.

“We need to be careful,” she said, lowering her voice. “If this leaks, it could ruin everything. And whoever is involved will know we’re onto them.”

Siddhant nodded. “I trust your instincts. But we have to act strategically. No accusations without proof.”

Roli sat down across from him. “I’ve been reviewing the accounts. Someone’s been siphoning money for months. And it looks like Alice has been unusually defensive lately.”

Siddhant’s jaw tightened. “I’ve noticed her attitude. She’s always been protective of her position, but this is something else.”

“Her proximity to the finances makes her a prime suspect,” Roli said. “But we can’t jump to conclusions. Sasha’s been acting strange too—leaving early, distracted. I’m worried she might be involved or scared to speak up.”

Siddhant leaned back, rubbing his temples. “This office is turning into a minefield.”

________________________________________

That afternoon, Siddhant called a discreet meeting with Roli and Sasha in the conference room.

“I want to be transparent,” Siddhant began. “We’re investigating discrepancies in the company’s finances. This is serious. If anyone knows anything, now is the time to speak.”

Sasha’s eyes darted between Siddhant and Roli. The tension was palpable.

Roli added, “We’re not here to accuse, but to protect the company—and ourselves.”

Alice was conspicuously absent from the meeting, and Siddhant found that unsettling.

________________________________________

Later, Siddhant found Alice at her desk, her usual confident smirk replaced by a guarded, almost cold demeanor.

“Alice,” Siddhant said carefully, “I need to talk to you about the financial discrepancies.”

She looked up, eyes sharp. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Be honest with me. This affects all of us.”

She stood abruptly. “I have nothing to hide. If you want someone to blame, look elsewhere.”

Siddhant held his ground. “If you’re innocent, then cooperate.”

Alice’s lips curled into a sneer. “I don’t answer to anyone but you, Siddhant. But don’t mistake my silence for guilt.”

Before he could respond, she walked away, leaving a cold silence in her wake.

________________________________________

That evening, Roli and Siddhant stayed late, combing through financial records. The deeper they dug, the more convoluted the scheme appeared—multiple accounts, offshore transactions, subtle falsifications.

“This isn’t just a simple theft,” Roli said, exhaustion lining her voice. “This is organized, calculated.”

Siddhant glanced at her. “And the mastermind is hiding in plain sight.”

Roli shivered, not from cold but from the cold reality settling in.

________________________________________

The next morning, Sasha approached Roli hesitantly.

“Roli,” she whispered, “there’s something you need to know.”

Roli looked up, wary. “What is it?”

Sasha glanced around nervously. “Alice’s been threatening me—telling me to keep quiet about the money. She’s not just covering for herself; she’s controlling people.”

Roli’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I was scared,” Sasha admitted. “But now I can’t keep pretending.”

Roli reached out, squeezing Sasha’s hand. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

________________________________________

Later that day, Siddhant gathered the core team.

“We have to confront this head-on,” he said firmly. “Roli and I have uncovered enough to begin formal proceedings. But before that, we need concrete evidence.”

Alice watched silently from the sidelines, her expression unreadable.

Roli met Siddhant’s gaze. “Are you ready?”

He nodded. “For the company. For us.”

________________________________________

That evening, as the office emptied, Siddhant and Roli reviewed security footage and email logs. Every glance, every message was a potential clue.

Suddenly, a notification popped up—an email from an unknown source with a file attached. Siddhant hesitated before opening it.

The file contained detailed spreadsheets matching the missing funds—trailing directly to Alice’s personal accounts.

Roli’s eyes narrowed. “This is it.”

Siddhant’s voice was low but resolute. “We have what we need.”

________________________________________

The following morning, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Siddhant called a meeting with HR and legal advisors.

Alice was summoned to Siddhant’s office.

“Alice,” Siddhant began, “we have evidence of financial misconduct linked to you. You’re under investigation.”

Alice’s façade cracked for a moment—anger, fear, defiance flickering across her face.

“You won’t get away with this,” she hissed.

Siddhant remained calm. “The company values integrity. We will handle this fairly and legally.”

________________________________________

As Alice was escorted out for further questioning, Roli and Siddhant exchanged a weary glance. The battle was far from over.

Siddhant turned to Roli. “Thank you for your courage. Without you, none of this would have come to light.”

She smiled tiredly. “We’re a team. Let’s protect what we’ve built—together.”

________________________________________

The office slowly began to regain its rhythm, but the scars of betrayal remained. Trust would have to be rebuilt, alliances reforged, and new challenges awaited.

But for now, Siddhant and Roli had taken the first step—unveiling the shadows and fighting for a future they both deserved.