Chapter 8 - He Did It Again
Grant accessed Emma’s clinic email through a password saved on the home computer.
He found Leah’s name in a deleted calendar invitation.
When Emma returned from work, he was waiting in the living room.
“Who is Leah Moreno?”
Emma stopped near the door.
“A company employee.”
“Why did you meet her?”
“She needed someone to listen.”
Grant stood.
“What did she give you?”
“Nothing.”
He searched Emma’s bag.
The hidden drive was no longer inside.
Emma had placed it in a secure locker at the clinic.
Grant threw the bag across the room.
“You contacted one of my employees behind my back.”
“She contacted compliance before she contacted me.”
“She is a failed analyst trying to save herself.”
“The test results are real.”
Grant struck Emma across the face.
The force knocked her against the sofa.
She fell beside it, one knee hitting the floor.
For several seconds, Grant stared at her as if she had caused the impact.
Then he reached down.
Emma pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.”
His expression became colder.
“Tomorrow, you cover that.”
Emma pressed one hand against her cheek.
Grant picked up her phone.
He searched messages, photographs, and call records.
The encrypted application remained disguised as a medication tracker.
He found nothing.
“You will tell Julian Cross that Leah is unstable,” he said.
“No.”
Grant grabbed her hair and forced her to look up.
“You will protect this family.”
Emma waited until he released her.
Then she nodded.
Grant believed she had surrendered.
At 4:13 the next morning, while he slept, Emma entered the bathroom and locked the door.
She opened the encrypted folder.
Photographs.
Hospital records.
Threatening messages.
Audio of Grant ordering her to lie.
Leah’s reports.
Screenshots showing the deleted ethics complaint.
Emma sent everything to the private number Julian had given her years earlier.
Her message contained seven words.
HE DID IT AGAIN. COME AT SIX.
Julian called immediately.
Emma rejected the call because Grant was sleeping on the other side of the wall.
Julian sent a message.
ARE YOU IN IMMEDIATE DANGER?
Emma answered:
YES, BUT HE THINKS I’LL SERVE DINNER. DO NOT CALL.
Julian contacted the police, his general counsel, and Mercer Dynamics’ independent board chair.
He also contacted Leah.
By sunrise, an emergency protective-order request had been filed.
The company isolated Grant’s access without notifying him.
Julian sent one final instruction.
KEEP THE DOOR UNLOCKED AT SIX.
Emma returned to bed.
May you like
Grant never woke.
👉 Emma had finally called for help, but she still had to survive an entire day beside the man whose career she had just exposed.
