Chapter 560 - 156 Bought and Betrayed

Chapter 560: Chapter 156 Bought and Betrayed

Daniel’s POV

I inhaled slowly, attempting to organize my racing thoughts as my eyes scanned the security office. The surveillance footage we’d just reviewed showed Lila leaving with an unknown man, and I needed answers immediately.

"MP, do you recognize the girl who approached Lila in the corridor?" I asked, my voice tight with controlled anxiety.

MP, the head of internal security, shook his head briefly before recognition dawned. "Actually, yes. That’s Meredith, works in the legal department’s filing division. She’s relatively new, transferred from the Chicago branch recently."

I turned to Dean, who managed the legitimate business operations. He looked increasingly uncomfortable under my stare. "I need to speak with this employee immediately. And that security guard who let this man into our building without proper clearance while demanding my credentials when I arrived? I want him here too."

Dean swallowed visibly at my tone. "Your girlfriend, Inspector Martinez?"

"Yes, my girlfriend," I confirmed, stepping closer to him. "And if anything happens to her, this organization will face serious consequences. Your security guard might leave in handcuffs today. Every minute we waste could be critical for Lila’s safety."

Dean hastily picked up his phone, dispatching someone to locate both Meredith and the security guard. He led us to his private conference room, gesturing toward leather chairs.

"You’ll be more comfortable in here, Inspector."

"Comfort is the least of my concerns right now," I snapped, pacing across the polished marble floor. "I need answers, and I need them fast."

The door opened and a young woman entered, her lips curved into what she clearly thought was an alluring smile. Dean introduced us, and she extended a manicured hand toward me, her skirt barely covering her thighs as she sat and crossed her legs provocatively. I ignored her outstretched hand, crossing my arms over my chest instead.

"How can I help you, Inspector?" Meredith purred, tilting her head slightly.

"The man who approached you during lunch break today—who is he, what did he want, and what did he give you?" I demanded, watching her expression carefully.

Her smile faltered briefly. "What man?"

"Don’t play games," I warned, my voice dropping dangerously. "The security cameras captured everything. Start talking, or I’ll arrest you for conspiracy in a kidnapping investigation."

Her eyes widened. "Arrested? Dean, what’s happening?"

Dean leaned forward, his expression grave. "Meredith, this is extremely serious. The detective has video evidence. I strongly suggest you cooperate fully."

"And don’t even consider lying to me," I added coldly.

Her flirtatious demeanor evaporated, replaced by nervousness as she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.

"Look, I barely know anything," she insisted, avoiding my gaze. "This guy just asked me to call Lila out of the legal archives. He gave me a hundred dollars for such a simple task. If she asked who wanted to see her, I was supposed to say ’Daniel.’ I don’t even know who Daniel is! Everyone knows Lila keeps to herself—she’s always either working or with that heir, Max. The man specifically told me to get her before Max returned from his meeting."

I placed both hands on the conference table, leaning toward her. "Let me enlighten you. I am Daniel, her boyfriend." Her eyes widened in shock. "And she doesn’t keep to herself—she’s cautious around people she doesn’t trust, unlike you. Tell me exactly what you said to her. Word for word."

"I just told her there was a man in the lobby asking for her. I described him as big with a stern face," Meredith mumbled.

"Daniel, Lila must have thought you were looking for her—big, stern-faced," Sybilla commented from where she stood near the window.

I nodded briefly before refocusing on Meredith. "And you thought it was perfectly normal for a stranger to pay you to lure a female employee out of her secure workplace?"

"Inspector, I thought he seemed off. He definitely wasn’t part of our organization. He was... intimidating," she admitted reluctantly.

"Yet you didn’t warn her? Didn’t alert building security?" My voice rose sharply, making her flinch.

"He paid me a hundred dollars just to deliver a message! I had no idea what he planned to do," she protested.

"What kind of person accepts money to potentially endanger a coworker? If she were your friend, would you have done the same thing?" I challenged.

Meredith’s defiance flared. "If she were my friend, I would have warned her, but she’s not."

"So you essentially handed her over to a criminal because she wasn’t in your social circle?" I slammed my palm against the table, causing her to jump. "Listen carefully—pray nothing happens to Lila, because if it does, I’ll make sure you’re charged as an accomplice to kidnapping and whatever else these criminals do to her."

Tears streamed down her face, but I felt no sympathy. My goal was to ensure she never endangered another person with such thoughtlessness again.

"I didn’t know..." she whimpered.

"You accepted money from a stranger who you admitted seemed suspicious. Did it never cross your mind he might have malicious intentions?" She lowered her head in shame. "I need your contact information. Don’t leave the city."

Dean handed her a paper to record her details, then added, "Meredith, this incident will be reported to the board. Disciplinary action is inevitable."

A knock interrupted us, and the security guard entered, looking confusingly confident.

"Have a seat," Dean instructed. "Inspector Martinez has questions for you, and we have security footage of today’s events, so honesty is your only option."

I fixed the guard with a hard stare. "You allowed an unauthorized individual into this building today. There’s no entry record, yet to access our premises, proper identification is required. When he left, he was escorting an employee, and you conveniently looked away. Explain."

The guard shifted nervously, clearly debating his response.

"The truth!" I demanded, slamming the table again.

"Inspector, he claimed to be the employee’s relative wanting to surprise her. When they left together, nothing seemed suspicious," he rushed out unconvincingly.

"That’s how you want to play this? Fine. You’re under arrest for facilitating a kidnapping," I declared, reaching for my handcuffs.

The guard laughed nervously. "You can’t arrest me without cause."

"Facilitating a kidnapping is more than sufficient cause. If that man harms her in any way, you’ll be charged as an accomplice to every crime he commits. The security footage and your badge records clearing him through are irrefutable evidence. And let me make this perfectly clear—I will personally ensure you receive the maximum sentence possible because the woman he took is my girlfriend."

"Shit," he muttered, rubbing his face anxiously.

"Exactly," I confirmed grimly.

"Inspector, I’ll talk if you promise not to involve me in this," he pleaded.

"This isn’t a negotiation. Talk now, or I’ll add obstruction of justice to your charges."

"He paid me to let him in and out without questions or records. That’s it." The guard’s words tumbled out quickly.

"How much?" I demanded through gritted teeth. "How much was her safety worth to you?"

"I didn’t know what he planned! He gave me two hundred dollars."

"You worthless piece of—" I stepped toward him, fists clenched.

"Easy, Daniel," Sybilla cautioned from behind me.

I forced myself to stop. "Write down your contact information. If you attempt to leave town, I will find you, no matter what it takes."

"What will happen to him, Dean?" I asked, collecting both sets of contact information.

"Immediate termination and blacklisting from all operations," Dean replied firmly as the guard’s face crumpled.

"I’ll return if necessary," I stated, taking the papers and a copy of the security footage. It was time to mobilize my team. Every second counted now.