Chapter 135: Chapter 135

Jenkins and Ramirez exchanged glances. That was certainly not something that they expected Hank to say.

Michael and Will, who were standing behind the one-way mirror watching and listening to the interrogation, were frozen in place.

Michael’s eyes narrowed.

“A woman?” Jenkins repeated skeptically. “Can you describe her?”

Hank nodded wearily. “Yes. She has blonde hair — dyed, actually — but she’s pretty and intelligent. She has this deep, mature voice. As far as I know, she used to belong to the high-class society, but she left all that behind years ago.” He averted his gaze. “Now she’s back and romantically involved with one of the most powerful men around. That’s all I know.”

Ramirez raised an eyebrow. “Who is she?”

Hank shook his head. “I don’t know her name. That’s really all I know. I only took the job because she offered me a lot of money. It was enough to support my family for months.” He suddenly looked tired, like he had aged several years within seconds. “Look, I don’t care what happens to me. I just want my family to be safe and healthy.”

Behind the one-way mirror, Will turned to Michael with concern. “Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

Michael’s mind raced.

The description fit Camille perfectly. Almost too perfectly.

But the idea of her being involved… the mastermind behind it all… it was beyond him.

No, it was impossible.

If she really was the mastermind, why had she warned him?

Was it to keep him from suspecting her?

But why would she hurt Joanna? What was her motive?

“…I don’t know,” Michael admitted, his voice strained. “But we need to find out. I have a feeling that there’s more to this.”

Jenkins and Ramirez soon entered the observation room.

“This is tricky,” Jenkins remarked, rubbing his temples. “We have a description but no name. That’s not enough.”

Ramirez nodded. “Based on what Turner told us, they always met in random, private places with no clear connection to anything. We need to cross-reference his description with known associates. Maybe someone fits.”

Jenkins glanced at Michael and Will. “We’ll keep digging. In the meantime, keep your eyes and ears open. This case is far from over.”

***

Michael sat in his living room, Camille’s face flashing through his mind.

He picked up his phone and stared at her number. Doubt gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside.

He needed to confront her as soon as possible.

***

“Let’s go.”

Camille was startled out of her trance by Christian’s voice.

Surprised, she lifted her head to see him leisurely approaching her desk as if it were just another day.

“What?” she asked, bewildered. “Where are we going? We don’t have an appointment this late—”

“Dinner,” Christian said with a smile. “I’ve already made reservations at a good restaurant.”

“Huh.” Camille was immediately repulsed by the idea of having dinner with him, not after what she had just discovered. Hell no. “No, I don’t think I’ll be joining you,” she said politely. “I still have a lot of work to do. If you don’t mind, I’ll just—”

“No,” Christian said firmly. “You’re coming with me, and that’s final.”

Camille stared at him, dumbfounded. “Mr. Callahan, I really have a lot of work to do. With Grady gone, I need to work overtime on the project—”

“You can work on it tomorrow. We’re having dinner tonight,” he said, his smile turning dangerous. “This is the last time I’ll repeat myself.”

Camille looked at his face and knew she had no choice but to comply.

‘Does he suspect something?’ she wondered as she followed him to the restaurant.

It was a fancy place, as usual. The surroundings were dimly lit, with soft golden lights creating a serene atmosphere. The walls were dark wood and adorned with various landscape paintings.

Waiters in black suits moved between the tables, carrying trays of food that made Camille’s stomach growl softly at the sight.

She hated to admit it, but she was hungry.

Christian led Camille to a secluded area of the restaurant that was partially hidden behind tall potted plants. There was only one table there, tucked away in a corner with a great view of the city lights twinkling in the distance. The area was far enough from the other diners to provide the privacy that they needed.

Christian sipped his wine, his eyes fixed on Camille as she slowly ate her meal. The dim lighting cast shadows on his face, making his expression unreadable. It was a little unnerving, honestly.

He poured wine into Camille’s glass before filling his own and raised his own glass in a toast. “Here’s to a successful partnership and future endeavors,” he said with a smile.

She smiled back politely and raised her glass. She tried not to show a grimace. “To success,” she agreed.

They clinked glasses and took a sip before continuing to eat. As they did, Christian decided to make conversation.

“So, how has the project been going? I’ve been getting daily updates from you, but I’d like to know your thoughts on it as a whole,” he said in a friendly tone, which already made her feel a little suspicious.

Camille paused, gathering her thoughts before answering. “We’re on track. The preliminary reports look promising, and our teams have been working well together,” she replied. “Based on the market analysis, this venture could be very profitable for both parties, so I have confidence in it.”

“That’s good to hear,” he said approvingly. “I’m particularly impressed with the efficiency of your team, especially with all the groundwork that you laid down.”

“Thank you, but it’s certainly been a team effort,” she said honestly. “Everyone is committed to making this project a success, Mr. Callahan.”

Why did she have a sneaking suspicion that he wasn’t really interested in this topic?

Christian leaned back, looking thoughtful. “I’ve noticed that the integration of our technology platforms is moving faster than expected. How do you see that impacting our schedule?”

“If we maintain this pace, we could potentially move up the launch date by a few weeks. It’s an ambitious goal, but with the right push, it’s achievable,” she answered.

Christian nodded approvingly and took another sip of his wine. “Excellent. I’ve always believed in setting high standards and pushing boundaries. Speaking of which…” He paused, as if to create suspense. “How are things going with Michael?”

Camille stiffened slightly but quickly composed herself, maintaining a neutral expression.

‘I knew it. He was building it all up to this right here.’

However, just as she opened her mouth to answer, her phone buzzed on the table.

She glanced at it, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Michael’s name.

Christian raised an eyebrow. “Who is it?”