Flying off on vacation with her boss’s husband, the happy woman waited for him at the airport. Suddenly, a fortune teller touched her hand…

There was one woman, two years ago. Victoria’s secretary. But I didn’t have an affair with her; she approached me and told me she found strange documents on Victoria’s computer.

A week later, she was fired for professional incompetence, and a month later, she got into an accident. Since then, I started suspecting Victoria was involved in something serious and dangerous. Emily was silent, digesting the information.

This explained a lot—why Michael was so cautious, why he insisted on secrecy, why he feared openly opposing Victoria. «Our relationship?» she finally asked. «Was it part of the plan too?» Michael shook his head.

«No. I really fell in love with you, Emily. Yes, I got close to you to check if you knew anything about Victoria’s fraud.

But what happened after was real. I swear to you.» Emily looked into his eyes, trying to discern the truth.

He seemed sincere, but hadn’t he seemed just as sincere when telling her about his love before? When planning vacation with her? When promising a future together? «I don’t know what to say,» she admitted. «Too much has happened. Too much lies and manipulation.

I understand,» Michael nodded. «I’m not asking you to decide right away. Just give us a chance.

A chance to start over, without lies and secrets.» Emily pondered. Was it possible? Could she cast aside everything that happened and start fresh? «Yes, I need time,» she finally said.

«Time to think and decide what I want from life.» «From us.» Michael nodded, accepting her decision.

«Of course. I’ll wait as long as it takes.» They left the cafe and stopped on the street.

It was getting dark, the city starting to light up. «Where now?» Michael asked. «Do you have a place to stay.»

Emily pondered. «Her apartment. Victoria’s people had probably been there.

Returning now was scary. I don’t know,» she admitted. «My apartment.

I understand,» Michael said. «Listen, I have a suggestion. I have a small apartment in another part of the city.

Victoria doesn’t know about it. I bought it a year ago with money she didn’t control. You can stay there until you figure out what to do next.

And you? I’ll rent a hotel room. Or stay with friends. That’s no problem.»

Emily hesitated. Accepting his help meant becoming dependent on him again. But on the other hand, she really needed a safe place to weather this difficult period.

«Okay,» she finally agreed. «But only temporarily. Until I find another solution.»

Michael nodded, not hiding his relief. «Of course. It’s just a temporary fix.»

He called a taxi, and they drove to a quiet residential area on the city’s outskirts. Michael’s apartment was small but cozy—a one-bedroom with modern furniture and everything needed for life. «Make yourself at home,» he said, handing her the keys.

«There should be groceries in the fridge; I stopped by a week ago. And I’ll go find a place to stay.» Emily took the keys, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and awkwardness.

«Thanks,» she said. «For everything. And… Sorry I doubted you.»

Michael smiled. «Don’t apologize. No need.

I’ll give you time and space to sort out your feelings. And then? Then we’ll decide what to do next.» He left, and Emily was alone in the unfamiliar apartment.

She took a shower, found a clean T-shirt of Michael’s in the closet to use as a nightshirt, and went to bed. For the first time in days, she felt relative safety and calm. Falling asleep, Emily thought about the future.

About what awaited her after everything in the last six months. About whether she could rebuild trust and start a new life. With Michael or without.

Three months passed. Life gradually got back on track, though not at all as Emily could have imagined six months ago. Apex Commerce Inc. was reorganized under temporary administration.

Most executives fired, some arrested as Victoria’s accomplices. Rank-and-file employees not involved in the fraud kept their jobs, but the company was no longer the same. Victoria Hayes’s case got wide publicity.

She was extradited from the UAE and now in pretrial detention, awaiting trial. Along with her, several high-ranking officials and businessmen were under investigation, their names previously gracing business publication covers. The money-laundering scheme they built turned out much larger than assumed.

Emily didn’t return to Apex Commerce Inc. Instead, she accepted a job offer from a large auditing firm. Her experience and role in exposing the financial fraud made her a valuable employee.

Of course, there were challenges—some colleagues treated her with suspicion, others with excessive curiosity. But overall, Emily was satisfied with her new job. She and Michael met regularly but didn’t resume their relationship.

Too much unsaid and pain remained between them. Too hard to separate truth from lies, genuine feeling from manipulation. Emily couldn’t fully trust him again, and Michael understood and didn’t pressure her.

After divorcing Victoria—the process ran parallel to the criminal case—Michael decided to start from scratch. He sold property not seized in the investigation and opened a small consulting firm. The irony was that now he consulted companies on economic security and countering corporate fraud.

Paul O’Brien sometimes called them to check in and update on the case. Thanks to the evidence they provided and other witnesses’ testimony, the case was practically hopeless for the defendants. They faced long prison terms and property confiscation.

On this warm September day, Emily sat in a cafe, waiting for Michael. They agreed to meet to discuss the upcoming court hearing where both would testify. Michael arrived right on time.

He looked good—fit, confident, with a light tan after a recent trip south. «Hi,» he said, sitting opposite Emily. «How are you?» «Fine,» she replied.

«A bit nervous before the trial, but overall okay.» «Don’t worry,» Michael reassured her. «We’ll just tell what we know.»

The case is practically closed; Victoria and the others have pleaded guilty and agreed to a deal with the prosecution. Emily nodded. She knew from Paul, but still was nervous.

Public speaking in court, retelling the whole story before dozens of people—wasn’t easy. «By the way,» Michael said, «I got an interesting offer. Invited as a consultant to an international company specializing in detecting financial fraud…