My sibling recommended that I set up a surveillance device in our home prior to departing on a one-month professional journey to a different town. I chose to heed his suggestion…

If John carries out his plan, you will be left alone, without means, possibly with a criminal case. If we stop him, he will have a chance to avoid prison. I am ready to give him this chance.

For your sake. I was silent, pondering what I heard. The proposal sounded logical.

But there was something wrong, false in it. Why does Mark Ashford care so much about my interests? Why is he ready to forgive John? This didn’t fit with the image of a tough businessman that emerged from his words and actions. And if I refuse? Then you will stay here, as my guest.

Until the situation is resolved. John will carry out his plan, will be arrested, go to prison. You will become the widow of a convict.

Not the best prospect, agree? This was already a direct threat. He offered me a choice without choice. Either cooperate, or become a prisoner.

You have no right to hold me here. This is kidnapping, not kidnapping, but protection. I care about your safety.

You don’t want to be involved in your husband’s crime? Neither do I. Therefore, I suggest you stay here, under my protection, until everything is resolved. He spoke politely, even caringly.

But the meaning was clear. Either I agree to his terms, or I remain a prisoner. I need to think.

Of course. You have time until evening. Ian will escort you to your room.

Everything necessary is there. If you need something, tell him. He pressed a button on the desk.

A minute later, the same man who brought me here entered the office. Ian. John’s accomplice? Or Mark’s man? Or a double agent? Escort Anastasia Sergeevna to the guest room, in the east wing.

Provide everything necessary. Yes, Mark Ashford. I stood up, followed Ian.

We walked along the corridor, descended by another staircase, again along the corridor. The house was huge, a real labyrinth. Finally, we stopped at one of the doors.

Ian opened it, let me go ahead. Your room. Bathroom there, wardrobe next to it.

If you need something, press the button by the bed. He spoke dryly, businesslike. No emotions.

Can I call my brother? He will be worried. Phones don’t work here. Signal blocker.

Security measure. And computer? Internet? No. Nothing that can be used for communication with the outside world.

So, I’m really a prisoner. Isolated from the world, without the possibility to call for help. When can I leave here? Mark Ashford decides that.

Rest. Dinner will be brought at seven. He went out, closed the door.

I heard the click of the lock. Locked. I looked around.

The room was spacious, well furnished. Big bed, wardrobe, table, armchair. Everything expensive, quality.

Window with a view of the garden. Barred window. I approached it, tried to open.

Blocked. No chance to get out. Sat on the bed, trying to gather my thoughts.

What’s going on? Who to believe? What to do? John is a traitor, I knew that for sure. I heard his confession on the recording myself. But who is Mark Ashford? Does he really want to help me, or does he have his own plans? And who is Ian? Double agent? Works for both? Or only pretends to help John, but in fact loyal to Mark? And where is Anton now? He should have flown, but didn’t make it.

Does he know where I am? Can he find me? And what does he know about all this story at all? Too many questions, too few answers. I lay on the bed, closed my eyes. Need to calm down, think.

Make the right decision. If I agree to Mark’s proposal, I’ll return home, to John. I’ll pretend I know nothing, and myself will spy on him.

Report to Mark about his plans, actions. This is betrayal. But didn’t John betray me first? Didn’t he plan to leave me, leave me to deal with the consequences of his crime? If I refuse, I’ll stay here, in this house, under lock.

For how long? A week? A month? A year? And what will happen to my work, my life? What will happen to John? He will be arrested, put in prison. Despite all he did, I wasn’t sure I wanted such a fate for the person I once loved. Whom, perhaps, I still love, despite everything.

Is there a third option? Escape from here? But how? The window is barred, the door is locked, the phone doesn’t work. I’m in a stranger’s house, in a stranger’s city, without support. Thoughts were confused, head ached.

Too many events, too many shocks in one day. I myself didn’t notice how I fell asleep. Woke up from a knock on the door.

Opened my eyes, not immediately understanding where I am. Then remembered. Mark’s house, locked room, proposal to spy on husband.

Yes. Responded I, sitting on the bed. The door opened.

A middle-aged woman entered, in a strict suit. Anastasia Sergeevna. Mark Ashford invites you to dinner.

Follow me. I looked at the clock. Seven in the evening.

I slept several hours. Can I refuse? Of course. Then dinner will be brought here.

But Mark Ashford would prefer to see you at the table. He wants to continue the conversation. I decided to go.

After all, sitting in the room, I won’t decide anything. And perhaps at dinner I can learn something new that will help me make a decision. Good, I’m going.

Can I freshen up? Of course. The bathroom is there. Everything necessary is there.

I’ll wait outside the door. The woman went out. I went to the bathroom, washed, fixed my hairstyle.

I wanted to take a shower, change clothes, but there was no time, no change of clothes. When I came out of the room, the woman was waiting for me in the corridor. Silently led somewhere deep into the house.

We descended the stairs, passed through the hall, ended up in a large dining room. Long table, crystal chandeliers, silver utensils. Mark Ashford was already sitting at the table.

He stood up when I entered. Anastasia Sergeevna, glad you joined me. Please sit down.

He indicated the chair next to him. I sat down. Two waiters served us.

A real restaurant in a private house. Wine? White, red? No, thank you. Water, if possible.

He nodded to the waiter, he poured me water. So, Anastasia Sergeevna, have you thought about my proposal? I need more information. What exactly is John planning? How exactly is he going to deceive you? And why do you think I can help you? Mark sipped wine, thoughtfully looked at me.

Fair questions. Well, I’ll answer. John plans theft in particularly large size.

It’s about two billion dollars. Money of investors who entrusted them to our company. The scheme is complex, technical details are not needed for you.

The essence is that in the coming days he will get access to these funds and try to transfer them through a series of shell companies to accounts in offshore. From there, the money will go through cryptocurrencies, become untraceable. And John himself plans to disappear.

New documents, new appearance, new country of residence. He spoke calmly, as if discussing the weather, not crimes for billions of dollars. How do you know this? I have my sources.

Let’s say, not only John knows how to install listening devices. I flinched. Does he know about the device Anton gave me? Or is this just a figure of speech? And what do I have to do with it? How can I help? You see, Anastasia Sergeevna, I know that John plans a crime.

But I don’t know all the details. When exactly he is going to act, where exactly to transfer the money, with whom exactly from my employees in conspiracy? Yes, I suspect Ian, but are there others? And most importantly, where he stores documents, passwords, accesses? Without this information, I can’t stop him. And you think he will tell me? After seven years of marriage, he never dedicated me to the details of his work.

Why do you think something will change now, he won’t tell. But you can hear. Overhear conversations, find documents.

He stores something at home, in the computer, in the phone. Passwords, access codes, addresses. You live with him, you have access to all this.

I shook my head. All this sounded like a spy movie, not real life. And if I refuse? What then? Then, as I already said, you will stay here.

Until the situation is resolved. This is not a threat, Anastasia Sergeevna. This is care about your safety.

John is a smart person, but cornered, he can be dangerous. Even for you. Do you think he can harm me? I do not exclude such a possibility.

Especially if he learns that you are aware of his plans. I recalled John’s words on the recording. If lucky, she’ll get off with interrogations.

If not, perhaps even go to jail as an accomplice. In any case, I don’t care. It doesn’t look like he was going to cause me physical harm.

But emotional, psychological. Yes, he planned that exactly, why should I believe you? I don’t know you. You kidnapped me, keep me locked up.

Why should I trust you more than my own husband? Mark put down the fork, looked at me attentively. You shouldn’t. Trust needs to be earned.

But think logically. What do I gain by deceiving you? Nothing. I need your help to stop the crime, save the investors’ money, protect the company’s reputation.

And what do you get by helping me? A chance for a normal life. Without prison, without scandal, without losing everything you hold dear. He paused, then added.

Moreover, your brother recommended you cooperate with me. I flinched. Anton? You know my brother? Of course.

Michael Johnson works for me for three years already. He is my chief specialist in information security. It was he who informed me about John’s plans.

And it was he who advised you to install the listening device in the apartment. I froze. Michael? Works for Mark? All this time? And it’s he who set me up with the listening device? Made me hear John’s confession.

I don’t believe it. Michael couldn’t. He’s my brother, he wouldn’t.

Wouldn’t what? Protect you. But that’s exactly what he’s doing. He knew that John plans to leave you, leave you to deal with the consequences.

He wanted you to know the truth. Think, isn’t it better to know who you really live with? I was silent, trying to comprehend what I heard. Michael works for Mark.

Knows about John’s plans. Set it up so that I learned the truth. And now he wants me to help them stop my husband.

Everything fit. But it didn’t make it easier. Where is Michael now? Why isn’t he here? He’s on the way.

Delayed in New York, some technical problems with the company’s servers. Should arrive tomorrow morning. I want to talk to him.

Personally. Before making any decision. Of course.

As soon as he arrives, I’ll arrange your meeting. I nodded. That’s all I could do now.

Wait for Michael, talk to him, understand what’s really going on. And now, if you don’t mind, let’s have dinner. The chef tried.

I wasn’t hungry, but I forced myself to eat. Need to maintain strength, clarity of mind. Unknown what awaits me ahead.

After dinner, I was escorted back to the room. Locked again. I sat on the bed, trying to gather my thoughts.

If Mark is telling the truth, then the situation is even more tangled than I thought. Michael works for him. Knows about John’s plans.

Set it up so that I learned the truth. And now they both want me to help them stop my husband. But what if Mark is lying? What if he is using my brother’s name to manipulate me? What if Michael has nothing to do with this, and is now desperately looking for me all over San Francisco? I didn’t know what to believe.

Who to believe? Too much lie, too much betrayal. Knock on the door. I flinched.

Yes, the door opened. Ian entered, the same one who brought me here. Anastasia Sergeevna, you have a call.

He handed me the phone. Ordinary mobile, old model. Who is this? Your brother.

I took the phone, put it to my ear. Hello. Emily.

It’s me, Michael. Are you okay? His voice. Exactly his.

But it sounded strange. Tense, scared. Michael, where are you? What’s going on? I’m in New York.

Delayed because of work. I’ll be in San Francisco tomorrow morning. Emily, listen carefully.

Do everything Mark Ashford says. He wants to help. He’s on our side…