Chapter 509:

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Baker, however, could barely contain his glee. He had won. He had survived the public attack and would now have Allison safely locked away in a department where she could do no real harm.

“I second Enrico’s proposal!” Baker declared loudly. “An excellent, fair-minded solution!”

He thought he was a genius, turning a disaster into a victory.

Enrico looked at Baker’s triumphant face, and a flicker of something that looked like pity crossed his old eyes. He then turned his gaze back to Allison. He held her eyes for a long moment, and in them, she saw a clear, unspoken message.

Trust me. Accept.

Though every instinct screamed that this was a trap, she had come to trust the old man’s wisdom. He was playing a longer game than she could see.

She took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and spoke in a clear, firm voice.

“I accept Mr. Langley’s proposal.”

The crisis was over. The war, it seemed, had been averted by a strange, anticlimactic compromise.

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Baker, beaming with self-satisfaction, clapped his hands together. “Excellent! The circus is over. Everyone, back to work!”

As the crowd began to disperse, Allison remained rooted to the spot, watching Baker stride triumphantly back to his private elevator. She had won the battle in the lobby, but it felt like she had just lost the war. She had no idea what game Enrico Langley was playing, but she was now one of his pieces, moved to a strange, isolated square on the board.

As the last of the employees scurried back to their desks, a quiet, professionally dressed woman approached Allison. “Ms. Montgomery? Mr. Langley has asked if you would join him in his office.”

Allison nodded, her mind still reeling. She followed the assistant to the executive elevator and up to the top floor.

Enrico Langley’s office was from another era. Dark wood, worn leather, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with first editions. A large window offered a breathtaking, panoramic view of Central Park.

He was standing by that window, his back to her. He turned as she entered.

“Confused?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“That’s an understatement,” Allison admitted, sinking into one of the leather chairs he gestured to. “The Compliance Department feels like a punishment.”

Enrico chuckled, a dry, papery sound. He picked up an unlit cigar from a humidor on his desk, rolling it between his fingers.

“On the surface, yes,” he said. “I have no doubt that Baker is in his office right now, popping a bottle of champagne. He thinks he’s locked you in a cage.”

He walked over to stand in front of her, his eyes sharp and intense. “But he’s forgotten something important, Allison. Some cages also contain the keys to the entire prison.”

Allison’s heart began to beat faster. She leaned forward, sensing the reveal.

Enrico placed a formal appointment letter on the coffee table in front of her. “As the acting Vice President of Compliance, you now have the legal, unrestricted authority to access every single document this company has ever produced. Every paper file in the archives. Every byte of data on our servers. No exceptions.”

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