Looking around the place, she found herself alone in the empty hallway. She heard voices, but they were so faint that she assumed they came from the other end of the long corridor.

She had overheard that everyone was in the conference room, attending a meeting with an important client. Seeing no one was around, she took that as an opportunity to sneak into a private office.

"Let’s see what else you’re hiding from the world." Slowly, she searched the table and the shelves. When she found nothing, she moved to the cabinets and drawers.

For weeks, she had been silently observing everyone’s business, biding for the right time to make her move. Gradually, she had gathered pieces of information.

Whispers here and there. A slip of the tongue. Gossip and stories from the grapevine. A juicy insight into the Morton family’s lives.

Checking the folders, she skimmed through the files, hoping to find treasure in the pile of documents.

Sometimes, the best hidden secrets were just scattered in plain sight. She just had to know what to look for.

"Sophia Maddison, what other dirt are you hiding?" She opened the first drawer.

Nothing. Yet.

Since working with the Morton Group, she had lurked in the shadows, spying on everyone and anything that caught her eye.

All of them had underestimated her and her capabilities. To them, she was just another spoiled brat, a nepobaby, a dumb socialite who was clearly pampered by her father.

But that was a complete falsity. In truth, she was the entire opposite.

The entitled heiress was just her cover. A fake identity she used to fool everyone around her. She believed that if she were not a threat, no one would suspect her. No one would pay her much attention.

It was a perfect disguise.

"I’m doing this for your own good, Elizabeth. As the sole heir of the Winston empire, you have to learn how to be a real leader of this family." Gregory Winston, her father, told her when she turned one year old. Too young to even say her name.

Since she could remember, from the day she could walk and talk, her father had been preparing her to be his successor.

Her father had buried her in thick books, exposed her to various arts, dance, and music, and trained her in hand-to-hand combat, including the use of knives and guns.

Ultimately, she had studied just about everything. That was the price of inheriting the Winston name.

"Hmm!" Just as she was about to give up, she opened the last drawer at the bottom of the table. Then, she peered inside.

At the bottom, she spotted something peculiar. It was a brown folder with a string. It appeared to be different from the rest of the files. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Inside, upon opening it, she saw a document. "Interesting." She mumbled as she read the content.

Hastily, she took out her phone and snapped a picture of the document. She knew that this detail could become handy someday.

Glancing at the time, she knew she could not stay longer unless she wanted to get caught. Inspecting the room one last time, she ensured that she had placed everything back the way she had found it.

She would have liked to go through more files or even check her computer, but she had already run out of time.

"This will do for now." She sighed contentedly, putting her phone back into her pocket. She believed there would be another time for that.

Once she was outside the room, she checked the corridor for any sign of activity. But again, no one was still around.

"Good." She expelled air from her lungs as a sign of relief.

Then, she walked toward the other room where her table was situated. By the time Tessa, her immediate supervisor, returned, she had done half of the work she had assigned to her.

But, of course, she pretended that she was incapable of performing her duties, acting like the brainless bimbo that her coworkers had assumed she was.

"Sophia, there you are." She quickly greeted the woman, who was the subject of her investigation.

Acting as if she had been lazing around her table and fixing her nails, she slowly stood up and walked toward Sophia.

Sophia was walking alongside Tessa, on their way back to their designated office after their long meeting.

"I have been looking for you." She moved closer to the CEO’s assistant, hoping to get closer to her.

"I’m thinking of grabbing lunch, can I invite you to join me?" One of her goals was to befriend her.

If she wanted to know her secrets, it was better if she heard them from her own mouth. Besides, she only needed confirmation of what she already knew.

"I’m sorry, Elizabeth, but I already made another appointment. Maybe another time." It was a shame. She was actually looking forward to getting to know her.

In truth, she had found her life fascinating. From the things she had discovered about her, she had begun to admire her. She was not only skilled in running a business, but she also possessed a strength she had never seen in anyone before, not even in herself.

Sophia had faced her adversaries with an iron will and steely resolve. If it had been someone else in her shoes, they might have given up on life the instant they woke up from that accident.

"I’ll let you off the hook this time, but I hope you won’t disappoint me the next time." Like a spoiled heiress, she confidently smiled at Sophia, acting as if the other woman owed her.

Sophia politely returned her smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She could only assume that Sophia was too nice to be rude to her.

For a second, she somehow felt guilty for lying to her.

If she were being honest, she would like to be friends with her. But for now, that would have to wait. She was here for a reason. That had to come first.

Once alone, she pulled out her phone and started typing on the blank screen.

MEET ME IN THIRTY MINUTES.

A few seconds later, her phone chimed with a response.

After passing her other obligations to another intern, she grabbed her bag and walked out of the office as if she owned the goddamn place.

But again, that was just part of her act. She knew Oliver could not fire her because of her father. Therefore, she was using her situation to infiltrate his company without anyone knowing her real intentions.

"Where are you?" She had been sitting in the coffee shop a few blocks from the Morton Headquarters for more than five minutes, but the person she was supposed to meet still needed to show her face.

One thing she hated the most was waiting. She tapped her expensive manicure on the shiny table while her other hand twirled her hot coffee, which had turned cold.

"Finally..." She muttered under her breath when she saw her silhouette by the door.

Once the other woman saw her, she strode toward her table, which was at the far end. Discreet and far from the prying eyes of passersby.

"This better be important, Elizabeth." Clearly, the woman she was meeting was irritated by her interruption. But she didn’t care. "You have just ruined my hair salon appointment." She furiously complained.

If she didn’t need this woman, she would not bother to wait for her. However, she needed her. So far, she thought she was the best source of information when it came to the Morton family.

"Hey, what is more important, Hazel? Your hair appointment or my information." She asked, knowing exactly what the answer was.

If this woman thought she was the one running the show, she might want to think again.

But for now, she was letting her think she had the upper hand. It was easier that way. But once she had gotten what she wanted, she would not need this loser anymore.

"Fine... But it better be good." Hazel condescendingly said, acting all high and mighty as usual.

"When have I given you mediocre news?" She asked as she waited for her guest to settle into her seat and order what she wanted.

"Fair enough." Hazel nodded in agreement. "But I don’t have all day. What do you have for me?"

Without waiting for another second, she took out her phone and showed her what she had shot earlier.

"Sophia seems to be busy this week." She explained what the file was about. "Why do you think she wanted the DNA of her son tested?"

She found the copy of the exhumation request for the dead child. Then, she remembered the conversation between Aaron and Sophia the other day.

Aaron offered to expedite the result of the DNA test. But she didn’t hear the rest of the conversation.

"DNA test?" Hazel’s face drained its color as she enunciated each word. Suddenly, she looked as pale as white paper.

"Hazel, are you okay?" Hazel’s eyes held a glassy gloss of someone who had seen a ghost.

Now, what was that all about, as her curiosity intensified.

What was Hazel hiding from her? Because it seemed there was more to the story than her new fake friend had ever told her.