You signed it", she repeated quietly.

"Yes".

The answer was steady . It was just too steady.  

She could hear her heart beating fast.

"Why?"

"He was already gone", he said.

"But that's not what your mother implied".

He didn't answer.

Kate stepped closer. "What did the consent form say exactly?".

He looked at her closely. "Do not resuscitate ".

Her breathing seized for a bit.

"You signed a DNR for your father?"

"Kate, he was unconscious ".

"That's not what I asked".

"His organs were failing. The doctors asked for a decision. My mother was agitated".

"But you  just said she was prepared".

No words . Now, his words are contradicting.

Kate's mind sharpened.

"You were the calm one, you made the call", she said slowly.

"I made the logical call", he corrected.

"You ended it".

His eyes became brighter.

"I ended his suffering".

Kate looked at his face trying to catch his expression.

"You're not sure", she whispered.

He set his glass down, almost breaking it.

"I don't live in doubt".

"Well, you live in control", she said calmly.

"And you?" He asked. "Oh! Well, you live in manipulation".

She didn't move.

"I beg to differ but I live in strategy".

They stood away from each other and you could feel the tension amidst them.

"You think I killed my father?" He asked quietly.

"I think you were pressured".

"By my mother?" He smiled.

"By power".

He laughed coldly. "You always think you understand this family".

"I think your mother, your mother, doesn't hate me for my profession".

"She hates me because I remind her of something".

"Of what?", he asked.

"Of a woman who once had influence over your father".

Chris' breathing slowed down dangerously but you could hear it because of how silent the room had become.

"You're reaching".

"Am I?".

She moved closer to him now .

"What if your father wasn't betrayed by a business partner? What if he was betrayed at home?" She said with a low voice.

He grabbed her waist firmly enough to stop her from speaking.

"Careful", he said.

Her heart cracked from the way his control was beginning to crack.

"Did he love someone else?", she pressed.

He tightened his grip around her waist.

"Stop".

"Don't you want to know?"

"I said stop", he said with a calm voice but it felt dangerous.

She leaned closer, whispering against his mouth.

"If your mother secured power before he died.... maybe she wasn't protecting you".

"Maybe she was only protecting herself".

He released her suddenly and stepped back.

"You're done digging", he said sharply.

"You don't control that".

"I do".

"How?" She challenged

"Because if you push further, like I already told you, I will destroy the only leverage you think you  have" he said with a darker voice.

"And what leverage is that?"

He looked straight into her eyes.

"Me".

Kate felt it and thought it was true because she had entered his world strategically.

Elisabeth stood in the old master bedroom she had once shared with her late  husband.

She hasn't slept there in years.

The unknown person stood in the shadows near the door.

"You told her about the consent form", Elisabeth said calmly.

"Yes".

"Why?"

"To  accelerate the strain".

Elisabeth walked towards the nightstand and opened the drawer.

She brought out a hospital bracelet with her husband's name printed on it .

"You think she'll turn him against me?"

"She is very intelligent and also curious". The person said.

"But curiosity is fatal".

The unknown person stepped closer but remained in the shadows.

"She's also resilient".

Elisabeth dropped the bracelet and closed the drawer slowly.

"Then let's test her".

"How?"

Elisabeth picked up her phone and dialed a number.

"Release the Brussels documents early and leak the internal audit", she instructed.

She ended the call.

"If Kate wants to play strategist, let's see how she handles collateral damage", Elisabeth murmured.

Kate left the private lounge just before midnight.

Chris didn't walk her out.

In the elevator, Kate's phone vibrated again.

It was the unknown person.

You're focusing on the hospital. Focus on the will.

"The will!" She said,

She typed back instantly.

What about it?

When the elevator doors opened, she got a notification with a news alert.

Breaking; Internal Audit Investigation at Cena Empire. Possible Financial Irregularities During CEO Transition.

Kate stood still.

"Audit during transition?" she thought.

Her pulse quickened. The transition that happened days after Chris's father's death.

It wasn't a coincidence.

She stepped out of the elevator and went outside the building .

Her phone rang.

It was Chris.

She answered immediately.

"Did you see it?", he asked.

"Yes".

His voice was filled with anger but controlled.

"This leak is intentional".

"You mean your mother?"

He didn't respond immediately.

"She doesn't benefit from destabilizing the company", he said carefully.

"Unless she wants to prove that you aren't ready".

He didn't respond.

"Chris, did the will  name you as successor immediately?", she asked softly.

"Yes".

"No delays? No conditions?"

There was a pause.

"There was one clause though".

"What clause?" she asked anxiously.

"If I was deemed emotionally unfit to lead, control would revert temporarily to my mother".

Kate closed her eyes like she already knew where this was headed.

"And who determines emotional fitness?"

"The board".

"And who influenced the board after your father's death?"

The silence that came after was very loud.

"Chris, if the audit suggests mismanagement under your leadership......" she whispered.

"They can challenge my authority" he concluded.

"Yes"

Another silence that sounded like a bomb was felt.

"Come back", he said.

"Why?"

"Because if this is what I think it is....we're not being attacked separately".

"We're being cornered together", her pulse raced faster than it has ever done.

She thought "oh! He was finally saying we and trust build through conflict".

"Chris, did you ever read your father's will completely?", she asked carefully.

"Yes, I did".

"Then why would someone tell me to focus on it?".

His breathing suddenly changed.

"Unless", he said slowly, "there's a version I haven't seen".

"But that's impossible", he added quickly. "Lawyers oversee these things".

"Do you trust the family lawyer?" She asked.

He didn't answer.

Her phone buzzed again.

Another message from the unknown person.

This time, it was an image.

A scanned page flashed right in her eyes.

Title: Amendment to Last Will and Testament: Draft Copy.

Kate's heart dropped a beat.

"Draft copy, not the final?l

The amendment was dated two days before his death and it contained a single new line.

In the event of suspicious circumstances surrounding my passing, an independent review shall be conducted before full transfer of control.

"Suspicious circumstances, independent review?"

Kate's hands trembled.

"Chris, did an independent review happen?" She asked slowly.

"No".

"Then, this clause was removed".

Her phone buzzed one more time.

Ask him why he never questioned the missing amendment.

Kate lifted her eyes towards the High Rise.

Chris's voice came through the line.

"I heard your phone buzzing. What did you receive?"

"A draft of your father's will".

"And?" He demanded.

"It mentions an independent review in case of suspicious circumstances".

He froze.

"That clause doesn't exist in the final version".

"I know", she replied.

"Kate, whoever is feeding you this information is manipulating you", he said slowly but dangerously.

"Or protecting me, you mean" she replied sharply

"From what?"

She looked up at the Private Lounge windows and thought

"From you" she didn't say it out.

"Chris ... did you ever see a draft version of the will before it was finalized?"

A long pause.

"Yes"

Her heart stopped for a bit for not the first time.

"And?"

His voice was no longer composed and was now low.

"There was a clause about an independent review. "But it was gone when we signed".

"Who removed it?" She whispered.

He finally spoke after being quiet for ten seconds and his voice was full with doubt.

"I don't know".

And for the first time since she met him, Kate realized something frightening.

Chris Cena didn't control this game. Someone else did .

And that someone was close enough to rewrite a dying man's will.

Another message from the unknown person.

You are both standing on a lie.

Kate slowly lifted her eyes to the dark High Rise building.

Kate still looking at the dark High Rise building.

Her phone vibrated again.

A message from the unknown person .

The lawyer knows about the amendment. He was paid to forget.

Her pulse increased.

"He was paid?" That means it was transactional, which also means there will be record". She said frantically.

Kate typed back.

Can you send proof?

Three dots appeared ....the unknown person was typing.

Check the hospital's private wing visitor's log. 11:40 p.m. The night before he died.

The message was deleted after a few seconds.

She walked back into the building immediately.  

Chris was still standing near the window when she re-entered the Private Lounge.

He turned sharply . "I thought I told you to stay downstairs and wait for me".

"You don't give orders and expect me to follow blindly".

His expression changed immediately he saw her face.

"What is it?"

"Who visited your father the night he died?" She asked without hesitation.

Shocked by her question . "Doctors, board members and me".

"The lawyer didn't visit?"

"Hmmmmn... yes", he said. "The family lawyer came".

"What time?"

"It was pretty late when he came".

"How late?"

He frowned. "I think around midnight".

Kate stepped closer.

"Do you remember the exact time?"

"Why?" He asked narrowly.

"Because he signed something at 11:40 p.m.

The room was quiet.

"Signed what?" Chris asked quietly.

"I don't know yet".

His breathing slowed.

"Where are you getting this information".

She looked him straight into his eyes.

"Someone I am yet to know"

"You trust someone hiding behind a number and keypads?"

"I trust patterns", she countered.

"You're being manipulated".

"So are you, but you don't know it yet".

He stepped closer to her.

"Say what you are thinking out loud".

"What if your father signed the amendment reinstating the independent review that night?"

Chris's eyes became dark instantly.

"That amendment was removed".

"Exactly".

Chris walked towards his desk and opened a drawer that was locked.

He pulled out a thin document.

Inside of the document contained scanned copies of the finalized will.

He gave them to Kate.

"No amendment," he said flatly.

She flipped through the documents quickly.

"Who finalized this version?" She asked .

"The lawyer did".

"Who was there at 11:40 p.m.?"

He didn't answer.

"What if your father reinstated the clause that night, and it was removed after his death?", she said carefully.

"Then someone altered a dying man's will", Chris said shakily.

"Yes".

His voice lowered into something colder.

"And you think that someone is my mother?"

Kate didn't answer.

The silence between them was louder than the accusation.

He moved even closer, suddenly gripping her shoulders.

"You have no idea what you're accusing her of".

"And you have no idea what you signed", she shot back.

He  tightened his grip slightly.

"You think I would help her cover her murder?".

"I think you were grieving, then you were pressured".

His breath was inches from hers.

"You think I'm weak"

"I think you were a son".

Pain came crawling down his face. He released her abruptly.

"You don't get to re-write my memory". He said.

"I'm not rewriting anything. I'm only questioning it".

He turned around while running his hand through his hair.

"She told me he was suffering", he said quietly, "She told me the board would strain if we showed instability".

"And you believed her?" Kate asked with a smirk on her face.

"She is my mother".

Kate softened slightly when she heard those words.

"Chris.... did you see him sign anything that night?"

He stood still.

"I......".

He stuttered.

Kate stepped closer again.

"Did you physically see him sign a document?"

There was a long pause.

"No".

Her heart pounded.

"Then how did you know he didn't?"

Elisabeth stood inside the old hospital corridor.

The private wing was quiet.

The unknown person stood beside her.

You're escalating", the unknown person said.

"You started it", Elisabeth replied calmly.

"She's closer than you think".

Elisabeth's expression didn't change.

"That's good".

"You're not afraid she'll expose the truth?"

Elisabeth turned slowly.

"There is no truth without proof".

"What if she finds proof?"

"She won't ", Elisabeth said with a low voice.

Back in the Private Lounge, Kate paced slowly.  

"We need the hospital visitor's log", she said.

Chris nodded.

"I can get it".

"Quietly?"

"Yes".

"What about the lawyer?"

"I'll handle him".

She stopped pacing.

"This is beyond jealousy or power, Chris".

"I know".

"And if your mother altered the will......"

"She wouldn't," he interrupted automatically.

Kate didn't respond but he could see doubt in  her eyes.

He walked toward her slowly.

"You're asking me to choose between you and my mother".

"I'm asking you to choose between truth and comfort".

He stepped closer.

"You don't even know if you'll stay", he said quietly.

"Stay where?"

"With me".

Her pulse quickened.

"I thought  this was about business?"

"It stopped being about business the moment you signed that contract".

He reached up, brushing his fingers slowly along her jaw.

"You're dangerous," he murmured.

"So are you".

His hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer.

"You know you are still working for me", he said softly.

"I'm investigating you".

His lips pressed close just above hers.

"Then investigate this".

He kissed her slower this time and very intentionally.

Her hands moved to his chest instinctively.

For a moment, there was no war, just heat and breath.

He pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against hers.

"If this destroys my family", he whispered, "I will not forgive you".

"If this destroys the truth", she replied softly, "I won't forgive you either".

The elevator chimed again .

They froze.

Chris turned sharply.

"But no one has clearance tonight".

The doors opened slowly.

Well, it wasn't Elisabeth this time. It was a security officer.

He was looking very nervous.

"Sir," he said urgently, "we have a situation".

Chris's posture shifted instantly back to CEO mode.

"What situation?"

The officer took a deep breath.

"The hospital's digital archives were accessed remotely thirty-five minutes ago".

Kate's heart pounded.

Chris was stunned.

"By who?"

The officer hesitated.

"By your personal authorization code, sir".

Silence fell like a sword.

Kate slowly turned to Chris.

"You accessed it?"

"No".

The officer continued, his voice was shaking slightly.

"The access originated from inside this Private Lounge".

The room felt colder.

Chris stared at the officer.

"But that's impossible".

Kate's pulse raced violently.

"Someone was inside. Someone close enough to use his code" she said it in her head.

Her phone vibrated. It was the unknown person again.

She looked at her screen.

You're not the only ones playing

Kate lifted her eyes slowly to Chris.

If he didn't access the hospital's archives....

Then someone very close to them had .

And the only people in this room were ; Chris, Kate and Elisabeth Cena. 

The elevator doors closed.

The security officer was standing near the wall stiff.

Kate's phone screen dimmed in her hands, she was still pondering on the last message she received.

You're not the only ones playing

Chris moved first.

"Repeat what you said", he ordered calmly .

The officer was shaking. "The hospital's archives were accessed using your personal authorization code, Sir. I mean from this Private Lounge".

Chris's expression shifted as he was trying to figure out who might have accessed the code.

"Run it again", Chris said.

"We did. The signal traces here". The officer replied quietly.

Kate looked at him.

"You think I did it?", she asked quietly.

"I think someone wants me to think you did it".

The officer glanced between them nervously.

"Should I call internal security?".he asked

"No", Chris replied instantly. "Lock down the network and do not allow any external alerts".

The officer nodded and stepped aside to make the call.

Kate's heart was pounding from the realization of things already taking a different turn.

"If someone used your code, they either cloned it.... Or had access to you", she said slowly.

"But my code isn't even written down" Chris said

"Then it was being observed".

His eyes went dark.

"You're saying someone close?"

"Yes, that's what I am saying", Kate said slowly.  

"Do you think it is your mother?", she continued.

He didn't answer but he didn't dismiss it either.

The officer ended the call. "The network has been locked and there is no outgoing signals". He said.

"That's nice. Leave us" , Chris said.

The officer left through the service door.

It was just the two of them, Chris and Kate .

Kate stepped closer.

"Chris"

"If this is you....." his voice dropped.

"It's not", she said softly.

He looked at her carefully.

"You were downstairs when it happened".

"And you went out quickly to get something, right?" She asked.

His eyes flickered.

Neither of them were in the private lounge when it happened.

It means whoever used his code had done it when Chris left the lounge .

"Or your Private Lounge security. Who maintains it?" Kate asked.

"Internal IT does" he said instantly.

"Who do they report to?"

"My mother"

There was silence immediately as if they already know who did it.

Chris walked to his desk again with his fingers moving across another secured panel.

A new screen opened. It was internal surveillance of the hallway footage .

Chris took it back thirty- five minutes earlier.

They both watched in silence .

The footage showed the Private Lounge hallway and it was empty.

Then the feed glitched for three seconds, then returned back to normal.

Chris stood still.

"But that doesn't happen", he muttered.

Kate leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his.

"Hmmmmn... unless someone wanted it to glitch", she replied.

He rewound, paused and zoomed the footage . Then he stopped just before the glitch.

There was a very faint shadow under the camera's angle.

It was a tall figure . The posture looked very familiar.

Chris's breathing slowed dangerously.

"That's impossible "

"Who is it?" she asked, trying to look at the figure like she could know who it is.

He didn't answer immediately.

"The family law ... .yer", he replied .

"Does the family lawyer have access?" Kate asked confusingly.

"He had access".

"Had?"

"I revoked most privileges after the transition".

"But not all?"

Chris didn't reply.

Which meant yes.

"So the lawyer visits your dying father at 11:40 p.m., the will amendment disappears. The visitor's log is edited at 2:10 a.m.And now, someone is using your code to access the hospital's archives".

Chris face became hardened.

"He wouldn't dare".

"Well, unless he's protecting someone".

He didn't respond

Kate turned to him.

"Oh!! This is bigger than your mother just disliking me".

"I know".

"And if the lawyer is still loyal to her ....."

"He won't be after tonight", Chris said coldly.

You could feel the anger in his voice. The possessive authority that has gone was right there in his voice.

His voice didn't sound like the one that is son-like but like the CEO of Cena's Empire.

Kate stepped closer.

"Don't use emotions in confronting him".

He looked at her .

"You think I will lose control?"

"I think you are already close to losing control"  

His stare softened slightly.

"And you're still here", he said quietly.

"Yes".

"Even after everything?"

"Yes, I am still here".

His hand moved to her waist again.

"You could walk away, you know", he murmured.

"I don't walk away from puzzles".

He studied her face carefully.

"You're not afraid".

"I am".

He raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"You are afraid of what?"

"Of wanting you while I'm investigating you". She said softly.

His thumb traced slowly against her hips.

"You think I don't feel that?"

Her pulse jumped .

"Then stop pushing me away".

"I'm not pushing you away".

"But you are threatening to destroy my career", she said calmly.

"That was before"

"Before what?"

He looked at her for a second.

"Before I realized that you might be the only person that isn't lying to me".

There was silence until her phone's vibration broke it.

Chris frowned and answered her call.

"Who is this" he said angrily.

A distorted voice replied.

"You're looking in the wrong place".

Kate stood still.

Chris's eyes jammed her eyes.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly.

"Do you want the truth? "Then stop questioning your mother and start questioning the woman that left the hospital at 2:10 a.m. , the voice said.

The call ended.

Kate's heart pounded really fast.

"There was another woman?" She whispered.

Chris nodded slowly.

"My father's former executive assistant".

"The one your mother hated?"

"Yes".

"And she was there that night?"

"She arrived earlier, but I didn't see her leave" Chris replied with uncertainty.

Kate's mind was racing with thoughts.

"If the log was edited at 2:10 a.m.... "

"That means she was still there, " Chris concluded.

"And if she signed something....."

Chris's expression changed.

"She couldn't sign anything legally".

"Not unless your father authorized it".

There was silence .

Chris knew there was a possibility and it could change everything.

He moved suddenly and grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you going to?" Kate asked .

"To find her".

"At this hour?"

"Yes".

She stepped in front of him.

"Let me go with you"

He looked down at her.

"Kate, this isn't your war to fight".

"It became my war the moment someone started using your code".

"You're staying here", he said authoritatively.

"No, I am not"

"Kate", he shouted.

"No, I say".

He exhaled slowly.

"Ok, Fine. You can come but you will stay behind me".

She had this wicked smile on her face faintly.

"I don't stand behind men".

"Well, tonight you do" Chris said sharply.

Before she could respond to him, the elevator chimed again.

They froze for the third time tonight.

Chris didn't give permission .

The doors slid open slowly and nobody came out from it.

But an envelope was on the elevator floor.

Chris stepped forward cautiously and picked it up.

There was no name, seal or stamp on it .

He opened it and brought out a printed photograph.

It was the hospital corridor with a time stamp on it that shows 2:10 a.m.

And in the image, his father's former executive assistant was standing outside the private room.

But she wasn't alone.

Standing beside her was Elisabeth Cena looking calm, she wasn't grieving but she was watching.

Kate's breath stopped for a while.

Chris stared at the image rigorously.

The time stamp proved one thing clearly that his mother had still been in that hospital wing at 2:10am.