The news about Mark Jenkins and Bianca's long, sneaky plan hit me like cold water. It surprised me, but it also made me think clearly. My fear quickly turned into a strong feeling to fight back. This wasn't just about getting my ideas back anymore. It was about showing everyone how mean and tricky Bianca was, and how she would do anything to get what she wanted. Liam kept working hard, trying to find more connections between Mark Jenkins and Bianca, like a quiet storm getting ready.
Just when I felt like the pressure was too much, I heard a voice I knew very well. "Celeste? I'm back."
It was Damian! He stood in my office doorway. He looked tanned and surprisingly rested, very different from how tired and messy I felt. Seeing him healthy and back from his much-needed holiday made me feel a wave of calm I didn't know I needed. His smile, even though he looked a little tired, was real. For a moment, the heavy feeling on my shoulders felt a little lighter.
"Damian!" I cried, getting up to give him a hug. "Welcome back! How was your trip?"
He hugged me back. He felt strong and steady. "It was good, exactly what I needed. But I've been keeping up with everything here. I saw your apology, Celeste. You were so brave."
His words, simple but true, made me feel warm inside. "Thank you. It's been a very wild time, to say the least."
He walked further into the office, his face serious. "I want to help. What can I do?"
I thought for a moment about how much to tell him. He had already gone through so much with the fake video. But then I remembered: the video was made to hurt both of us. He deserved to know all of Bianca's tricks.
"Liam just found something very important," I began, telling him to sit down. "Remember the helper who made the fake video that hurt you? His name is Mark Jenkins. He was like a plant. Bianca hired him many months ago. His helpers, the people who said he was good at his job, were all fake. And his old company? It just disappeared after he left. It seems like it was a fake company from the very start."
Damian's eyes got small, and his jaw got tight. "So, this wasn't just a sudden attack. She planned this."
"Exactly," I agreed, telling him when it all happened, about the fake company, and how it connected to our big argument at the meeting. "She's been playing a very long game, Damian. This was her backup plan to stop me, to keep me busy fixing my own problems so she could keep taking my work."
A muscle twitched in his jaw. "That tricky snake. I knew she was bad, but this... this is even worse." His voice was quiet, but full of a calm anger I hadn't heard from him before. "She's not just a thief; she's a master planner, and she used both of us."
"That's exactly what Liam and I realized," I said, feeling like we were a strong team now. "But now that we know how deeply she planned all this, it gives us an advantage. We know what we're up against."
Damian leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed and determined. "Good. Because I'm in. Whatever you need, Celeste. Ways to fight her, looking into her past, anything. She needs to be stopped, not just for us, but for anyone else she might try to trick."
His strong help was like a powerful medicine. It wasn't just a friend helping; it was a partner in this fight. Someone who understood how deeply she had hurt us and how she was a danger to our work. We had both been her targets, and now we would both fight back.
"Thank you, Damian," I said, truly thankful. "Liam is still looking for other secret connections. Our most important job now is to gather proof that no one can argue with. Not just for her stealing my ideas, but for this whole sneaky plan of hers."
He nodded, a spark in his eyes. "Think of me as your secret helper for justice. We'll find those unseen strings, Celeste, and we'll cut them."
The air in the room, which was once heavy with worry, now buzzed with a new strong purpose. With Damian by my side, I felt a burst of confidence. Bianca might have pulled secret strings, but now, we were ready to pull back. The game was on, and this time, we were playing to win.