Chapter 255: Caught In The Act

That Monday morning, Claire arrived at the office earlier than usual.

For once, there was a spring in her step.

The weekend had left her feeling unusually confident. She dressed with extra care that morning, choosing a fitted cream sleeveless mini dress beneath a tailored blazer that accentuated her figure.

Her heels clicked crisply against the polished floor as she made her way toward her office, already imagining Morgan’s reaction to the progress she made on the Lexan project.

The moment she stepped into her office, however, her secretary rose from behind her desk.

"Miss Claire, Mr. Morgan asked me to send you to his office as soon as you arrived."

Claire’s lips curved into a pleased smile.

"Did he say why?"

"No, ma’am."

That only made her more curious.

Morgan rarely summoned her personally unless something important was involved.

She was certain he had noticed her contribution.

Perhaps that was why he wanted to see her so early.

Claire walked toward her desk and stopped in front of the mirror.

She opened her handbag, pulled out a compact, and carefully reapplied her lipstick. She dabbed a little powder beneath her eyes, checked her eyeliner, then tilted her chin from side to side.

Perfect.

She smiled at her reflection.

Morgan must have been pleased with her work.

Perhaps this was finally the moment she had been waiting for.

With renewed confidence, Claire slipped the compact back into her handbag and headed toward the elevator.

Her heels struck the marble floor with deliberate rhythm.

Maybe he’ll finally acknowledge what I’ve done for the company.

When the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, Claire stepped out without hesitation.

A moment later, she stood before the CEO’s office.

She pushed the door open.

"Morgan..."

She entered with the confident stride of a queen walking into her own court, wearing the dazzling smile she had practiced countless times in front of her mirror.

But after taking only two steps, she stopped.

Something was wrong. The office was unusually quiet.

Morgan wasn’t looking at his computer.

He wasn’t reviewing documents.

He wasn’t even speaking. He was simply sitting behind his enormous desk, his expression cold and unreadable.

And he wasn’t alone. Dean was sitting across from him.

The usually composed man looked grim.

The smile slowly disappeared from Claire’s face.

"Morgan?" she called again, this time with hesitation creeping into her voice.

"Is something the matter?"

Morgan raised his eyes. The coldness in his gaze made Claire’s stomach tighten.

She had seen Morgan angry before. She had seen him impatient.

But she had never seen him look at her like this.

It was not only anger but also disappointment.

And somehow, that was worse.

Claire unconsciously took a step backward.

"Sit down."

Morgan’s voice was calm.

Far too calm.

Claire swallowed.

She walked toward the visitor’s chair and lowered herself into it, making sure to keep her expression composed.

She stole a glance at Dean.

His eyes met hers for only a second before quickly shifting away.

There was something almost apologetic in his expression.

Claire’s pulse began to race.

Morgan knows something.

She turned back toward the CEO.

"Don’t you have something to confess?"

Morgan’s voice cut through the silence.

Claire’s fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag.

"Confess?"

A cold bead of sweat formed along Claire’s hairline.

She blinked.

For a fraction of a second, her carefully constructed composure cracked.

Then she quickly recovered.

"I... don’t know what you mean."

Morgan leaned back in his chair.

"Really?"

His voice was quiet.

"Then perhaps you can explain a few other things."

Claire’s heart gave a nervous thud.

Morgan stared at her for several seconds before speaking again.

"Are you sure you have nothing you want to confess, Claire?"

Claire forced an innocent expression onto her face.

"I...I ... " she stammered. "It’s about the video edits. I made a mistake, yes, but it wasn’t intentional. Surely it wasn’t serious enough to—"

"Is that all?"

Morgan interrupted. His eyes never left hers.

Claire stopped.

"You are certain there is nothing else you need to tell me?"

Her throat suddenly felt dry.

"I also took leave without informing you directly," she admitted quickly. "But I told my assistant. I didn’t think it would be a problem."

Morgan’s jaw tightened.

"Do you think I’m a fool, Claire?"

The sharpness in his voice made her flinch.

His gaze remained fixed on her.

"The Lexan design blueprint was leaked."

Claire’s heart stumbled. For one terrifying second, the room seemed to tilt.

The blueprint.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag.

She had known this day might come. She had simply hoped it wouldn’t come so soon.

Claire forced herself to blink.

"What... what does that have to do with me?"

Morgan reached beneath a stack of documents and pulled out a thick blue folder.

He placed it on the desk. The sound was soft.

But to Claire, it sounded like a gunshot.

"I gave you a chance to tell me the truth."

Morgan pushed the folder across the desk.

"You chose to lie."

Claire stared at the folder.

For several seconds, she didn’t move.

Then, slowly, she reached for it.

Her fingers felt strangely numb as she opened the cover.

The first photograph made her blood run cold.

It was her. At the club.

The image had been taken from a distance, but there was no mistaking her face.

Claire’s fingers trembled slightly.

She flipped to the next photograph.

Her heart nearly stopped. There she was again.

Being carried by a man whose face was concealed beneath a cap and mask.

Another photograph.

The same man was supporting her as they entered a hotel.

Another.

The hotel corridor.

Another.

The two of them disappearing behind a private suite door.

Claire’s breathing became shallow.

She quickly closed the folder.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Claire slowly lifted her chin.

Her panic disappeared beneath a familiar mask of confidence.

"Morgan..."

She gave him a small, provocative smile.

"These are my private affairs."

She leaned back in the chair as though she had nothing to fear.

Then she tilted her head.

"Don’t tell me..."

Her smile widened.

"You finally care about me?"

She let out a soft laugh.

"Are you jealous?"

Dean, who had been sitting uncomfortably to the side, suddenly coughed.

He turned his face away.

What the hell is this woman talking about?

His eyes flicked toward Morgan.

Does she really want to die faster?

Morgan remained completely still. His expression didn’t change.

But the silence that followed was somehow more frightening than shouting.

Claire’s smile slowly faded. She knew Morgan wasn’t jealous.

He wasn’t hurt. He wasn’t even interested in her private life.

The photographs weren’t meant to expose her affair.

They were meant to show her that Morgan had already begun pulling apart every lie she had told him.

And if these were only the photographs he was willing to show her...

Claire didn’t dare imagine what was in the rest of the folder.