WE MET IN AN ELEVATOR DURING A BLACKOUT. THE LIGHTS CAME ON TOO SOON. part -5

The morning sun glared off Tiffany's windows as we stood outside, the stolen ring burning a hole in Daniel's pocket.

"You realize," I said, adjusting my sunglasses, "this is technically our third date. Elevator, jailhouse, felony return."

Daniel's mouth quirked. "I prefer to think of it as our first honest date." He held the door open. "After you, partner-in-crime."

Inside, the air smelled like money and regret. A sales associate with a name tag reading "Clarissa" beamed at us.

"Returning or shopping for something special?"

Daniel slid the ring across the counter. "A little of both."

Clarissa's smile froze when she opened the box. Her manicured finger hovered over the panic button.

"Wait," I blurted. "There's a story—"

A door burst open behind us.

"Ah, Mr. Carter." A silver-haired man emerged—the same lawyer from the station, now wearing a Tiffany's manager pin. "Right on time."

Daniel stiffened. "You."

I looked between them. "You know each other?"

The lawyer smiled. "I represent Tiffany's and the Carter family. Quite the coincidence your brother targeted my client, isn't it?"

My blood ran cold.

Daniel stepped closer. "This was a setup."

"An audition," the lawyer corrected. He produced a contract. "Your uncle's offer stands. Take your rightful place as VP of Security—prove you can handle the family business—and all charges disappear." He nodded at me. "Even for your... friend."

The pieces clicked:

Daniel's sudden appearance in my building

The "chance" blackouts

Ethan's inexplicable robbery timing

I turned to Daniel. "You used us."

His jaw tightened. "Not the way you think."

The lawyer tapped the contract. "The Bancroft boy already signed. Smart kid—unlike your brother."

Bancroft. Tyler Bancroft—Ethan's getaway driver.

My voice shook. "You recruited college kids to stage robberies... to test Daniel?"

"To see if he'd protect the family legacy," the lawyer said smoothly. He pushed the contract forward. "Sign, and your elevator Cinderella keeps her clean record."

Daniel snatched the pen—

—and threw it across the room.

"Tell my uncle," he said, pulling me toward the exit, "I quit."

The lawyer's smile vanished. "You'll regret this."

Daniel didn't look back.

Outside, I wrenched free. "Explain. Now."

Rain began to fall as Daniel confessed:

His uncle ran a "security empire" with questionable methods

The elevator meeting was staged... until he truly met me

He'd been trying to expose the operation when Ethan got caught

A taxi splashed past.

"So what now?" I asked.

Daniel took my hand, pressing something into my palm—not the stolen ring, but a new one. Simple. Silver. Honest.

"Now," he said, "we go save your brother."

[To Be Continued...]