Ella felt like the walls were shifting around her even though everything stood still. The living room was quiet, too quiet, like the air held its breath. She sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on her knees, fingers tangled together so tightly they ached. She tried to stay calm, tried to remind herself they had a plan, but her chest kept rising too fast, falling too slow, like her body refused to cooperate.
Her eyes drifted to the window. Clouds were gathering again, clustering low over the city, darkening the skyline like a bruise spreading under skin. She swallowed hard. "I swear it feels like the whole world is closing in," she muttered under her breath.
Ben walked back into the room, running a hand through his hair, eyes sharp and restless.
"I just sent Lucas everything he asked for," he said, his voice a little rough, a little worn. "Emails. Calendar logs. Reports. Even old security clips."
Ella nodded, even though her head felt stuffed with wool. "Good."
Ben studied her for a second. His gaze softened with worry. "You're shaking."
"No, I'm not," she mumbled.
He raised a brow. She groaned quietly, rubbing her palms together. "Okay, maybe I am."
Ben sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed. "Ella… Rita can't take you down. Not emotionally, not socially, not in any way."
Ella snorted, half-broken. "You're saying that like she hasn't already tried."
"She tried," he corrected gently. "She didn't succeed."
Ella's throat tightened again. She hated that her eyes burned. She hated how fragile she felt in moments like this. "She's dragging my name into places I can't even defend myself. The board? Ben… that's your entire career."
"I don't care about my career if you're the one getting hurt."
Her head snapped toward him. "But I care. I care too much."
Ben's jaw flexed. He stared forward, fingers tapping lightly against his thigh, a tiny anxious habit he didn't even notice he had. "Lucas said it himself. We need to get ahead of her. So that's exactly what we're going to do."
Ella nodded, but the fear still clung to her ribs like claws.
A knock rattled the door again. Ella jumped.
Ben muttered a curse and went to open it.
Lisa stepped inside, face tight with worry, eyes darting around like she expected danger in every corner. "Ella?" she called, voice trembling.
"Mom?" Ella stood up fast. "What are you doing here?"
Lisa hurried over and wrapped her arms around her daughter, holding her so tightly Ella almost couldn't breathe. "I heard something," Lisa whispered shakily. "Someone told Maleek that Rita… that girl… has been spreading horrible lies about you. I couldn't sit still."
Ella felt her chest cave. "Mom, I didn't want you to worry—"
"But I am worried!" Lisa pulled back just enough to cup Ella's face with both hands. "You're my child. How could I not worry?"
Ben stepped closer, clearing his throat gently. "Mrs. Maleek, I'm handling it. Lucas is handling it. Ella isn't alone."
Lisa turned toward Ben, her eyes sharper now. "She better not be alone. And you better be taking this seriously, young man."
Ben let out a low chuckle. "I'm taking it very seriously."
Lisa huffed softly. "Good."
Ella rubbed her forehead. "Mom, really, you shouldn't be stressing. Dad needs you."
Lisa's expression faltered. "Your father is stressed enough. He's blaming himself again. Saying if he hadn't fallen for McDon's betrayal years ago… none of this would be happening."
Ella groaned into her palms. "Oh God…"
Ben's brows pinched. "Maleek shouldn't be blaming himself."
Lisa sighed, sinking into the nearest armchair. "He said history is repeating itself in a different form. That he failed to protect us once… and now you're the one taking the fall."
Ella's lungs constricted. "That's not true."
But Lisa didn't look convinced.
Lucas walked into the room then, closing the door softly behind him. "Sorry, I saw your mom downstairs. I figured I should come up before she panicked more."
"Too late," Lisa muttered.
Lucas cracked a faint smile. "Fair enough."
Ben crossed his arms. "Do you have updates?"
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. I met with the board liaison. The false report didn't spread far. They flagged it, thank God. They were confused about the wording, so they reached out to me quietly."
Ella blinked fast. "Meaning…?"
"Meaning Rita didn't hit as hard as she thought she did."
Ella breathed out shakily, shoulders slumping in relief.
"But," Lucas continued, voice dipping, "this also means she's going to try something bigger next."
Ella groaned softly into her hands. "Of course she is. Why wouldn't she?"
Ben rested a steadying hand on her thigh. "We'll be ready."
Lucas sat on the arm of the couch, leaning forward. "This is where we tighten the circle. No one else gets access to you both unless we approve it."
Lisa frowned. "That sounds extreme."
"It is," Lucas agreed. "But necessary."
Ella stared at the floor, her voice low. "She's really trying to tear us apart."
Ben shook his head. "She won't."
Lucas folded his arms. "We need to stay ahead. I've already started building a timeline of Rita's behavior. Every lie. Every manipulation. Every witness."
Ella lifted her eyes. "What about Jasper?"
Lucas's jaw tightened. "He's smart. Sneaky. Hard to pin down. But I'm working on it."
Ben exhaled. "So now we're waiting."
"No," Lucas corrected. "We're preparing."
A long silence settled over the room. Heavy. Thick.
Ella finally stood and walked toward the window. Rain had started falling, tapping softly against the glass. "It's like she doesn't want us to breathe," she whispered.
Ben moved behind her, slipping his arms around her waist, his chin resting near her temple. "Breathe anyway," he murmured. "Let her choke on the fact that she didn't break you."
Ella closed her eyes. "I'm trying."
"I know." Ben tightened his hold. "And you're doing better than you think."
Lisa watched them with soft worry in her eyes. "Ella… be careful. Don't lose yourself in this battle."
Ella turned, hugging her mom again. "I won't."
Lucas glanced at his watch. "I need to run two checks before evening. But I'll be back. Don't open the door for anyone except me."
"Paranoid much?" Ella muttered, half-smiling.
"Realistic," Lucas corrected.
He left.
Lisa followed soon after, though reluctantly.
The house fell quiet again.
Ella rested her head against Ben's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Strong. Steady. Real.
"Ben," she murmured, voice small, "what if she tries to hurt someone close to me? My parents… or you…"
"She won't get close." Ben's fingers brushed her cheek. "She's losing her grip, Ella. The more desperate she gets, the more mistakes she'll make."
Ella nodded slowly, the tension finally beginning to ease off her shoulders.
But deep inside, deep where fears hide and anxieties whisper, Ella knew this was only the beginning.
Rita was cornered now.
And cornered people were the most dangerous.