The Billionaire's Untouchable Assistant

Mara's POV 

Malik sat in his office, eyes narrowed, phone in hand. The screenshots were still open on his laptop. Her login. Her ID. The perfect trap.

He'd seen many things in his career; fraud, betrayal, ambition dressed in fake smiles; but this? This stung more than he was willing to admit.

He didn't want to believe Mara could do it.

But the evidence… it was damning.

Still, something about it didn't sit right.

She didn't even know the file's content. She'd been nowhere near that department. Her schedule, her access; it didn't align.

And Layla.

He hated how quickly her name entered his thoughts. The timing. The smirk she wore this morning like she already won.

He slammed his laptop shut.

Enough.

He dialed his private investigator. "I want a deep dive. Every access log. Every move made on that server. I want to know who really touched that file."

He couldn't trust HR.

Couldn't trust IT.

But there was one person he found himself trusting; even now.

He stood, grabbed his jacket, and left his office, heading down to the executive floor.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, he saw her.

Mara.

She didn't flinch when their eyes met. Didn't break her stride.

She walked toward him, confidence stitched into every step, pain buried in her spine.

"Mr. Haidar," she greeted, cool and composed.

"Mara," he said, voice even.

There was a beat of silence.

"I need to speak with you," they said at the same time.