Chapter 53: Someone Wanted Them to Fight

Louis arrived in twenty-six minutes. Freya knew because she checked the clock when the door opened. He entered without removing his coat and went directly to the dining table where she had already written down everything Serena told her.

"Start from the beginning," he said.

Freya repeated the conversation carefully, separating Serena's exact claims from her own interpretation. Louis listened without interrupting, occasionally asking for a date or detail.

When she finished, he leaned back. "Anonymous intelligence reached Ethan while information was leaking from my side."

"That's what it sounds like."

Louis opened his phone and called Derek. Twenty minutes later, Derek was in the apartment with a laptop. Freya made coffee while the two men compared Serena's timeline with Victor's suspected activity.

Several dates overlapped.

Derek pointed at the screen. "This anonymous report told Hale Corporation you were preparing to acquire Marston Logistics. You weren't."

"I considered it," Louis said, "but rejected the acquisition before negotiations began."

Freya understood immediately. "So someone knew enough about your internal discussions to turn an abandoned idea into a threat."

Derek nodded. "Hale responded by pursuing Marston first. Louis interpreted that as Ethan interfering in another deal."

"Which made you retaliate somewhere else," Freya guessed.

Louis looked at her. "Yes."

A pattern emerged. Real information had been mixed with misleading information. Each side was encouraged to believe the other was becoming more aggressive. The conflict had still been real, but someone had repeatedly poured fuel onto it.

"Who benefited?" Freya asked.

Louis and Derek answered almost simultaneously. "Several people."

Competitors bought assets cheaply after Stone Holdings collapsed. Knox Group expanded into abandoned markets. Investors profited from volatility. Executives escaped with valuable contacts. The list was too long.

Freya tapped Victor's name. "But he had access early enough to help start it."

"If the evidence is real," Louis said.

He refused to condemn Victor before proof was complete, and Freya respected that restraint.

Derek began compiling a list of every misleading tip Ethan's side might have received. "We need Hale's records."

Louis's expression cooled. "I'm not asking Ethan for help."

Freya stared at him. "Why not?"

"Because I don't trust him."

"You don't need to trust him. You need his data."

Derek suddenly became extremely interested in his laptop.

Louis looked at Freya. "He used those tips against me."

"And you retaliated against him. Congratulations, you were both manipulated successfully."

His eyes narrowed. "You're taking his side?"

"I'm taking the side of finding out who played both of you." Freya folded her arms. "You can return to hating each other afterward."

Derek coughed. Freya pointed at him. "And don't start with the weak lungs again."

A reluctant silence followed before Louis finally said, "I'll consider contacting him."

"Good." Freya gathered the empty coffee cups. "Look at that. Communication. Character development."

Louis frowned at the phrase, remembering almost identical comments he had left under her novel as L.

Freya walked into the kitchen without noticing his reaction. Behind her, Derek looked at Louis suspiciously, then slowly smiled as though he had understood something. Louis gave him a warning look. Derek wisely said nothing.

Once Derek left, Louis remained at the table studying the timeline. Freya placed a fresh cup of coffee beside him without speaking. He looked at it, then at her retreating figure. Their strange partnership had begun with her promising to support him through poverty. Somehow it had evolved into her pointing out weaknesses in a corporate conspiracy while reminding him to eat dinner.