“I understand,” I said.

“Ensure you do,” my father said. “I expect confirmation of the rejection on my desk by morning.”

The line went dead.

I held the receiver to my ear for a few seconds before slowly placing it back in the cradle.

The silence in the office returned, heavier than before.

I looked at the blue light of the monitor reflecting off the polished surface of my desk.

I placed my hand on the mouse.

My thumb rested on the left-click button.

The cursor was positioned directly over the red button that read: *AUTHORIZE TRANSFER.*

I stared at Nathan’s photograph in the top corner of the file.

He looked young, determined, and entirely unaware of the trap he had stepped into.

If I clicked the button, I would set off a chain reaction that would tear my family apart.

My phone on the desk buzzed again.

This time, it was a text message from an unknown number.

I picked it up and tapped the screen.

It was a message from Nathan.

*Please, Evelyn. I know you work in that office. I need this.*