Page 79 of Hidden Heir

“I do? Do you know who it is?” I ask with a grin, looping my arm through Selina’s.

She leads me down the stairs toward my office and shakes her head. “Nope, but I think it’s one of your people.”

My people. She’s referring to the countless people we’ve rescued since my project with the Irish took off. Every person under Koval ownership has been set free and given new lives, just as promised. Ronan has been helping Leon and I track down every sale, starting with the most recent ones, and organizing transport for those who are overseas. A lot of the victims had no family and no home, which made them the perfect target for human trafficking. I’ve been spending most of my time trying to get them set up with homes and jobs so they can live their lives.

It’s nice to see Leon so determined to earn forgiveness and turn around the family’s reputation, much to the chagrin of his father. Despite Kreik’s agreeing to Leon’s changes, he still makes a few comments here and there about wasted opportunities.

So I decided to present a new proposal to him.

Drugs. More specifically, pharmaceutical drugs. Countless people were rescued and medical treatment was required. After forking out hundreds of thousands in hospital bills within two weeks, something clicked in my mind. I drew up a plan with my limited knowledge and presented it to Kreik. No one else in the drug business was focusing on pharmaceuticals making it an untapped market.

Kreik was silent for a long time but then by some insane stroke of luck, he agreed.

It was one of my proudest moments.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Selina says when we reach my office. “See you at dinner!” She hurries away and I wave before walking over to my desk phone flashing with the held call.

I slide into my chair. “Hello?”

“Hi,” says a small voice. “Is this Brooke?”

“Yes it is. Who is this?”

“It’s Orla.”

Orla. I run through the hundreds of people I’ve been dealing with this week and suddenly her face pops into my mind.

“Orla!”

We rescued her from a drug smuggling ring that relied on force-feeding condoms full of product into their mules and shipping them across the world. When we saved her, she was a shell of herself, but in just a few weeks she’s blossomed. “How are you? Is everything alright?” I ask as I pull up her file.

“Everything is great, actually. I wanted to call and let you know that I got the waitress job you helped me apply for.”

“Orla, that’s amazing!” I cheer. “I’m so proud of you!”

“And with my first paycheck, I was able to put down a deposit on my own apartment yesterday.”

Excitement bursts through me like a firework and I kick my legs under the desk. “Yes! Orla, this is incredible news. You need to send me pictures of your new place. I want to see everything!”

“Will do. I just wanted to say thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

My heart swells. We’ve been transparent with every single person we’ve rescued. Each person we help must agree to sign an NDA—in exchange for our assistance they must agree not to press any charges against me or the Koval family.

Due to Leon’s influence, even the angry ones who have asked for millions have been sent away happy. There is no limit to what he will do to make up for what he and his family did. So when someone calls to thank me, I know it’s genuine.

“This is all you,” I say, unable to stop smiling. “I just gave you a nudge. Now, remember, if you ever need any help, money or otherwise, you give me a call. Promise?”

“I promise,” Orla says and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Thank you.”

“Take care, sweetie.” The call ends and I can barely sit still. Every thank you means the world to me, and I hope that wherever Hannah is, she’s proud. Every person I save is in her memory.

Unable to contain my happiness, I dart up from my seat.

I need to find Leon and tell him the good news.

It takesme several minutes to find him, and after searching the entire house, the bedroom is my last resort though probably where I should have checked first. I find him standing half-naked near the dresser, trying to work out a knot in one of his silk ties. His eyes lock onto me the moment I rush in the door, a flash of panic in them.

“Is everything okay?”

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