The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 140

Chapter 140: A national scandal

"Crystal clear, sir," Hawkins said, ending the call with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

The director of intelligence stood outside the president's office, arranging his thoughts himself for a good while. After a moment's hesitation, he knocked and entered at the president's call. President Edward Ricardo looked up from his desk, his expression expectant. "Reeves, I hope you have good news for me.

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Receives cleared his throat. "I'm afraid not, Mr. President. I've just received word from the

field team. Anya Shaw... We failed to capture her. She's gone received word from the

The president's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "What do you mean, 'gone'? How is that possible?"

"It appears the Shaw family moved her before our agents arrived, sir. We're still investigating how they knew about the operation."

The president slammed his fist on the desk, causing Reeves to flinch. "This is unacceptable! Do you have any idea what's at stake here, Reeves?"

"Sir, I assure you, we're doing everything in our power to locate her. But the Shaw organization is-"

"I don't want excuses!" Ricardo shouted, cutting him off. "I want results. New orders. I want every member of the Shaw family brought in. Every last one of them."

Reeves felt a chill run down his spine. "Mr. President, with all due respect, that's not possible. We don't have probable cause for most of them. It would be a clear violation of their constitutional rights."

Ricardo's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Did I stutter, Director? This is a direct order from your Commander in Chief. Bring them in. All of them. I don't care how you do it."

"Sir, I must protest," Reeves said, his voice firm despite his growing unease. "This is illegal. We can't just round up an entire family without cause. If we do this, the Shaw family will have something on the agency. All of our previous findings and investigation could be ruled as a personal vendetta."

step back. "I don't care about your precious protocols. This is bigger than you know. Now, are you going to follow my orders, or do I need to

all this goes south, he

long moment, the director spoke, his voice barely above

had taken his order and turned to leave. But

Daily, reporter Jack Winters was wrapping up his latest story when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the

he recognized as one of his

His a national

quickened. "I'm

the voice said, pausing for effect. "He's about to be

dropped his phone. "What? That's... that's insane.

sure. Parliament's called an emergency session. It's going down, Jack. And

his mind whirling. This couldn't be real. The President, involved in organized crime? It was too fantastical to

you hear? Parliament's just called an emergency session. Something big's happening. Jack felt the blood drain from his face. It was true.

moment's hesitation, he jumped to his feet and made his way to the office of Evelyn Blackwood, the formidable editor-in-chief of

burst into her office, slightly out of

her computer, her eyes narrowing. "This better

charges of heading organized crime." Blackwood's eyebrows shot up.

an emergency session," Jack pressed on. "It fits. And my source has never been

clearly racing. "If this is true, it's the story

"but my gut says this is

on

he turned to leave, Blackwood called out, "And Winters? If

hurried back to the newsroom, his mind already racing

to brief his colleagues, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on pure Intel. This would

for the president but for them too. There was snow news