CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE - A Dangerous Game of Trust

At precisely 7 PM, Samantha walked in, her sharp eyes scanning the room before settling on Deonna. She made her way over and sat down without a word. "Thank you for meeting me," Deonna said, her voice hushed. Samantha nodded curtly. "Let's get straight to the point, Ms. Vernetti. You said you have concerns about David Reynolds. What exactly do you think is going on?" Deonna took a deep breath and began to explain everything she and Logan had observed—David's sudden appearance, his rapid rise to influence, and the smear campaign against her and Logan. As she spoke, Samantha's expression grew increasingly grim. When Deonna finished, Samantha leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowed in thought. "I've seen similar tactics before," Samantha said finally. "In fact, I've heard rumors about Reynolds' methods in his previous positions. He's known for leveraging personal relationships to manipulate outcomes in his favor." Deonna's eyes widened. "So you believe me?" Samantha nodded slow