CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN - The Art of Manipulation

Come on, let's go home." As they left the office, Mara couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the precipice of something much larger and more dangerous than they had initially thought. The question was, were they ready for what they might uncover? Back at their penthouse, Mara stood by the window, gazing out at the twinkling lights of the city. Cassius approached, handing her a glass of wine. "Penny for your thoughts?" he asked softly. Mara took a sip before answering. "I just can't stop thinking about all of this. Cassius, what if... what if we're in over our heads?" Cassius set his glass down and pulled her close. "Hey, look at me," he said, tilting her chin up gently. "We're in this together, okay? Whatever we're up against, we'll face it as a team." Mara nodded, trying to draw strength from his confidence. But as she lay in bed that night, sleep eluding her, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that they were missing something crucial. Something that, once re