CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN - WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS?

Max's jaw clenched, his earlier jealousy flaring up again. "I knew he was up to something. We need to get that contract back." "Agreed," Ava said, pushing aside the lingering tension from their argument. "But how? We can't exactly accuse Lucas without proof, and if we alert Novatech, it could derail the entire merger." Max paced the room, his agitation palpable. "We need to think like Lucas. If he has the contract, where would he keep it?" Ava's mind raced, recalling every detail of her interactions with Lucas. "He mentioned having a suite here at the hotel. Said it was more convenient than commuting from his company's offices across town." "That's where we start then," Max said, a determined glint in his eye. "We need to get into that suite." Ava raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you propose we do that? We can't just break in." Max's smile was all sharp edges. "No, but we can be creative. I have an idea, but you're not going to like it." As Max outlined his plan, Ava felt