"Was it discovered?": While technically correct, in a corporate espionage context, we often say "Was it compromised?" or "Did they catch us?"
"Cane Inc.": In business dramas, if a company is a major rival, referring to them as "The Cane Group" or just "Cane" adds a bit of weight.
"Cause trouble with someone": To sound more like a high-stakes drama, I used "Offend someone" or "Cross the wrong person."
"Mandy": Since you used the nickname "Mandy" in the dialogue, I've kept it, but ensured the shift from the heavy Javier scene to the lighter (but still tense) home scene feels distinct.
Polished Version
Javier stood by the window of his apartment, one hand shoved in his pocket and the other gripping his phone as his secretary reported the situation.
"Mr. Harris, our plan has been intercepted."
Javier's gaze remained fixed on the city lights below, his eyes cold and distant. "Was it compromised?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low chill.
The secretary's voice was cautious. "Yes, sir."
Javier snorted. "I suppose it was inevitable. Who is Derrick Kent to be fooled by those idiots, anyway?"
The secretary fell silent, offering no excuses. After a long pause, Javier asked with a hint of mounting annoyance, "What about Cane Inc.?"
"Cane Inc. still hasn't made a move to interfere with the Harris Group project," the secretary replied quickly.
Javier squinted, deep in thought. If they hadn't moved yet, it didn't mean they wouldn't. "Fine. If that's all, hang up."
He tossed the phone aside and walked into the bedroom. Elena lay there, looking pale and fragile, a warm towel draped across her forehead.
"How are you feeling?" Javier sat on the edge of the bed, dipping the towel into a bowl of warm water before replacing it on her brow.
Elena opened her eyes, looking at him with a heart-wrenching sadness. "Javie... I'm so uncomfortable."
After being locked in a warehouse all night and exposed to the biting winter air, Elena's body had finally given out. Luckily, a worker had discovered her early that morning. If she had been left any longer, she wouldn't be lying here with a high fever—she'd be in the morgue.
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Javier's expression softened, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "How did you end up trapped in there?"
At the mention of the incident, Elena's tears overflowed. "Someone locked me in, Javie! Have you found out who did it?"
"The security footage was wiped," Javier said, his brow furrowing. "I sent someone to check, but the recordings from that window are gone." He paused, looking at her intently. "Did you offend someone again?"
He knew Elena's personality; she was even more impulsive than Amanda. He suspected she had crossed someone she shouldn't have.
Elena began to sob harder. "I didn't do anything! I was stuck in that shabby place all night with cockroaches and mice. I was terrified!"
Javier let out a tired sigh. He reached out to wipe her tears, his voice dropping to a gentle coo. "Alright, it's over now. Stop crying, or you'll only make yourself more exhausted."
Elena eventually calmed down, though she gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let go. Javier caressed her face, his gaze turning serious. "Lena... about what I asked you last time. Will you help me?"
Elena's pupils shrank. She bit her lip. "Do you... do you really want to push me toward another man?"
Javier let out a pained sigh and pressed her hand against his cheek, his expression one of pure misery. "Lena, you know I can't stand the thought of it. But you are the only person I can trust with this."
As her resolve wavered, Javier added with sudden, desperate determination, "If you don't want to do it, I'll resign. We can leave everything behind and move abroad together."
"No!" Elena cried out, her mind in a whirl. She held his hand with all her strength. "You've worked so hard for years to plan all of this. How can you give it up for me? I... I'll do it. I'll help you."
Javier leaned down and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Lena. When I take back the Harris family, I'll make sure you never suffer again."
"Javie, remember... you're the only one I love," she whispered.
"I know. I'll always remember."
Behind her back, where Elena couldn't see, Javier's eyes were like ice. You keep saying you love me, he thought with a sneer, but you only love my wealth.
He was convinced that the moment he mentioned resigning, her "love" had been replaced by a fear of losing her future status. He didn't realize that Elena—despite her flaws—was actually willing to sacrifice her dignity because she loved him more than she loved money.
The week passed in a blur. Amanda was completely buried in the script for Deep Friendship, often forgetting to eat or sleep. Her focus was so absolute that she almost entirely ignored her husband—who had only agreed to this "hobby" on the condition that it wouldn't interfere with their life.
Every day when Quentin came home from work, his first thought wasn't a greeting; it was a silent prayer that the script had somehow gotten shorter. Watching her pore over every page night after night was starting to wear on his patience.
"Mandy, stop reading for a second," he coaxed, leaning over to nudge her. "Come here, I'll give you a massage."
Amanda swatted his hand away without looking up. "Don't bother me. Besides, didn't you say yesterday that we did enough?"
Quentin withdrew his hand, staring at the script as if he wanted to burn a hole through it. Maybe I should just invest in the production, he thought darkly. I could tell Director Maxwell to postpone the auditions... or better yet, cancel the movie entirely so she doesn't have to spend all day with Jasper.
Amanda, lost in the world of her character, had no idea her husband was currently plotting the downfall of her entire career.