The days following Henry's sudden departure from Alison's apartment felt like a blur. Each moment crawled by with a heavy, suffocating tension, and the office atmosphere only magnified her growing sense of dread. Henry had not contacted her since their emotional confrontation. He had disappeared behind a wall of professionalism, shielding himself with meetings and work that kept him out of her sight and reach.
Alison sat at her desk, her eyes darting nervously around the office. Her heart raced each time someone passed by, half-expecting Henry to storm into the room and fire her on the spot. She had confessed to him in a moment of weakness, believing that telling the truth would at least clear the air, but now she wasn't sure if it had been the right decision. Henry had looked at her like a stranger, his face a mix of disbelief and betrayal.
The stakes had never been higher. She knew she had to act quickly; her employer had been getting impatient. She hadn't delivered the information they demanded, and her position within the company was now more precarious than ever. Henry's suspicion, if not already confirmed, was a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
Her phone buzzed on the desk. She glanced down and saw a new message from her handler:
*"Status update. You're running out of time. Deliver what we need, or there will be consequences."*
Alison's stomach churned. The threat was implicit but clear. She had to make a choice—now.
She took a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she began to type a reply:
*"I have access to a highly confidential project. I'll have what you need soon."*
She hesitated before pressing send, her thumb hovering over the screen. She didn't want to betray Henry, not after everything, but she also knew she had no other option. She had to protect herself, and she had to find a way out of this mess. She pressed send, and a wave of anxiety washed over her. There was no turning back now.
---
Later that afternoon, Henry finally emerged from his office, his face impassive as he walked through the open-plan workspace. Alison could feel his presence like a magnetic pull, her eyes following him despite herself. He barely glanced her way, instead heading straight toward the conference room where several high-level executives were waiting.
She knew this was her chance. She had to make a decisive move if she wanted to complete her mission. She stood up, smoothing her skirt nervously, and walked over to the door, knocking softly.
"Come in," Henry's voice called from inside.
She pushed the door open, forcing a smile as she stepped inside. "Henry, do you have a moment?" she asked, keeping her tone light.
The executives glanced at her, surprised by the interruption, but Henry waved them off. "Give us a few minutes," he instructed. The room slowly emptied, leaving just the two of them alone.
"What do you need, Alison?" Henry asked, his tone businesslike, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—conflict, maybe, or curiosity.
"I wanted to talk about the special project you assigned me," she said carefully, choosing her words with precision. "I think I have some ideas that could be valuable."
Henry leaned back in his chair, his expression guarded. "Go on."
"I know I've made mistakes," she began, "but I'm dedicated to proving my worth. I want to help you, to make this project a success."
Henry's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flash of the old warmth in his gaze. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Alison took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I've been doing some research, digging into the data you provided. I've found a few potential vulnerabilities that we could address. But… I need more access to certain files to get the full picture."
Henry studied her carefully, his face unreadable. "You want more access?"
"Yes," she replied, trying to sound confident. "I want to be able to contribute fully. To show you that I'm not just some clueless employee. I know I've given you reasons to doubt me, but I'm serious about making things right."
There was a tense silence as Henry continued to scrutinize her, weighing his options. Finally, he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "You think you can make things right just like that?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with doubt.
"I'm willing to try," she said earnestly. "I want to prove myself, Henry. To you, and to the company."
Henry sighed, his eyes still fixed on her. "I'll consider it," he said at last. "But understand this, Alison—I'm not giving you any more chances. If you cross me again, there will be no coming back."
Alison nodded, feeling a mix of relief and fear. "I understand," she whispered.
He waved a hand dismissively. "You can go now. I have a meeting."
She nodded again and quickly exited the room, feeling the weight of his stare on her back. She couldn't tell if he believed her or not, but she knew she had bought herself a little more time.
---
Back at her desk, Alison's mind raced. She had a plan, but it was risky—one that would require all her cunning and nerves of steel. She had to get her hands on the files, but she also had to make sure she didn't get caught. She waited until late in the evening when most of the office had emptied out, and she slipped out of her cubicle, making her way to Henry's office.
The door was locked, of course, but she had prepared for this. She quickly took out the small tool kit she had hidden in her purse and began working on the lock. Her hands shook slightly, but she focused on the task, blocking out everything else.
After what felt like an eternity, the lock clicked open. She pushed the door quietly and stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest. The office was dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of the city lights outside. She moved quickly to Henry's desk, searching through the papers and files scattered across it.
She found what she was looking for—a file labeled "CONFIDENTIAL." She grabbed it, her hands shaking as she opened it, scanning the documents inside. This was it—the information her employer needed, the key to her mission.
She pulled out her phone, preparing to take photos, when she suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Her heart leaped into her throat. She quickly shoved the file back into the drawer and closed it, turning off her phone's flashlight.
The footsteps grew louder. She knew she had only seconds. She ducked behind the desk, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The door creaked open, and she held her breath, praying she wouldn't be discovered.
"Who's in here?" a voice demanded. It wasn't Henry, but a security guard.
Alison's mind raced. She needed to think fast. She waited, crouched in the shadows, until she heard the footsteps retreat. She waited a few moments longer, just to be sure, then slipped out of the room as quietly as she could.
Her heart was still pounding as she made her way back to her desk. She had been so close to getting caught, but she couldn't give up now. She would have to find another way—one that didn't involve sneaking around in the dark.
She sat back down, her mind racing with possibilities. She had to make her move soon, but she also had to be smart. One wrong step, and everything she had worked for would come crashing down around her. She would have to think of something fast.
As she stared at her computer screen, an idea began to form in her mind—one last desperate move to turn the tide in her favor. She knew it was a gamble, but at this point, she had nothing left to lose.
Tomorrow, she would make her decisive move. And no matter what happened, there would be no turning back.