Mark smiled, catching the excitement in her tone. "Yeah, it's a bit of a personal matter. I need you to hack into Dr. Otim's phone."
Anushka froze for a moment, processing his words. Dr. Otim… The name rang a bell. Though she hadn't interacted with him much, she knew he was an influential figure. The request was bold, to say the least.
"Alright," she finally said, nodding slowly. "Send me the details."
Mark checked his watch and sighed. "I've got a long meeting to attend."
"Just don't keep me waiting," she teased, flashing him a playful smile.
Mark chuckled lightly. "I won't."
"Mark, we need to leave, it's getting late," Emily interjected, her tone impatient but polite.
Mark glanced back at Anushka. "Feel free to head home; there's nothing else for you to do today. I won't be around until tomorrow." His voice softened, a subtle warmth in his words as he made Emily none the wiser.
"See you around," Emily said with a friendly wave.
Anushka waved back, watching as the two exited the room. Once the door clicked shut, she let out a small breath and returned to her game, her fingers lazily tapping at the controls. Her gaze, however, kept drifting to her phone, waiting for Mark's promised message.
Ten minutes passed, and still no sign of him. Her patience wore thin. "He promised not to keep me waiting," she grumbled, picking up her phone and firing off a quick message.
Anushka: You promised, and now you're breaking it.
The message went unread for what felt like an eternity but was only a couple of minutes. She huffed in frustration. "He can't even keep a simple promise."
Just as she was about to give up, her phone chimed. Her annoyance melted into a small smile as she opened her inbox—a detailed email from Mark, complete with everything she needed for the task. Before she could finish reading, another notification popped up.
Mark: Didn't know you were this impatient—or should I say, eager? Anyway, I trust you.
Rolling her eyes at his teasing tone, Anushka dismissed the text, her focus shifting to the email. Without wasting another moment, she dove into the task, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Anushka leaned back in her chair, her mind zeroing in on the mission at hand: infiltrating Dr. Otim's phone. The thrill of the task sent a ripple of excitement through her, even as a faint unease lingered in the back of her mind. She didn't know why Mark wanted this done or what he was after—but the request itself was enough to ignite her curiosity.
Pushing the thoughts aside, she powered up another of her babies, sleek and Linux-based, running Kali Linux—the ultimate tool for ethical hackers.
The process began with reconnaissance. Using Nmap, she scanned for vulnerabilities in Dr. Otim's phone. A stroke of luck revealed that the device was connected to the same Wi-Fi network she had access to. Even better, the phone ran an outdated Android operating system, leaving it wide open to several exploits.
With a smirk, Anushka got to work crafting the perfect payload. She launched MSFVenom from the Metasploit Framework to create a trojanized APK file, disguised as a legitimate medical assistant app. If Dr. Otim downloaded it, she'd gain remote access to his phone in seconds.
Next, she used the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) to craft a convincing phishing email. Mimicking an official update from the app store, the email included a link for Dr. Otim to download the fake APK. It was seamless—her handiwork impeccable.
"Let's see if you'll take the bait," she muttered under her breath, sending the email.
Hours passed, and nothing happened. Anushka tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk. It had been five hours since she sent the email, and Dr. Otim hadn't even opened it. What is he doing, ignoring his inbox for this long? she thought, frustration building.
She refreshed her tracking tool for the hundredth time, leaning back in her chair with a groan. "Come on, doctor. Don't you ever check your email?"
Her determination didn't waver, though. If anything, the delay only heightened her resolve. She wasn't just doing this for Mark—she was proving something to herself.
And yet, a small voice whispered in the back of her mind. Why does Mark need this? What's he after?
She shook her head, banishing the thought. Whatever his reasons, she had a job to do. Yet, the situation was becoming increasingly frustrating. She yawned for what felt like the hundredth time—it was already getting late. Seven hours, she thought in disbelief. A task as simple as this shouldn't have taken her this long. Not that she doubted her own competence, but it seemed the fish simply wasn't biting.
Her phone chimed, breaking the silence.
Mark: No feedback from you yet. Why?
Anushka frowned and quickly typed back.
Anushka: Not in.
A few seconds later, another message popped up.
Mark: Really?????
Anushka: Let's just say he's quite a busy man—or maybe he's not much of an email reader.
Mark: Ooh… Anyway, no rush. Still at the office.
Anushka: Yep.
A moment of silence passed before another message arrived.
Mark: Ruhi, you're so stubborn. Working this late is not good for you. I think I should come and drive you home.
Anushka: No need. I was leaving anyway. I'll continue from home.
Mark's concern brought a small smile to her lips. He always had a way of showing he cared, even in his own reserved manner. Before leaving, Anushka quickly set up a remote connection between the computer at the office and her laptop. She initiated an SSH connection, securely pairing the two devices so she could access the office system later. After a quick test, she confirmed everything was working perfectly.
She packed up her things, unplugged her laptop from the docking station, and slung her bag over her shoulder. It was time to head home.
As Anushka exited her office, she walked down the corridor to the elevator. The quiet hum of the building felt almost calming at this hour. Pressing the elevator button, she waited for a moment before the doors slid open with a soft ding. She stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. The ride down was smooth, and her reflection in the polished elevator walls caught her attention. She looked tired but satisfied with her efforts so far.
When the doors opened at the lobby, she walked over to the reception desk where Janice, the receptionist, was stationed.
"Still here this late?" Janice asked with a smile, her warm tone breaking the stillness of the otherwise empty reception area.
"I should be asking the same question, anyway couldn't leave until I wrapped up something," Anushka replied, leaning lightly against the counter.
"It's been a busy day that's why I'm still around. But Miss Shah, You work too hard. You'll wear yourself out," Janice teased.
"Tell that to Mark," Anushka quipped, chuckling softly. "He's the one always pushing me."
Janice raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'll tell him. But I doubt he'll listen. He's quite fond of you, though."
Anushka shrugged, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Anyway, my ride should be here soon."
They continued chatting for a few minutes until Janice glanced toward the building's main entrance. "There's your Uber," she said, nodding toward the sleek black car pulling up to the checkpoint outside.
"Thanks, Janice. See you tomorrow! But please Anushka is better, instead of Miss Shah " Anushka said, waving as she walked toward the door.
"Alright Anushka, get home safe!" Janice called after her.