"How come I didn't get the memo that you and the professor are twinning today?" Jack's voice was playfully offended, eyes flicking between Kayla and Oliver.
"There is no twinning!" Kayla huffed, her glare landing on Oliver, who merely raised a brow. He was dressed exactly like her—same vest, same color scheme. He copied her. The audacity.
Kayla rummaged through her tote bag, pulled out a black marker, and quickly drew a heart on her vest. Anything to not be associated with him.
As she passed by Oliver, she smirked. He rolled his eyes, muttering, "Childish."
But a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. She thought she had the upper hand. She thought she could beat him at his own game, but he knew better. He was the one in control. What could he not do to break her? And why did he even want to?
"You are not worthy to be in this class, or a hacker for that matter!" Reigna's sharp voice pierced through the room. She sat in front of Kayla, her head turned back, lips curling into a sneer.
"And somehow, someone in heaven decided that you, of all people, determine who's worthy or not?" Kayla shot back, her voice thick with sarcasm. "The irony is lost on me."
Reigna narrowed her eyes. "You must have hacked his Pinterest, right? That's the only way you're both matching."
"How do you even know he has Pinterest?" Kayla quipped with a knowing smile.
Reigna scowled. "Stalking is a crime, you know. You should be careful."
"Stalking? Oh, Reigna, we both know the professor is against unethical practices like that. So, I'd suggest you mind your own business, or I'll mind it for you." Kayla's voice was calm but icy, her gaze unflinching.
Reigna shot daggers at her before turning back around, defeated. Jack whisper-yelled, "You go, girl!"
At the front of the class, Oliver began his lecture, the projector's light casting sharp shadows across his face. His voice was steady, and deliberate, as he laid out the topic.
"Today we'll be exploring side-channel attacks," he announced, clicking to the next slide. "These attacks don't target cryptographic algorithms directly but exploit information from the system's physical implementation. Power consumption, electromagnetic leaks, even the sound of a keyboard can be used to gain access."
The next slide showed fluctuating power signals next to lines of encrypted code.
"These methods, while technically brilliant, raise ethical concerns. Is it acceptable to develop such skills, knowing they can be used to—"
"To save lives?" Kayla's voice cut through the air like a whip, interrupting him mid-sentence.
The room collectively froze. Oliver's jaw clenched as he slowly looked up, eyes narrowing. "Did you just interrupt me?" His fingers tapped lightly against the podium, the slight tick of his jaw the only outward sign of his irritation.
Kayla didn't flinch. "I don't mean to interrupt you, professor, but what you're talking about—side-channel attacks—yeah, they can be dangerous. But they can also be used for good. What if a hacker used them to disable a corrupt government's nuclear program? Isn't that worth something?"
Oliver's brow furrowed as a smirk curled the edge of his lips. "You're suggesting that we bypass ethical considerations in the name of... what? A greater good?"
He felt pity and anger at her naivety. There was no greater good. The scars on his back proved it. The darkness in his heart justified it.
"I'm saying that sometimes technology pushes us into ethically uncomfortable situations. We can't afford to stand on some moral high ground when lives are on the line. The world isn't black and white."
The tension in the room thickened, every student waiting with bated breath. Oliver moved away from the podium, taking a few slow steps toward her.
"Ethical relativism, then? The ends justify the means?" His voice was sharp, challenging her.
Kayla met his gaze, unflinching. "Sometimes, yes. We have a responsibility to get our hands dirty if it means protecting people."
He stopped just feet away from her desk, his smirk now replaced by something colder, sharper. "And where, exactly, do you draw the line? Today it's a corrupt government. Tomorrow, maybe it's a company you don't like. Who makes that call? You?"
He knew what it meant to dabble. The fact that humans thought they could pull back after they had started wading through the darkness was ridiculously frustrating because he was a test subject for this very line of thought.
Kayla didn't back down, oblivious to Oliver's change in aura. It was darker, more intense. "We're training to be cybersecurity experts, aren't we? You've always taught us to think critically. So why pretend the only way to be critical is to stay squeaky clean? What about whistleblowers or hackers who expose corruption? They're not operating with perfect ethics, but they make a difference."
Before Oliver could respond, Reigna scoffed from her seat. "Typical Kayla, thinking she knows more than the professor. You probably read one article online and think you're an expert."
Kayla shot her a glare, biting back a sharp retort. Oliver, noticing the exchange, turned his attention to Reigna.
"Reigna does have a point, Hastings," Oliver said, his voice steady but with an edge that felt like a betrayal. "Sometimes we need more than just confidence. We need experience. And ethical boundaries are there for a reason."
Kayla's frustration spiked. "Are you seriously taking her side?"
Anyone would be right in Oliver's eyes except for her and she was sure if it were any other student who raised this point he would never have reacted this way.
Oliver raised a brow, his expression calm, almost too calm. "I'm merely pointing out that experience often trumps idealism."
Reigna smirked triumphantly, leaning back in her seat. "Looks like someone just got schooled." If looks could kill, Reigna would be dead ten times over.
"Thinking this way in this line of work makes you prey to the unhinged things in it. It will pull you into it and make you a part of the ruthlessness, Hastings and I suggest you realize that."
You haven't been in these life-and-death situations, Hastings so I suggest you think before you speak." His eyes narrowed in on her and a chill ran down her spine but she also had a foot in to what walking on the morally grey line meant.
"But I do have experience! So stop dismissing my points for personal reasons!"
Jack tugged on the hem of Kayla's vest, signaling for her to sit down and stop but Kay didn't budge and flowered at Oliver whose gaze was also unkind.
"Oh. You have experience? Do you mean the experience of stalking your crush?"
Kayla's face reddened. That was low. Too low. But what did she expect from an asshole like Oliver Wilde?
"Ethics this, ethics that!" she snapped, standing up.
"You lecture me on ethics, but what about when you withheld sensitive information about Rory because your friend asked you to? Do you think you have the right to stand there and preach to me? Who died and made you King of all the judges because I didn't attend that funeral!"
The room went dead silent. Oliver's expression didn't change, but the flicker in his eyes told her she'd crossed a line. A dangerous one. Reigna's smirk disappeared, replaced with wide-eyed shock. The air felt heavy, suffocating.
This was a secret Rory told her in confidence but she had used it for her gain. Was Oliver right about her? Now all the things she said were being slapped right back on her face. Shame washed over her features making them soften. She shouldn't have said that. That was too low, too impulsive even for her.
Oliver's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "Since you have such a problem with how I teach, let's make this easier for both of us. You clearly don't want to be here. Get out."
"Professor, I—"
"I want you to leave." His voice was calm, but the edge was unmistakable.
Kayla stood there, stunned, her mind racing. She had pushed too far, and now there was no going back. Reigna, from her seat, looked pleased, as though watching Kayla's downfall had made her day, and that made her furious.
Reigna even smiled at Jack. "Cat got your tongue, jackieninja, aren't you her little cheerleader? Why don't you tell her to 'go, girl? Literally this time." She laughed. The jab left Jack gritting his teeth.
She should stay quiet and apologize to him after all this was also her fault but the gods be damned if she would apologize to Oliver Wilde.
"You are not fit to be in this class. You have no moral bearings and a fake sense of righteousness. You don't deserve nor are you worthy to be in any field in this profession!"
Tears stung her eyes making them blurry and her breathing became shallow. Everyone's eyes were on her, making her feel small and inconsequential like she truly was.
"You can't just kick me out! You can't do this! I worked my ass off to be here, just like any other student!" Her finger circled around the room.
Reigna scoffed at that, whispering something to another student. Kayla's fingernails dug into her skin but she couldn't feel the pain.
It wasn't fair! This was her chance to prove her worth again after what she did the last time and this man took it away from her, so cruelly!
"Watch me, Hastings. I will teach you what it means to play with fire."
"Get. Out. Of. My. Class." There was nothing friendly about his smile.
"Now," he growled.