The city lights blurred as Layla sat in the backseat of the cab, her mind racing. The meeting with Langston had gone better than she expected, but the stakes were higher now. She had put herself directly in Aiden's crosshairs, and she couldn't afford a single mistake.
Her phone buzzed again. It was Ethan.
Ethan: Call me when you're home. We need to talk.
Layla sighed, her grip tightening around the phone. She had barely made it through one tense conversation, and now Ethan wanted to dive into strategy. Not that she could blame him—every move they made had to be precise if they wanted to stay ahead of Aiden.
The cab pulled up to her apartment building, and Layla paid the driver before stepping out into the cool night air. She glanced around, the uneasy feeling of being watched creeping over her again. Shaking it off, she made her way inside and locked the door behind her.
---
Ethan's Warning
She called Ethan as soon as she settled in, her voice hushed despite the privacy of her apartment.
"How did it really go?" Ethan asked without preamble.
"Langston's on board, but he wants more proof," Layla replied. "He's not willing to move until he's sure we can nail Aiden to the wall."
Ethan sighed on the other end. "Of course he does. That's how people like him operate—always hedging their bets. Did he give you any trouble?"
"He questioned my motives, but I convinced him," she said. "At least for now."
"Good. We'll need to move quickly," Ethan said. "Aiden's not going to sit back and let this unfold. He's already suspicious, isn't he?"
"More than suspicious," Layla confirmed. "He's tightening security, and he pulled me into his office earlier today. He's watching everyone closely, and if he finds out what we're doing..."
"He won't," Ethan interrupted, his tone firm. "We're too careful for that."
Layla wanted to believe him, but the nagging doubt in the back of her mind wouldn't go away. "What's the next step?"
"We need to get inside Aiden's private network," Ethan said. "The documents you pulled are good, but the smoking gun we need is buried in his personal files. If we can get access to his encrypted server, we'll have everything we need to blow this wide open."
Layla's stomach dropped. "His encrypted server? Ethan, that's impossible. It's probably guarded by firewalls I can't even imagine."
"Not impossible," Ethan countered. "Difficult, yes, but doable. You said Aiden trusts you, right? He wouldn't suspect you of sabotaging him, not unless you give him a reason to."
Layla hesitated. "You're asking me to get closer to him. You realize how dangerous that is?"
"I do," Ethan admitted. "But it's the only way. We're running out of time, Layla. If Langston loses interest or Aiden gets wind of our plan, we're done. You need to play this carefully, but you can do it. I know you can."
---
Under Surveillance
Unbeknownst to Layla, her every move was already being tracked. The shadowed figure who had watched her leave the hotel earlier was now parked just down the street from her apartment, blending into the sea of cars.
Inside the vehicle, a man in a dark suit adjusted the earpiece connected to his phone.
"She's inside her apartment," he reported. "No movement so far."
"Good," Aiden's voice replied on the other end. "I want you to stay on her. If she does anything out of the ordinary, I need to know immediately."
The man hesitated. "Do you think she's involved in this leak, sir?"
Aiden's tone was ice-cold. "That's what I intend to find out. Layla's clever, but she's not invincible. If she's playing me, she'll regret it."
The man nodded, even though Aiden couldn't see him. "Understood."
---
Aiden's Suspicion
Back at Donovan Enterprises, Aiden sat in his private office, reviewing the day's events. The anonymous tip that had reached Langston was troubling, but not as troubling as the fact that someone within his own ranks had betrayed him.
He stared at the list of employees with access to Project Vanguard, his mind methodically eliminating possibilities. Layla's name stood out, not because of any glaring evidence but because she was the only one who had been acting differently lately.
"Layla Carter," he murmured to himself. "What are you hiding?"
Aiden's assistant knocked on the door, interrupting his thoughts.
"Mr. Donovan, your security team has an update," she said.
"Send them in."
Two men in suits entered, their expressions serious.
"We've been monitoring Miss Carter as you requested," one of them said. "So far, no direct evidence of wrongdoing, but she did meet with Richard Langston tonight at The Meridian Hotel."
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Langston? Why wasn't I informed immediately?"
"We wanted to confirm the meeting first," the man replied. "We've stationed someone outside her apartment to keep an eye on her movements."
Aiden leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Layla's actions were becoming more suspicious by the hour.
"Double the surveillance," he ordered. "I want every call, every email, every text monitored. If she's working against me, I want proof."
---
Layla's Resolve
The following morning, Layla arrived at Donovan Enterprises with a renewed sense of purpose. She couldn't afford to falter now, not when the plan was beginning to take shape.
Aiden greeted her in the hallway, his expression unreadable.
"Layla," he said, falling into step beside her. "I need you in my office this afternoon. There's something I want to discuss."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced a smile. "Of course. What time?"
"Two o'clock," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. "Don't be late."
As he walked away, Layla felt a chill run down her spine. Aiden was watching her closely—too closely.
She texted Ethan as soon as she reached her office:
Layla: Aiden wants to meet with me this afternoon. He's suspicious.
Ethan: Stay calm. Stick to the plan. Let me know what he says.
Layla took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The game was becoming more dangerous by the second, but she couldn't back out now.
---
The Meeting
At precisely two o'clock, Layla entered Aiden's office. He was seated behind his desk, his expression calm but calculating.
"Close the door," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.
Layla did as he asked, taking a seat and meeting his gaze.
"You've been with Donovan Enterprises for some time now," Aiden began, his tone conversational. "And you've proven yourself to be a valuable asset. But lately, I've noticed you've been... distracted."
"I'm not sure what you mean," Layla replied carefully.
Aiden leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "I think you do. So tell me, Layla—what have you been up to?"