Chapter 3: The Illusion of Trust
The early morning sunlight streamed into Alexa's office as she sipped her coffee, her gaze fixed on the financial report in front of her. Despite her sharp focus, her thoughts drifted back to Ryan. His discovery of the breach had unsettled her more than she let on. Why hadn't her top-tier security team caught it first? And why was Ryan so conveniently ahead of the curve?
Her phone buzzed, snapping her back to the present. It was Mark.
"Alexa, we need to talk," he said without preamble.
"Good morning to you too," she replied, irritation creeping into her voice.
Mark's tone was grave. "Not over the phone. Can you meet me at the Skyview Lounge in an hour?"
"Mark, I have a packed schedule—"
"Please, Alexa. It's important."
She hesitated. Mark rarely sounded this serious. "Fine. One hour."
---
The Skyview Lounge was nearly empty at this hour, the usual evening crowd replaced by quiet morning diners. Alexa spotted Mark at a corner table, his posture tense as he stared out at the city skyline.
"All right, Mark," she said as she slid into the chair opposite him. "What's so urgent?"
He leaned forward, his voice low. "There's something going on within the company. I can't explain it, but things don't add up."
Alexa frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Financial anomalies," Mark said. "Transactions I didn't authorize. Accounts we shouldn't even have. And then there's Ryan Mitchell."
Her stomach tightened. "What about him?"
Mark glanced around nervously before replying. "Have you ever looked into his background? He shows up out of nowhere, finds a breach no one else noticed, and suddenly has your ear. Doesn't that seem a little too perfect?"
Alexa's mind raced. She had her own doubts about Ryan, but hearing them echoed by Mark felt like confirmation that something was indeed off.
"Do you have proof?" she asked.
"Not yet," Mark admitted, "but I'm working on it. Just… be careful around him, Alexa. He might not be who he says he is."
---
Back at the office, Alexa's mood was grim. She shut her door and pulled up Ryan's employee file on her computer. Everything looked clean—almost too clean. His references checked out, his qualifications were impeccable, and there were no gaps in his employment history. It was all perfectly ordinary, which only heightened her suspicion.
A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. Ryan stepped in, holding a folder.
"Ms. Thompson, here's the report on the breach," he said, his tone professional.
Alexa took the folder, studying him carefully. "Thank you, Ryan."
He hesitated, then added, "If there's anything else I can do to help, just let me know."
"I will," she said, her tone neutral.
As soon as Ryan left, Alexa opened the folder. The report was detailed and thorough, outlining the breach and steps to prevent future incidents. But something about it didn't sit right. The language was overly technical, as if meant to confuse rather than clarify.
Her phone buzzed again—this time, a text from Samantha.
"Dinner tonight? I have news!"
Alexa smiled despite herself. Samantha's cheerful energy was exactly what she needed.
---
That evening, Alexa met Samantha at their favorite restaurant. Samantha was already waiting at the table, her bright smile a stark contrast to Alexa's troubled expression.
"All right, spill," Alexa said as she sat down.
"I met someone," Samantha announced, practically glowing.
"Details," Alexa demanded, grateful for the distraction.
Samantha launched into a story about a charming lawyer she'd met at a charity event, but Alexa's mind kept wandering back to Mark's warning and Ryan's too-perfect demeanor.
"Alexa, are you even listening?" Samantha asked, waving a hand in front of her face.
"Sorry," Alexa said, forcing a smile. "Just distracted."
Samantha's expression softened. "Work again?"
"Something like that," Alexa replied, not wanting to burden her friend with the full truth.
---
Later that night, Alexa sat in her dimly lit living room, scrolling through articles about corporate espionage and identity fraud. The more she read, the more paranoid she became. Was Ryan planted in her company to undermine her? If so, by whom?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a text. She glanced at her phone and froze.
Unknown Number: "Trust no one. They're watching."
Her pulse quickened. Who was "they"? And how did this person have her number?
Before she could react, her phone buzzed again—this time, a call from Ryan. She hesitated, then answered.
"Ryan?"
"Alexa, are you okay?" he asked, his voice calm but concerned.
"I'm fine," she lied.
"I just wanted to check in," Ryan said. "You seemed… off earlier."
"I'm fine," she repeated, her tone firmer. "Goodnight, Ryan."
She hung up, her heart pounding. Was it a coincidence that he called right after the text? Or was he the one sending the messages?
Alexa stared at her phone, her mind racing. The walls around her life were closing in, and she didn't know who to trust anymore.
End of Chapter 3