Aria arrived at the office early the next morning, the city still waking as she strode through the lobby of Stone Industries. The buzz of determination coursed through her veins. Today, she'd begin laying the foundation for Damon's downfall.
The executive meeting was scheduled for 9 a.m. According to the agenda she'd intercepted, Damon would be presenting key updates on a secretive new project—one she suspected was tied to the illicit dealings that had ruined her family.
Her first challenge was gaining access to the meeting room. As a low-level employee, she wasn't authorized to attend, but she'd spent the night crafting a workaround. A maintenance ID badge she'd swiped from an unattended cart now rested in her bag.
"Morning, Aria," a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned to find Liam approaching, coffee in hand, his gray eyes warm with recognition.
"Good morning," she replied, masking her surprise.
"Early riser, huh?" he teased.
"Old habit," she said, echoing her previous excuse.
Liam grinned, leaning against her desk. "Well, you'll fit right in here. Damon's a stickler for punctuality."
At the mention of Damon, Aria felt her mask slip for a fraction of a second. Liam didn't seem to notice, but she quickly redirected the conversation.
"Speaking of your brother," she said, tilting her head, "I hear he's leading some big initiatives. It must be exciting to be part of a company with such ambitious projects."
Liam's expression shifted, his smile dimming. "Exciting, sure. But ambition can come at a cost."
Before Aria could press him further, an assistant approached Liam, handing him a folder. He excused himself with a quick nod, leaving Aria to ponder his words.
---
At 8:45 a.m., Aria slipped out of her workspace and headed toward the executive wing. The maintenance badge around her neck felt like a beacon of danger, but she kept her pace steady, her demeanor casual.
The meeting room was located at the far end of a restricted corridor. She passed by several employees, her heart pounding, but no one gave her a second glance.
Reaching the door, she swiped the badge against the scanner. For a moment, nothing happened, and panic surged through her. Then the light blinked green, and the door clicked open.
Inside, the room was empty, the polished conference table gleaming under fluorescent lights. Aria quickly scanned the space, her eyes landing on a sleek tablet resting at the head of the table. It was logged in, displaying the meeting agenda.
She moved swiftly, connecting a small USB device to the tablet's port. The device was programmed to copy files silently and erase traces of its presence. As it worked, Aria glanced at the agenda, noting a line item that caught her attention: Project Zenith – Confidential Discussion.
Her heart raced. This was it—the key to unraveling Damon's web of corruption.
The sound of voices in the hallway jolted her. Aria yanked the USB from the tablet and tucked it into her bag, slipping out through a side door just as the meeting participants began to file in.
She exhaled deeply, adrenaline coursing through her veins. It wasn't a perfect execution, but it had worked. She had what she needed.
---
Back at her desk, Aria plugged the USB into her laptop, her fingers trembling as she opened the files. They were heavily encrypted, but she recognized a few keywords: offshore accounts, land acquisitions, and political contributions.
A smile tugged at her lips. This was just the beginning.
"Busy day already?"
She jumped, slamming her laptop shut. Liam stood behind her, an amused look on his face.
"You startled me," she said, forcing a laugh.
"Sorry about that," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You seemed pretty focused. Hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all," she lied, her heart pounding.
Liam studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he smiled. "Lunch later? My treat."
Aria hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to decline. But the rational part of her knew that keeping Liam close might be useful.
"Sure," she said finally. "Why not?"
As he walked away, she opened her laptop again, her resolve hardening. Liam might have been charming, but he was still a Stone.
And Aria didn't trust anyone with that name.
Aria didn't have much time to analyze the files before Liam returned for their lunch. She'd barely decrypted the first document—an offshore account linked to one of Damon's shell companies—when his voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Ready?"
She glanced up, quickly minimizing the screen. Liam stood there with the same easy smile, his presence almost disarming. Almost.
"Let me grab my bag," she said, forcing herself to appear calm.
The restaurant Liam chose was a short walk from the office, a quiet bistro with modern decor and an open terrace. As they sat down, Aria couldn't help but wonder why he'd invited her. Was it casual friendliness, or something more calculated?
"Do you always invite new hires to lunch?" she asked, keeping her tone light.
Liam chuckled. "Not really. But you seem interesting."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"
"You're... different," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Most people come in either trying to impress or blend into the background. You seem like you're doing both."
Her pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral. "Maybe I'm just trying to find my footing. New jobs can be intimidating."
"True," Liam agreed. "But you don't strike me as someone who's easily intimidated."
Aria's mind raced for a response, but before she could speak, the waiter arrived with their drinks. She used the distraction to collect herself.
"What about you?" she asked, steering the conversation away from herself. "You don't seem like the type to stick around the office. Why the sudden interest in the day-to-day operations?"
Liam hesitated, a flicker of something crossing his face. "Family obligations," he said finally, though his tone lacked conviction.
Aria tilted her head, pretending to be intrigued. "What kind of obligations?"
He took a sip of his drink, his gaze shifting to the bustling street beyond the terrace. "Let's just say the family business isn't as picture-perfect as it looks from the outside."
Her breath caught, but she kept her voice steady. "Isn't that true for most businesses?"
Liam smiled faintly. "Maybe. But not every business has Damon at the helm."
Aria's heart raced at the mention of Damon. "He does have a... reputation," she ventured carefully.
Liam's smile faded, replaced by a look of quiet contemplation. "Damon's not an easy person to work with. Or for, for that matter. But he's my brother, and that comes with its own set of complications."
Aria filed that away, sensing an opportunity. "It must be hard, balancing family and business."
Liam shrugged. "You get used to it. But enough about me. What about you? Why Stone Industries?"
She smiled, falling back on her rehearsed answer. "I wanted to work for a company that makes an impact. Stone Industries seemed like the perfect place to do that."
"Interesting choice of words," Liam said, his tone thoughtful. "Impact can mean a lot of things. Sometimes good, sometimes not so much."
Their food arrived, breaking the tension, but Aria couldn't shake the feeling that Liam was trying to read between her words. He wasn't like Damon—he didn't exude power or intimidation—but his quiet perceptiveness was almost more dangerous.
---
Back at the office, Aria couldn't focus. Her mind kept returning to the conversation with Liam. His guardedness about Damon, his subtle probing—it all felt like a puzzle she hadn't expected to solve.
But she didn't have time to dwell on him. She had work to do.
Locking her screen, Aria retrieved a small, encrypted drive from her bag. She transferred the stolen files and began running her decryption software. The documents slowly unfolded before her, revealing a labyrinth of transactions, partnerships, and coded memos.
One memo in particular caught her eye:
Subject: Project Zenith
From: Damon Stone
To: All Executives
"Effective immediately, all communications regarding Zenith must remain off-company channels. Any breach of confidentiality will be met with termination and legal action. Details to follow during the upcoming investor summit."
Aria's jaw tightened. Damon's paranoia only confirmed what she already suspected—Project Zenith was the key to taking him down.
But the memo also meant she'd need to act fast. The investor summit was days away, and she needed more than just encrypted files to expose him.
She was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice Liam until he spoke.
"Burning the midnight oil again?"
She jumped, slamming her laptop shut. "Liam! You scared me."
"Sorry," he said, holding up his hands. "Didn't mean to sneak up on you. I just wanted to check in before I left."
"I'm fine," she said quickly, her heart pounding.
He nodded but didn't leave. Instead, he leaned against her desk, his gaze curious but not unkind. "You know, Aria, you remind me of someone."
"Oh?" she said, forcing a casual tone. "Who?"
"Someone who's good at hiding things," he said, his voice soft but pointed.
Her breath hitched, but she forced a laugh. "I'm not sure whether to take that as a compliment or a warning."
Liam smiled faintly, straightening. "Maybe both."
As he walked away, Aria clenched her fists, her calm facade cracking. Liam Stone was becoming a problem—one she couldn't afford to ignore.
Aria sat frozen at her desk long after Liam left, her mind racing with possibilities. His parting words echoed in her head—someone who's good at hiding things. Was it a veiled accusation or just an observation?
She couldn't afford to second-guess herself. Liam's growing interest in her was dangerous, but Damon remained her primary target. Shaking off her unease, Aria turned back to the decrypted files, determined to uncover the full scope of Project Zenith before the summit.
---
The next morning, Aria slipped into the office early again, her USB drive tucked securely in her pocket. She had spent most of the night devising her next move: gaining physical access to Damon's private office.
The encrypted files had given her fragments of information—just enough to confirm that Project Zenith involved massive land acquisitions overseas. What wasn't clear was the purpose behind them.
But one name kept appearing in the documents: Blackridge Holdings, a shadowy company tied to multiple offshore accounts. If she could link it directly to Damon, she'd have the ammunition she needed.
The only problem? The key files were likely on Damon's personal server, inaccessible from her current position.
---
Aria waited for the perfect moment. Damon typically left his office for an hour each morning to meet with his personal trainer, and today was no exception. As soon as he exited the building, Aria grabbed her badge and made her way to the executive floor.
The corridor leading to Damon's office was eerily quiet. Most of the staff hadn't arrived yet, and the security cameras were strategically placed, leaving a few blind spots she had memorized during her research.
Reaching Damon's door, she swiped her badge, but the lock blinked red. She had expected as much—his office required biometric access.
Pulling a small device from her bag, Aria attached it to the scanner. It emitted a low beep as it worked to bypass the security protocols. Seconds felt like hours as she kept glancing over her shoulder. Finally, the lock clicked open.
Inside, the office was a testament to Damon's wealth and power. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and the sleek, minimalist furniture exuded an air of cold efficiency.
She made her way to the desk, her fingers brushing against the surface as she searched for the hidden server. A discreet panel on the underside of the desk revealed a small, secured terminal.
Plugging in her USB drive, Aria initiated a program designed to extract and clone data without leaving a trace. The terminal's screen lit up, lines of code scrolling rapidly as the program did its work.
Then she heard it—the faint sound of footsteps.
Panic surged through her. She glanced at the progress bar on the terminal—67%. Not fast enough.
The door handle rattled.
Thinking quickly, Aria slid under the desk, her heart pounding. The door opened, and she held her breath as the sound of shoes echoed against the polished floor.
"Damon?"
It was Liam's voice.
Aria clenched her fists, willing him to leave. But instead, she heard the sound of papers rustling, drawers opening and closing.
Minutes passed, each one an eternity. Finally, the sound of Liam's footsteps retreated, and the door closed behind him.
Aria exhaled shakily, emerging from her hiding spot just as the progress bar hit 100%. She yanked the USB drive from the terminal, wiping the terminal's memory before slipping out of the office as quietly as she had entered.
---
Back at her desk, Aria plugged the USB drive into her laptop. The files she had retrieved were extensive, filled with detailed contracts, financial statements, and emails. But one file stood out: a series of correspondences between Damon and a mysterious partner identified only as "H."
The emails were cryptic but damning, discussing bribes, land seizures, and political coercion. One email in particular caught her attention:
"H, the land acquisitions are complete. Once Zenith is operational, no one will be able to stop us. Prepare for the summit."
Aria's stomach turned. Whatever Project Zenith was, it wasn't just unethical—it was dangerous.
She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She now had enough to expose Damon, but releasing the information too soon would be reckless. She needed to understand the full scope of Project Zenith—and to figure out who "H" was.
---
As the day wore on, Liam's words from earlier kept nagging at her. Someone who's good at hiding things. Was he onto her, or was he just playing games?
That afternoon, Liam approached her desk again, his easy smile in place. "Hey, Aria. You free tonight?"
Her guard went up immediately. "Why?"
"Damon's hosting a pre-summit event at one of his properties. It's a good networking opportunity," Liam said casually, but his gaze was sharp. "Thought you might want to tag along."
Aria hesitated. This could be an opportunity to gather more intel, but it could also be a trap.
"Sure," she said finally, forcing a smile. "That sounds great."
As Liam walked away, Aria felt a chill run down her spine. She was walking into enemy territory—and she had no idea if she'd come out unscathed.