The headlights got further away, until they almost disappeared in the rearview mirror. Aiden gave a low chuckle, satisfied, but his instincts were still on alert. He decided not to return directly. He turned left, leaving the main road and entering an alternative route that led to a busier neighborhood.
It was still early morning when Aiden entered the main building of Star Corp. The lights on the ground floor were dim, and the reception was almost empty, with only a security guard making his rounds. He knew he needed to resolve some pending issues and, mainly, review the investigations with his security team.
On the 32nd floor, Orion's office was lit, and Orion himself was waiting, with a serious expression on his face. He already knew Aiden would come.
"Problems on the way?" Orion asked as soon as Aiden entered.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." Aiden replied calmly, sitting in the leather chair. "Did you find out anything about the groups that were following me?"
Orion nodded and handed Aiden a tablet, showing vehicle registrations and fake IDs.
"The three cars that intercepted your vehicle belong to a shell company linked to Ivan. We tracked them, but they erased the data as soon as they realized we were after them. However, we did get something interesting."
Orion slid his finger across the screen, revealing a name: "Vortex Corporation."
"Vortex? Never heard of it."
"Nor should I have. It's a new front that operates in the financial underworld and in "debt recovery" operations. In other words, it's a group of mercenaries. Ivan may not be the ringleader, but he's definitely connected to them."
Aiden frowned, absorbing the information.
"What about the driver in the accident? Any connections?"
Orion sighed, scratching his beard.
"We're still investigating, but I have a hunch that Ivan isn't working alone. Someone bigger is pulling the strings. This game is deeper than it seemed."
"Of course it is." Aiden muttered thoughtfully. "Get your team on the trail of Vortex. I want information on all the leaders, financial routes, and political connections. If they're testing the Baskervilles, they'll find out that this was a mistake."
Orion smirked, appreciating Aiden's decisive tone.
"I'll get everything ready, boss. What about you? Wouldn't it be better to rest?"
Aiden chuckled softly.
"Rest isn't on the agenda. There's a lot to do, Orion. I want to be one step ahead of these guys."
After finishing the conversation, Aiden, knowing that it was morning, left the building and decided to open the driver app. He knew that being among ordinary people was an unusual but efficient way to keep his feet on the ground and disconnect from the chaos for a few hours.
The first request of the day came quickly. A meeting point in front of a renowned gym.
"Let's see who's the next passenger."
Arriving at the location, he saw a young woman in sportswear, with an excited expression. She got into the car, adjusting her backpack.
"Good morning! Wow, you have no idea how much I need a coffee. Can you stop at a café on the way?"
Aiden smiled, amused.
"Sure. This is a premium taxi, almost a five-star service."
"Great!" She replied, laughing. "I'm Lara, by the way. And you?"
"Aiden."
"Nice to meet you, Aiden. Have you done many runs today?"
"You're the first. Where are you going?"
"University. Today I have an important project presentation, and I need to be in good spirits."
Aiden briefly looked away from the rearview mirror and saw her nervously fiddling with her cell phone. He noticed the determined glint in her eyes.
" Nervous about the presentation?"
" A little. But that's life, right? If you don't take risks, you don't grow."
" True. Nothing comes without effort."
They stopped at the coffee shop. Lara got out quickly and came back with two cups. Handing one to Aiden, she smiled:
" Consider this my tip. You seem to need it more than I do."
Aiden raised an eyebrow, chuckling softly.
" I don't usually take coffee as a tip, but thanks."
" You're welcome! Now, let's go, Mr. Driver! I have a project to present."
The morning went by smoothly, with Aiden picking up other assorted passengers: a friendly elderly woman who told stories of her youth, a businessman late for an important meeting, and even a mother who was calming her restless son in the backseat.
These interactions, even brief ones, had a curious effect on him. It was as if, for a few moments, he could live different lives, hear dreams and problems that reminded him of what was truly important.
"Humans... so complex and so simple at the same time."
At the end of the day, Aiden pulled over and sighed, looking at the horizon as the sun slowly set.
"Who's pulling the strings? Ivan was just a pawn... But what will be the next move?"
Aiden picked up his cell phone and called Orion.
"Orion, keep the team alert. I think the real game is about to begin."
Orion replied seriously:
"Understood. We'll do what's necessary."
Aiden turned off his cell phone and sat in silence for a few minutes, sitting on the seat of his Lamborghini, watching the movement of the streets through the window. The glow of the city lights reflected on the glass as people went about their lives unaware of what was happening in the shadows. He always enjoyed this temporary disconnect. Being just another ordinary person, even for a short time, brought a sense of peace.
"Time to get back in the game..." he muttered to himself, starting the car and speeding towards Star Corp.
When he arrived at the building, the lights at the top of the tower were on, indicating that the planning team was still working. Aiden stepped into the elevator, the mechanical sound echoing as he ascended to the main floor. When the doors opened, Orion was already waiting for him in the hallway, accompanied by two men from the security team.
"New reports?" Aiden asked, walking beside Orion towards the conference room.
"Yes. We have made progress on the Vortex Corporation case and also on the analysis of the runaway truck." Orion handed over a tablet with the updated information. "Our men discovered that the truck was sabotaged. The brakes were manipulated."
Aiden frowned, although he was not surprised. "The question has been answered, great. Did you find out who is behind this?"
Orion shook his head.
"Not yet. But we are tracking the cameras around. It's only a matter of time."
"How long?"
"A few days, at most."
Aiden nodded, satisfied.
"What about Vortex?"
Orion opened the tablet and showed a map with several routes and points marked.
"The Vortex Corporation seems to operate in several countries, but we found records of an intermediary base here, in the neighboring country. Apparently, they are using shell companies to camouflage their operations. Everything leads to believe that Ivan was just a middleman."
Aiden ran his fingers over his chin, thoughtful.
"So there is someone bigger pulling the strings... Someone who doesn't like to be seen."
"Exactly. Our best bet now is to break up the local branches of Vortex. Force whoever is at the top to reveal themselves."
"Do it. Use all the resources necessary. I want results soon." Orion nodded, leaving the room to brief the security team. Aiden remained seated at the table, staring at the tablet as he absorbed the information.