[INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY]
The USB drive inserted by Sophie projects a series of charts, emails, and incriminating evidence onto the conference room screen. Marc, seated across from the screen, appears frozen, his fingers gripping the edge of the table.
SOPHIE
(calm and confident)
This data proves that Marc tampered with figures on several projects, including the one Julien was working on before his promotion.
A tense silence follows. Mr. Bernard reviews the documents on the screen, his brows furrowed. Julien, on the other hand, remains silent, torn between relief and apprehension.
MR. BERNARD
Marc, do you have anything to say in your defense?
MARC
(nervous, attempting to stay composed)
This is just a misunderstanding. These files... they could be forged. How can we be sure they came from me?
Sophie crosses her arms, a cold smile on her lips.
SOPHIE
(sarcastic)
Oh, don't worry. I also have server activity logs. Every one of your changes is recorded, with your credentials.
Marc pales but makes one last attempt to defend himself.
MARC
(accusing)
What if this is a setup? How do we know Julien isn't trying to bring me down?
All eyes turn to Julien, who remains silent for a moment. Then, he straightens up, placing his hands on the table.
JULIEN
(calmly)
I have nothing to prove. The facts speak for themselves.
---
[INT. JULIEN'S OFFICE – LATER]
The meeting over, Julien returns to his office, a weight lifted off his shoulders. Yet a part of him remains uneasy. Who really provided Sophie with this evidence? Did she uncover it herself, or is someone else pulling the strings behind the scenes?
As he powers on his computer, he finds a new message in his inbox.
"Well done. But the game is far from over."
His heart races. This message is different from the previous ones. This time, there's an attachment: a video.
Hesitant, Julien clicks to open it. The video shows a dimly lit room. A woman, her back turned, sits at a desk, working on files. The camera slowly approaches her, and when she turns around, Julien's breath catches in his throat.
It's Clara, his childhood friend.
---
[FLASHBACK – SCHOOL YEARS]
[EXT. SCHOOLYARD – DAY]
Teenagers Julien and Clara, inseparable, laugh together, sharing secrets. Their bond is evident—a friendship filled with dreams of the future.
But one day, everything changes. During an important competition, Julien accuses Clara of sabotaging him to take his place on the podium. An argument erupts, and their friendship shatters.
---
[INT. JULIEN'S OFFICE – BACK TO THE PRESENT]
Julien leans back in his chair, his throat tight. Why would Clara reappear now? And why would she be involved in these troubling events?
He tries calling Thomas to talk about it, but there's no answer. A vague unease begins to creep in.
---
[INT. JULIEN AND THOMAS'S APARTMENT – NIGHT]
Julien returns home, exhausted. Opening the door, he finds Thomas sitting on the couch, a serious expression on his face.
THOMAS
(calmly)
We need to talk.
Julien sets his bag down and sits beside him, frowning.
JULIEN
What's going on?
Thomas pulls an envelope from his pocket and hands it to Julien. Inside are a series of photos. Some show Julien and Thomas together in private moments. Others, more unsettling, depict Julien alone, often at work or in places he thought were private.
JULIEN
(shocked)
Where did these come from?
THOMAS
I found them in the mailbox this morning. And there was this too.
He hands Julien a handwritten letter.
"You think you're in control, Julien, but you're wrong. The past never stays buried."
A chill runs down Julien's spine.
---
[INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – THE NEXT DAY]
Julien arrives at the office earlier than usual. He knows he needs to talk to Sophie to understand where the evidence against Marc came from—and maybe get answers about recent events.
But when he steps into his office, he finds Sophie already there, looking troubled.
SOPHIE
Julien, there's something I need to tell you.
JULIEN
(nervous)
What is it?
She pulls another USB drive from her pocket and places it on his desk.
SOPHIE
This arrived this morning. An anonymous delivery. There are files on it... and your name is mentioned.
Julien inserts the drive into his computer and opens the files. What he sees leaves him speechless: falsified emails, doctored documents—all appearing to implicate him in shady dealings related to the Artech project.
JULIEN
(shocked)
This is a setup. Someone's trying to take me down.
SOPHIE
(nodding)
I think so too. But who would go to such lengths to ruin you?
Julien hesitates, then decides to tell her about Clara.
---
[INT. IT SECURITY DEPARTMENT – LATER]
Julien and Sophie visit the IT security department to trace the origin of the files. After several minutes of investigation, a technician looks up.
TECHNICIAN
The sender used a masked network, but I managed to trace part of the source. It came from an old user account... belonging to Clara Lambert.
Julien feels his stomach knot. It's her.
---
[INT. JULIEN AND THOMAS'S APARTMENT – NIGHT]
Back home, Julien tries to piece everything together. Who is Clara now? Why is she resurfacing with such calculated malice?
As he makes coffee to calm his nerves, a notification pops up on his phone. An anonymous message.
"You always thought you could escape me, Julien. But this time, I'm in control."
The message contains an address and a time: "10 PM.Lilac street . Come alone."
Thomas enters the room just then, noticing Julien's troubled expression.
THOMAS
(worried)
What's going on now?
Julien hesitates. Can he involve Thomas in this web of lies and manipulation?
JULIEN
(sighing)
Nothing... just work.
---
[EXT. LILAC STREET – NIGHT]
At the appointed time, Julien stands on the deserted sidewalk, under a dim streetlight. The place is silent, almost oppressive.
A figure emerges from the shadows. Clara.
She approaches slowly, an ambiguous smile on her lips.
CLARA
(coldly)
It's been a long time, Julien...