Aaron stood at the entrance of the building, shifting nervously from foot to foot. The early morning air was crisp, and he was bundled in his only decent jacket. He glanced at the sleek glass doors ahead of him, locked tight. No one was around yet, and the silence made the place feel bigger—almost intimidating.
Just as he was about to check his phone for the time again, a car approached. It was a shiny black sedan, the kind Aaron had only seen in movies or parked outside luxury hotels. He hesitated, then waved at the driver as if he were going to ask for directions.
The window rolled down smoothly, and Aaron saw a woman behind the wheel. Her hair was tied back in a high ponytail, and she wore large sunglasses that reflected his nervous face back at him.
"Good morning," Aaron greeted, his voice cracking slightly. "I—uh—I was invited here for a job."
The woman's lips curled into a small smile. "Oh, you must be Aaron." Her tone was confident, casual, like she already knew everything about him. "Technophile's been talking about you."
"Technophile?" Aaron repeated, confused. The name didn't ring a bell.
"Yeah, Technophile. The guy who gave you the card?" she clarified, tilting her head.
Aaron fumbled in his bag and pulled out the plain white card. "Oh, you mean this guy?" He held it up.
The woman glanced at the card and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, he's still handing out that white crap? That's so old-school." She reached out and snatched the card from him, crumpling it effortlessly before handing him another. This one was black with a shiny finish, the words "Protection is our business" printed in bold letters above a sleek cybersecurity logo.
"Here, take this instead," she said. "Looks more professional, right?"
Aaron nodded, staring at the new card. For some reason, it felt reassuring, almost like a silent promise that he wasn't walking into a scam. He glanced up at the woman and offered a small smile. "Thank you. I'm Aaron, by the way."
She smirked, extending her hand. "Celeste. Welcome to the team." Her handshake was firm, almost like she was testing him. "Come on, hop in. I'll give you a ride inside."
Aaron hesitated for a moment, then walked around to the passenger side and climbed in. The car smelled faintly of leather and something sweet, maybe her perfume. As Celeste drove through the gates, Aaron couldn't help but glance at her every few seconds. She was effortlessly confident like she belonged in this world of shiny cars and sleek offices.
"So... what exactly does the company do?" Aaron asked, trying to sound casual.
Celeste raised an eyebrow but didn't look at him. "Cybersecurity. We're the best in the business. You'll see soon enough."
Aaron nodded slowly, his nerves calming a little. If it was cybersecurity, then it was legit, right? He had been skeptical about the whole thing last night, but this was starting to feel more real.
When they pulled up to the building, Aaron's jaw dropped. The place was massive, all glass and steel, with a modern design that made it look like a tech giant's headquarters. He spotted a few employees walking inside, dressed casually but with an air of purpose. It all seemed normal.
Celeste parked and motioned for him to follow her. "Let's get you inside. You'll meet Technophile in a bit. He's dying to see you."
Aaron followed her through the front doors, his sneakers squeaking slightly on the polished floors. The lobby was spacious, with high ceilings and a minimalist design. A few people sat on sleek couches, typing on laptops or talking quietly. Everything looked so professional that Aaron's doubts started to fade.
Celeste led him past the main area and toward an elevator tucked in the back. There was a small sign above it that read "Authorized Staff Only." She pressed a button and the doors slid open.
Aaron hesitated. "Wait, we're not going upstairs?"
Celeste chuckled, stepping inside. "Nope. We're going down. The real work happens underground."
Aaron's stomach twisted, but he stepped in after her. As the elevator descended, he tried to think of something to say. The silence was starting to feel heavy.
"So... is this like a secret lab or something?" he asked, forcing a laugh.
Celeste smirked. "Something like that. Don't worry, you'll fit right in."
The doors opened, and Aaron's eyes widened. The underground level was nothing like the polished office upstairs. Rows of desks with multiple monitors stretched across the room, each station occupied by someone typing furiously or staring at lines of code. The hum of machines and the faint glow of screens filled the air, creating an atmosphere that was both exciting and unsettling.
"Welcome to the hive," Celeste said, stepping out of the elevator. "This is where the magic happens."
Aaron followed her, his curiosity battling with a growing sense of unease. "This... doesn't look like cybersecurity work," he said, glancing around. Some of the screens displayed what looked like hacking tools, and a few employees wore headsets, speaking in low tones.
Celeste shrugged. "Cybersecurity's a broad field. Sometimes we're defending systems, sometimes we're... testing vulnerabilities."
Aaron frowned. "Testing vulnerabilities? Like hacking?"
Celeste stopped and turned to him, her expression unreadable. "Call it what you want. The point is, we're good at what we do. And if you're half as good as Technophile says, you'll be a star here."
Before Aaron could respond, a voice called out from across the room. "Aaron! You made it!"
He turned to see a man approaching, his arms wide open like he was greeting an old friend. It was the same man who had given him the card yesterday, but now he looked even more eccentric. His hair was messy, and he wore a hoodie that looked like it hadn't been washed in days.
"Technophile, I presume?" Aaron said, forcing a smile.
The man laughed, clapping Aaron on the shoulder. "That's me! Come on, let me show you your station."
Aaron glanced at Celeste, who nodded encouragingly. Reluctantly, he followed Technophile deeper into the room. The farther they went, the more isolated it felt. Aaron's unease grew with every step.
"So, what exactly will I be doing here?" Aaron asked as they stopped in front of a desk with a high-end computer setup.
Technophile grinned. "Oh, you'll see. For now, just settle in. We've got a big project coming up, and you're going to be a key player."
Aaron sat down, his eyes scanning the monitors. The screens displayed unfamiliar programs, and there was a file labeled "Project Blackout" on the desktop. He hesitated before looking back at Technophile. "What's Project Blackout?"
Technophile's grin widened. "Don't worry about it just yet. You'll find out soon enough."
As Technophile walked away, Aaron leaned back in his chair, trying to process everything. This wasn't what he had expected, but he couldn't afford to walk away now. He needed this job—needed the money to pay his mom's bills. But as he glanced around the room, a nagging voice in the back of his mind whispered that this was too good to be true.