Aria stared at her phone.
The unknown message still glowing on the screen.
“It didn’t look like a mistake.”
Her heart started racing again.
Aria whispered.
Aria:
Who sent this?
Another message appeared.
Unknown:
Aria quickly typed back.
Aria:
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
But no message came.
Aria sighed.
Aria:
Perfect mystery.
Just what her life needed.
________________________________________
Orion Office – Noon
The office atmosphere felt strange again.
Too many whispers.
Too many glances.
The intern rushed to Aria’s desk.
Intern (excited):
Aria:
Intern:
No.
Pause.
Intern:
Kael is firing someone today.
Aria blinked.
Aria:
That’s… less exciting than you think.
Intern:
It’s a department head.
Aria:
Oh.
That was interesting.
Suddenly the entire office heard Kael’s voice from the main floor.
Kael:
Everyone in the conference room.
His tone was cold.
Professional.
Dangerous.
Aria grabbed her notebook and followed everyone.
________________________________________
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Conference Room
Everyone sat quietly.
Kael stood near the table.
Mira sat beside him, watching the room carefully.
Kael spoke calmly.
Kael:
Orion has a confidentiality policy.
Designer whispered.
Designer: Uh oh.
Kael continued.
Kael:
Someone violated it.
Silence spread instantly.
Kael placed a printed document on the table.
Kael:
Internal campaign files were leaked to a competitor.
Gasps around the room.
Intern whispered to Aria.
Intern: Corporate drama.
Aria frowned.
Aria:
Who did it?
Kael looked directly at one person.
Head of marketing.
Kael:
Mr. Kapoor.
The man stood up immediately.
Kapoor:
This is ridiculous.
Kael:
Kapoor:
I’ve worked here for ten years!
Kael:
And yesterday you sent confidential files to Vortex Creative.
The room erupted.
Kapoor:
That’s a lie!
Mira calmly slid a tablet across the table.
Mira:
The email came from your account.
Kapoor’s face turned pale.
Kapoor:
Someone hacked me!
Kael stepped closer.
Kael:
Possibly.
Kapoor swallowed.
Kael:
But until we confirm that -
Kael paused.
Kael:
You’re suspended.
Security entered the room.
Kapoor glared at everyone.
Especially Kael.
Kapoor:
You think this company is clean?
The room froze.
Kapoor laughed bitterly.
Kapoor:
You have no idea what your boss is hiding.
Kael’s expression didn’t change.
But Aria noticed something.
His hand clenched slightly.
Kapoor pointed at him.
Kapoor:
When the truth comes out, you’ll all regret trusting him.
Security escorted him out.
The room stayed silent.
Uncomfortable.
Heavy.
Kael finally spoke again.
Kael:
Meeting dismissed.
________________________________________
Hallway – After the Meeting
People immediately started whispering again.
Designer:
That was brutal.
Copywriter:
Kael didn’t even blink.
Intern whispered to Aria.
Intern:
He’s scary when he’s serious.
Aria nodded slowly.
Aria:
Yeah.
But something Kapoor said kept repeating in her head.
“You have no idea what your boss is hiding.”
Her phone buzzed again.
Unknown message.
Unknown:
“Now you see it.”
Aria typed instantly.
Aria:
The reply came quickly.
Unknown:
“Kael Voss isn’t who you think he is.”
Aria’s stomach tightened.
She looked toward Kael’s office.
The blinds were still closed.
________________________________________
Later – Kael’s Office
Aria knocked.
Kael’s voice came from inside.
Kael:
Enter.
She stepped inside.
He looked up.
Kael:
Campaign update?
Aria hesitated.
Aria:
Not exactly.
He leaned back slightly.
Kael:
Then what?
She studied him carefully.
Trying to read his expression.
Trying to see if Kapoor’s words were true.
Aria: Why did Kapoor say that?
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Kael:
People say many things when they’re fired.
Aria:
Kael stood up.
Kael:
Aria.
Aria:
Yes?
Kael:
Are you asking as an employee…
He paused.
Kael:
Aria nearly choked.
Aria:
That is NOT relevant.
Kael:
Everything is relevant.
Silence.
Aria took a breath.
Aria:
I’m asking because something feels wrong.
Kael studied her for a long moment.
Then he walked toward the window.
Kael:
Orion is a powerful company.
Aria:
Kael:
Powerful companies attract enemies.
Aria:
That doesn’t answer my question.
He turned toward her again.
Kael:
Some truths are dangerous.
Aria:
And secrets aren’t?
Kael looked like he wanted to say something.
But stopped himself.
Kael:
Focus on your work.
Aria crossed her arms.
Aria:
That’s not an answer.
Kael:
It’s the only one you’re getting.
She exhaled in frustration.
Aria:
Fine.
She turned to leave.
But just before she reached the door -
Kael spoke again.
Quietly.
Kael:
Aria.
She stopped.
Aria:
Yes?
Kael:
He paused.
Kael:
Don’t trust them.
Aria frowned.
Aria:
Why would anyone ask me?
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
She checked it.
And her blood ran cold.
Unknown:
Pause.
“Tonight. 9 PM.”
Then the final message appeared.
“I’ll tell you the truth about Kael Voss.”
Aria slowly looked back at him.
He was watching her carefully.
Kael:
Something wrong?
She hesitated.
Should she tell him?
Or keep the message secret?
Aria forced a small smile.
Aria:
No.
But inside -She knew one thing.
Tonight, could change everything.
