Aaron's Gambit

Chapter Five

Aaron arrived at the office earlier than usual, the events of the previous day still replaying in his mind. As he approached his station, he froze. Through the glass wall, he could see Celeste and Technophile standing stiffly, heads slightly bowed, facing a massive, tattooed man with a commanding presence. Aaron’s instincts screamed at him to back off.

Who the hell is that? he thought. Something about the man’s presence made Aaron’s skin crawl. The tattoos, the sharp suit, the way he stood as though he owned the place—this was no ordinary boss. Aaron chose to stay out of sight, his heart pounding.

After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and the man stepped out, with Celeste and Technophile trailing behind him like nervous shadows. The room fell silent. Every hacker in the office stood, a hush of respect spread through the space. Aaron was the only one still standing awkwardly near the door, unsure of what to do.

The man’s sharp gaze landed on Aaron like a spotlight. He stopped in front of him, towering over him. “And what are you doing there, standing around like an idiot?” the man barked, his voice booming. “Shouldn’t you be at your desk?”

Aaron’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.

“He’s the new... uh, junior infiltration specialist,” Celeste interjected quickly. “He’s the one who handled yesterday’s job.”

The man’s eyes narrowed, a sneer spreading across his face. He stepped closer to Aaron, their faces nearly level. “Him? You almost ruined the job,” he growled. “If you’d failed, the boss would’ve been furious. You’re lucky you pulled it off.” He gestured toward Aaron’s chest with a slicing motion. “If you hadn’t... let’s just say you wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

Aaron’s heart felt like it had stopped. His breath caught in his throat as the man’s words sunk in. "As in killed?" The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

“Get him a proper suit,” the man ordered, slapping Aaron’s tie disdainfully before walking off. Celeste and Technophile followed him without a word, leaving Aaron standing there, frozen.

As the man’s footsteps receded, Aaron became painfully aware of everyone’s eyes on him. He forced himself to move, heading into his station and shutting the door behind him. His hands were shaking as he collapsed into his chair. “Killed?” he whispered to himself. “What kind of job is this?”

Aaron was still lost in thought when the door to his station slammed open. Celeste stood there, her face a mix of irritation and exhaustion.

“Did you hear what he said?” she snapped.

Aaron nodded slowly. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mess up yesterday.”

“Don’t apologize,” Celeste said, waving a hand dismissively. “Just prove you’re not useless. We’ve got a new job, and it’s a big one. High-profile client, high stakes. We can’t screw this up.”

Aaron swallowed hard. “What’s the job?”

Celeste leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “Technophile will brief us in a bit. Just know this: the boss’s friend is involved, so there’s zero room for error.” She turned to leave but stopped at the door. “Get your head in the game, Aaron. This isn’t a playground.”

Aaron nodded, but her words did little to ease his nerves. He sat in silence for a while, trying to steady his racing thoughts.

Not long after, Celeste returned, gesturing for Aaron to follow her. They walked through the dimly lit corridors of the underground office until they reached a new room. It was dark and had a cold, clinical feel, with blue lighting casting eerie shadows. A massive TV screen dominated one wall, and a presentation platform stood in the center.

Technophile was already there, fiddling with a laptop. He looked up and gave a small nod. “Alright, everyone. Let’s start with a quick breathing exercise. We need clear minds for this one.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow but joined in as Technophile led them through a few minutes of deep breathing. It felt strange, but he had to admit it helped settle his nerves.

When they finished, Technophile clapped his hands together. “Alright, let’s get to it. This job is a big deal. The client is a hotel owner who’s being forced to sell his property at a ridiculous price. He’s mad, and he wants payback. Here’s the plan.”

Technophile laid out the details step by step, pacing as he spoke.

“The buyer’s going to meet the client at a high-end restaurant. Our job is to intercept the payment process and make sure our client gets what he’s owed—plus a little extra. Aaron, you’re the main hacker for this one.”

Aaron blinked. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” Celeste said, her tone sharp. “You’re in charge of setting up the fake WiFi network and handling the data interception. Can you handle it?”

Aaron nodded hesitantly. “I… I think so.”

“You’d better,” Celeste muttered.

Technophile continued. “Here’s how it’ll go down. We set up a fake WiFi network before the meeting. The buyer connects, thinking it’s the restaurant’s network. Once he does, we intercept his banking session, redirect the payment process, and siphon off the extra billions. Simple, right?”

Aaron’s stomach churned. Simple? Nothing about this sounded simple.

“What if he notices?” Aaron asked.

“He won’t,” Technophile said confidently. “We’ll make sure of it. The fake network will mimic the restaurant’s WiFi perfectly. All you have to do is deploy the tools we’ve prepared and follow the plan. Got it?”

Aaron nodded, though his hands were already sweating.

The briefing continued, with Technophile explaining every detail. Celeste chimed in occasionally, her tone stern but focused.

“Aaron, your job is critical,” she said. “You’ll be intercepting the buyer’s banking session and redirecting the funds. No mistakes. If anything goes wrong, we’re all screwed.”

“No pressure,” Aaron muttered under his breath, earning a sharp look from Celeste.

“Focus,” she snapped.

Technophile clapped his hands. “Alright, team. Let’s run a simulation tonight. We’ll test every step, make sure there are no surprises. This has to go perfectly.”

Aaron took a deep breath, trying to steel himself. As the team dispersed, he lingered for a moment, staring at the presentation screen. The stakes were higher than ever, and failure wasn’t an option. He was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.