2026-03-11 06:24:54
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46 - Compromised Data
Jake's phone buzzed while he was still on the call with Tommy.He pulled it away from his ear. Checked the screen.Text from Sora.{Security detected unusual activity near your old apartment building. Someone's been watching it. Asking questions about you. Be careful. -S}Jake's blood went cold. The warmth from talking to Tommy vanished instantly."Uh, Tommy? I gotta go. Something just came up.""Everything okay?""Someone's investigating me." Jake stood up. Walked to his window. Looked out at the city like he could see whoever was watching him from here. "Like actual investigating. Not casual questions. Real digging.""What? Like stalker investigating? Or spy investigating?" Tommy's voice shifted. Concerned. Worried."Probably spy investigating." Jake's jaw tightened. "Victor's forces are moving. Gathering intelligence. Preparing for something big.""Dude." Tommy let out a long breath. "Your life is actually terrifying. Like genuinely scary. I don't know how you deal with this every
45 - A Second Betrayal?
That night. Jake's apartment.He called Tommy. Needed to talk to someone normal. Someone outside the insanity at Titan."Hey, man. What's up?""The situation with Elena is getting weirder," Jake said. Paced in front of his floor-to-ceiling windows. City lights glittering below."Weirder how?""She had this moment today. Where she seemed real. Vulnerable. Like she was actually being honest about something." Jake ran his hand through his hair. "She said I'm different. That I'm not what she expected. That she doesn't know what to do about that.""And you believed her?""I don't know. Maybe? She seemed genuine. Her hands were shaking. She looked confused. Almost scared." Jake stopped pacing. "But then she brought up the viral video. From the parking garage. Said she thinks it's me."Tommy swore. "Seriously? How the hell would she know that?""She says she's guessing. Based on my height and build and the way I move. Plus rumors from the gala fight that workers still gossip about.""Do you
44 - Cover Almost Blown
"I was just asking Jake about filing procedures," Elena said. The transformation was instant. Complete. Her voice went from vulnerable to smooth. Professional. The mask snapped back into place. "The system here is so confusing. He was kind enough to show me where everything is stored."Sora's eyes moved from Elena to Jake. Back to Elena. She didn't believe it. Jake could tell. But she didn't challenge it either."Mr. Morrison, my office. Now." Sora's tone left no room for argument. "We need to discuss the quarterly reports.""Yes, ma'am."Jake moved toward the door. Had to pass Elena to get there. She looked at him as he passed. Something in her eyes. Conflict. Confusion. Maybe even genuine regret.'What the hell was that?' Jake thought. 'And how much does she actually know?'He followed Sora down the hallway. Her heels clicked on the tile floor. Sharp. Angry. Each step sounded like a tiny explosion.***Sora's office. Door closed. Blinds drawn over the windows.She stood behind her d
43 - Confusion and Vulnerability
Jake sat at his desk with his head in his hands. The morning light coming through his tiny office window felt too bright. Too harsh.Maya's words from last night kept looping in his brain like a broken record."You're just a whore who thinks with his dick.""You're beyond saving.""You deserve everything that's coming to you."He rubbed his temples. Tried to push the thoughts away. Tried to focus on the stack of reports that needed filing.Didn't work.A knock on his door made him look up. He already knew who it was before she spoke."Jake?" Elena's voice came through the thin wood. "Can I talk to you for a second?""Kind of busy right now, Elena.""Please. It's important. I promise I'll be quick."Jake considered saying no. Considered telling her to email him whatever she needed. But that would just delay the inevitable.She'd corner him somewhere else. Somewhere more public. More awkward."Fine. Come in."The door opened. Elena stepped inside. Closed it behind her.That was new. She
42 - Price For Your Cooperation
Nine PM. Jake's apartment.Doorbell rang. He wasn't expecting anyone.Jake checked the security camera feed on his phone. Froze.Maya Torres stood outside his door. Looking terrible. Hair messy. Dark circles under her eyes. She wore jeans and a hoodie instead of her usual designer clothes.Jake considered not answering. Considered pretending he wasn't home.But curiosity won. He opened the door. Kept the chain on."Maya. What do you want?"She looked up. Her eyes were red. Like she'd been crying. "Please, Jake. I need to talk to you. Five minutes. That's all."Jake studied her face. Looking for the manipulation. The trap.Just saw exhaustion. Desperation.He opened the door. Stepped aside.Maya entered. Stopped just inside. Looked around.Her expression changed. Shock. Then something uglier. Contempt mixed with envy.She took in the marble floors. The expensive furniture. The floor-to-ceiling windows with the view of the city. The artwork on the walls that probably cost more than her
41 - Clueless
That night. Jake's apartment. He'd just gotten out of the shower when his phone rang.Tommy."Hey, man. What's up?""Dude, I'm so bored I'm losing my mind," Tommy said. "How long do I have to stay in hiding? This apartment is nice but I'm going crazy.""Until it's safe. Which isn't yet." Jake toweled off his hair. "Trust me. You don't want Victor's attention.""I know, I know. But still. This sucks." Tommy paused. "How's work? Still dealing with that girl who won't leave you alone?""Elena? Yeah. She's getting worse.""Worse how?"Jake filled him in. The gym. The office visits. The constant touching. All of it.Tommy whistled. "Okay, so either she's crazy into you or she's trying to do something. And given everything that's happened, I'm betting option two.""That's what I think too. But I can't prove anything. She hasn't technically done anything wrong. She's just really aggressive about being friendly.""And your boss is being weird?""She's been ice-cold all week. Won't look at me.
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