I needed to test my theory before finally confirming my suspicions.
"Keep them at the meeting. All of them. Including her. For at least five minutes," I said, trying not to stare at the secretary.
"How did you…?" Ostin kept his composure. But in the deathly silence, even our whispers could be heard.
"Just do it."
I stayed by the entrance and motioned with my hand for Ostin to take his place. He handled the confusion perfectly and, as befit the management, sat at the head of the table.
Directors, accountants, and other people we needed gradually entered the hall and took their seats.
As I had asked, Ostin requested that the secretary remain. She began distributing documents to those present—my sheets with requests.
I quietly slipped out of the hall into the reception area.
Several people were sitting there. Apparently waiting for meetings. I carefully moved behind the secretary's desk. As quietly as possible. One of Theron's guards stayed behind me the entire time.
I moved the mouse. The screen lit up.
Password.
Damn.
If we officially request access now—it will look too suspicious. We cannot scare them off. Otherwise everything will disappear.
I noticed a woman's bag by the window. Maybe it was hers?
I approached carefully, trying to look casual. So that none of those waiting would pay attention. With my fingers I cautiously unfastened the clasp. Opened it. Rummaging through it would be too dangerous, so I simply opened the bag wider and quickly looked over its contents.
Perfume.
A compact mirror.
Lipstick.
A phone.
A card holder. ID, bank cards.
Everything looked ordinary.
Either I was mistaken. Or…
"Miss Mirey."
One of the guards called me.
I lifted my head and saw the secretary returning behind him. I immediately slipped out from behind the desk and squeezed back past the counter.
The girl looked relaxed. She did not even glance in our direction. She was typing a message to someone on her phone.
Wait.
A phone. A second one?
Seeing me and the guard, she quickly hid it in the pocket of her jacket.
"Can I help you with something?" she asked in a friendly tone. "You came with Mr. Ostin, correct?"
"Yes."
I rubbed my eye.
"Do you happen to have a mirror? It feels like something got into my eye."
"Of course."
She approached the bag—the very same one I had just examined—and took out a small round mirror.
So the bag was hers. And the phone inside it was hers too.
I pretended to try to remove an eyelash from my eye and after a few seconds returned the mirror.
"Thank you."
She calmly took it back. No tension. No nerves. As if our visit did not worry her at all.
"Do you need any more documents?" she asked politely.
"We'll just wait here for Mr. Ostin," I said with a feigned smile and sat down in one of the armchairs.
I definitely remember her.
Even then, when I was agitated and tense. It was exactly her there.
About ten minutes later Ostin headed toward the director's office. The director himself trudged after him, looking doomed. With a short gesture Ostin indicated that I should follow.
The guard and I entered the office after them.
As usual, Ostin took the director's seat behind the desk. The director himself remained standing—awkwardly, almost boyishly.
I tried not to stand out. I stood in the very corner of the office.
"All documentation must be sent today before noon to the main office. Any delays will be regarded as an attempt to conceal data."
"Believe me, I would gladly… but we have a lot of work. We are already falling behind on many projects and schedules…" the director began to justify himself.
A lie.
I did not even know his name. Nor his age.
But the lie was obvious even to me.
"You have two options. Either you fulfill our request, or we will find someone who will," Ostin said calmly.
"You can't just replace me like that! I have worked on this company for years!"
From an insecure lying boy he suddenly tried to become a rebel.
It was strange to watch him try to argue with Theron's right hand.
"Are you now telling Mr. Theron what he can and cannot do?"
Ostin's voice changed.
A chill ran down my spine. I had forgotten. He was also part of this world. The closest person to Theron. Behind that calm, focused man…
stood the same kind of predator.
"No… I… I just meant…" the man immediately began to stutter.
"Today. And that's final."
Ostin's low voice left him no chance. The director bowed and quickly left.
Ostin immediately returned to his usual appearance—the ordinary lawyer and assistant. With a gesture he invited me to sit opposite him.
"I didn't think you were scary too. I thought you were just an ordinary lawyer," I teased.
"I am an ordinary lawyer," he replied calmly, adjusting his glasses. "But I am part of this. I simply prefer to act elegantly. If people do not understand good treatment… sometimes I have to use the methods Theron taught me."
"And what are those?"
"Power. Control. Fear. Manipulation…"
"I get it, I get it," I interrupted. "The list will be long, and we don't have time."
He smirked.
"Now you tell me. Why her? Did you find out something?"
His voice returned to normal again. Calm. Respectful.
"Do you remember when we went to the bank because of the pendant and stopped at the café near my house?"
I waited for him to recall.
"Yes. You bought coffee that later accidentally came in handy," he nodded.
"Well. I met that girl there. Or rather… ran into her."
I replayed that moment in my head again. Checked my memory. Yes. It was her.
"And because of that you decided it was her?" Ostin looked at me doubtfully.
"No."
I looked at him skeptically.
"She was there with Anna."
"With Anna?" he frowned.
"Anna is the secretary of 'Phoenix,'" I clarified.
"Let's assume it is a coincidence. They are just friends. Maybe they crossed paths somewhere because of work," Ostin suggested.
"Yes, that is possible. Maybe it is paranoia… But she has two phones."
I gestured as if laying out my theory directly in the air.
"Let's assume. And that's all?" Ostin asked skeptically.
"How many phones do you have?"
"One regular one and one…"
He did not finish. But by his expression it was clear—he understood what I meant.
"And how many phones do you have?" he asked slyly.
"Two as well."
I merely confirmed my guess.
Ostin sighed heavily and leaned his head back, rubbing the bridge of his nose beneath his glasses.
"Does Theron know about this?" he asked tiredly.
"Yes. He knows. He was the one who told me to keep that in the shadows. You are getting distracted by something unnecessary."
I leaned slightly forward.
"Let's continue. There was one thing that bothered me during the inspection of 'Phoenix.' I remember it clearly. Anna was sitting calmly. Carefree. She did not panic."
I saw it again in my mind.
"She didn't care."
Pause.
"And at that moment it seemed very strange to me."
Ostin straightened and looked at me more attentively.
"Mirey, believe me. Right now you are much more important in this matter than those leaks."
His voice became more serious. Too serious.
"You have no idea what Theron did when you ran away. And if it happens again… I don't think it will be without victims."
I remembered Travis. About what they never told me. But right now something else mattered to me. Personally.
"Let's leave my situation with Theron aside for now. I already promised that nothing like that will happen again. Although I still don't fully understand why a man is ordering me around. I'm not a child anymore…"
"Mirey."
For the first time Ostin raised his voice.
"I will repeat for the last time. Please do not play with him."
"I understand."
I raised my hand in front of me, as if giving a promise.
"Let's return to the secretary."
He exhaled, calming himself.
"Fine. Let's assume you are right. And there is some logic in it."
Ostin began flipping through the documents.
"Let's make a deal," I said.
I understood perfectly: my theory rested only on guesses. On intuition. On paranoia.
But coincidences are rarely accidental.
"If you give an order right now that will put everyone on edge… and she, and the next secretaries, do not react at all… while everyone else runs around in panic, then we will consider my theory."
Ostin did not think long.
"All right. We still have half the companies left. If we do not see any reaction to a personnel inspection, to possible fraud and other unpleasant things for the company… then we will discuss your theory."
A few minutes later the conference hall was full of people again.
Ostin announced that an outside inspection team had been sent from the main office. It would check everyone's work—from beginning to end.
If someone proved unsuitable or dishonest work was discovered, they would be fired. Everyone had to prepare reports. People immediately grew nervous. Someone wiped sweat from their forehead. Accounting almost fell into panic.
After some time the employees dispersed to their offices and began frantically preparing for the inspection.
We approached the director's office.
And at the reception the secretary was sitting calmly. Carefree. Almost cheerful. As if everything happening did not concern her at all.
"Good," Ostin said heavily. "Let's go to the next company."
He exhaled tiredly.
I silently followed him.
To my surprise, in all the remaining companies the picture was the same. Ostin even began inventing new threats and tasks. But the result did not change.
Everywhere the same thing.
After the last company from the list we were sitting in a restaurant over dinner, going through documents. Folders with the data of all the secretaries lay in front of us.
"Well, if you doubt it so much," I began, understanding his skepticism, "let's go tomorrow to a company that raises no suspicion at all. And we'll test my theory there."
He froze. Thought.
"All right. That is actually a good idea. Besides, Theron arrives this evening. If everything turns out the way you think, we will be able to report to him."
I immediately pushed the thought of Theron away.
Better to focus on work.
While he spins in my head—it is impossible.
After dinner Ostin drove me home. I spent the entire evening with documents. I tried not to take my phone—to keep my thoughts clear. But the day had been heavy. I fell asleep quickly.
In the morning I had barely managed to arrive at the office when Ostin intercepted me. We immediately drove to one of the more distant companies.
According to him, recently they had many assignments from Theron. And everything had been completed without leaks.
Inside everything looked the same as in the other companies. With one exception.
The director.
This time it was a young man. Handsome. About twenty-five. Ostin immediately noticed my glance.
"He is from the clan. That is why he received the position not for merit. But he manages well."
He waved his hand and I followed him.
This time the director was composed. Even when Ostin threatened a personal inspection. He looked almost proud. As if he were certain that nothing would be found in his company.
But the staff were nervous. Yet we had not come here for that. Ostin and I stood in the reception area and watched the brunette behind the counter. She tried to remain calm. But her hands trembled. Her movements were sharp.
"Go over there. Ask for a glass of water," I nudged Ostin with my elbow.
He looked at me tiredly but still approached her.
"Excuse me…"
"Yes! What?.." the girl jumped up sharply and almost cried out. "Sorry… sorry…"
She lowered her head.
"Can I help you with something?"
She was twisting her hands together under the desk.
"Are you all right?" Ostin leaned slightly over the counter, clearly noticing her condition.
"Sorry… it's just all so unexpected…" she nervously adjusted her clothes. "I know we work under a big and influential company… And such responsibility… And…"
She faltered.
"I really tried every day to do everything right. I hope I did not make a mistake anywhere."
"Don't worry. This is a standard inspection. Sooner or later every company goes through it," Ostin said calmly.
"Yes… but the dismissal…" she raised her eyes.
"I think if you worked honestly, you have nothing to worry about."
Ostin lightly tapped the counter and returned to me.
His words did not calm the girl. She continued nervously looking at the computer and printing something.
"Satisfied?" I asked with a slight smile.
"All right. I think there is something in it. It's contradictory… but there's something there."
Ostin looked at me tiredly.
"Why contradictory?" I asked.
"Because if you are the informant, you should worry more than anyone. Not sit calmly."
He said it as if it were obvious.
"I proceeded from another logic," I objected, almost stubbornly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Let's go talk somewhere else." I immediately noticed that the secretary was watching us.
I was sitting in Ostin's office and again sorting through the biographies of the secretaries. Page after page. Histories, workplaces, dates.
Again. And again.
"So what principle were you guided by?" Ostin finally returned to our conversation.
I set the folder aside.
"Look. If the leak goes to the FBI, then most likely they work for them. They already have a safety cushion."
I tapped my finger on the documents.
"And second. They work well. We came to inspect the companies, not to search for leaks. We are not checking electronics. Not conducting interrogations. And doing that now is almost impossible."
I leaned slightly forward.
"The most dangerous thing is to let them understand that we suspect them."
The idea was simple.
"As soon as they understand that we have noticed them, they will hide everything. Or simply stop."
I paused for a second.
"That is why we must act carefully."
"All right…" Ostin began.
But his phone distracted him. He looked at the screen.
"We have to go." Pause. "Theron has returned."
Gathering all the documents, we went to him.
On the way I began to doubt.
Am I doing the right thing?
Did I notice everything correctly?
Or is it only my prejudice? Paranoia?
All right.
I decided to follow it through to the end.
If I am wrong—as Theron said—I will sit in the office and sort papers.
When we entered Theron's office, the air felt heavy. Oppressive.
He was sitting at the main desk and reading some papers. Ostin and I laid out our documents on the large table beside it. Theron was angry. It was felt even without words. Something happened during the trip?
No. Stop.
Enough thinking about unrelated things. If it is important—he will say it himself.
He stood up. Slowly approached our table and sat beside the spread documents. His gaze stopped on me. Heavy. Hard.
Ostin, it seemed, was not bothered by the atmosphere at all. He looked as if this were an ordinary working day.
Theron himself looked too… composed.
Fresh.
As if he had just taken a shower and styled his hair. A pleasant scent came from him. I did not understand fragrances well, but the citrus notes were distinct.
Better than the sharp one he sometimes wore.
Ostin began to explain. Everything we had done. The companies. The inspections. My observations. And my theory.
Theron looked through the documents. His voice was strict. Businesslike. The way it had always been. But suddenly I caught myself thinking… that I had already grown unaccustomed to it. Recently he had spoken differently. Softer. Sometimes even… gently.
I looked at him.
At the movements of his hands.
At his voice.
At the skin beneath the unbuttoned collar.
At his lips.
Damn…
I am thinking about the wrong things again.
"Your suggestions?"
His cold voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I think we need to deepen the study of these girls. Maybe we will be able to find something in common," Ostin suggested.
"Mirey."
Theron addressed me just as coldly. Without even raising his gaze. He continued to review the girls' files. For a second I felt disappointment. He did not even look at me.
I immediately pulled myself together.
"I think you should hire detectives. Or an agency that can follow them and sniff everything out."
I tried to speak calmly, pushing the irritation out of my head.
"We need someone neutral. Proven. And not connected to the company in any way. So as not to reveal our intentions."
"Logical," he said shortly.
He finally set the folder aside.
"Ostin, find people who can follow them and learn everything." Pause. "But do it so that no one finds out."
"Yes, it will be done," Ostin said and began gathering the documents from the table.
Not knowing what to do, I also started helping. I was already about to leave with him when Theron stopped me.
"Stay."
His stern voice made me uneasy.
As if everything had returned to the very beginning.
Before, I might even have liked it. But now for some reason it stung. Not long ago I wanted him simply to disappear from my life.
Theron waited until Ostin left the office.
"I hope you accidentally ignored my calls because you were busy with work?" he asked without changing the cold tone.
"No. I did it deliberately."
Only now did I realize that since yesterday evening I had not even opened my phone.
He stood and came closer. It seemed he had become even angrier than when we entered the office.
"Pack your things. We are going home."
"But lunch has just ended. I have many documents after our inspections. Now all of it is in the office," I objected.
"Take them with you. You will work at home."
"There are too many. I don't think that is a good idea."
Theron bent closer to me. His lips almost touched my ear.
"Please, Mirey. Let's go home. I am terribly tired."
His voice changed. Low. Calm. And it only made it worse. Suddenly I wanted to pull him toward me. What is happening to me? Where do these thoughts come from?
"All right. I will gather my things and go down to the parking lot."
I gave in too quickly.
"Thank you."
He walked me to the door.
I went to my office with a strange feeling inside. Everything was mixed.
Thoughts. Feelings. Irritation. Warmth. They came and went. I no longer understood what was between us. And what I felt for Theron.
Could it be that what I had tried for so many years never to feel again… was returning? And precisely toward the person for whom it was most dangerous.
When I came down to the parking lot, the car was already waiting. As always, Theron opened the door for me. Only after that did he sit down himself. He took my hand and placed it on his knee. Then he leaned his head back. It was obvious—he was truly tired. This was not a pretext to leave work early. It was reality.
When we arrived at my place, everything went as usual. But after the shower Theron refused food and settled on the couch. He himself took a pillow and a blanket. I decided to eat. And, sitting at the table, I watched how this almost perfect man arranged himself on my small sofa.
Why is he tormenting himself on that uncomfortable sofa? He himself said he was tired. I could not stand it and approached him.
"Either you go properly to sleep in the bed, or go home. You have plenty of places where you can sleep like a normal person."
It sounded much sharper and more hysterical than I intended. Theron looked at me in surprise.
"I am not going to watch you torture your body on my sofa."
I pulled the blanket off him and went to the bedroom. Without noticing it myself I began making the bed. Like a caring wife. And I stood there, waiting.
Theron entered after me. He lay down carefully, almost distrustfully. But said nothing.
I took the documents I had brought with me and settled on the other side of the bed. As soon as I leaned back comfortably—he immediately pulled himself toward me.
As always.
He wrapped his arms around my legs. Pressed his head against me. The movement was too familiar.
And suddenly inside everything became calm.
Quiet.
That very peace to which he had accustomed me.
I took the documents and began looking through them. Beside me Theron had already fallen asleep. And I sat there, sorting through the papers, feeling his warmth next to me.