The morning air was thick with anticipation as I walked to the office. My bag was lighter than usual, but heavier with the weight of the encrypted files. Today, the game would truly begin.
Ethan was already at his desk, quietly observing the floor. When he saw me, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you ready?" he asked softly.
"I've never been more ready," I said, keeping my tone calm even as my pulse raced.
Claire appeared moments later, clutching a folder tightly to her chest. "I've double-checked the schedules. Security rotations, access logs — everything lines up. We have a small window tonight."
I nodded. "Good. Every second counts."
Throughout the day, I moved with calculated precision, pretending to complete mundane tasks while mentally reviewing the plan. Emails, calls, and office chatter flowed around me like white noise. No one suspected the storm brewing beneath the surface.
Around noon, Adrian stopped by my desk. "Selina, you look focused today. Everything alright?"
"Just concentrating," I replied lightly. I smiled, but inside, the tension coiled tightly.
When Ethan and I finally convened after work, Claire had already slipped out to create a distraction in the records room. The lights dimmed, and we made our way to the internal server room. I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, every step precise, every move deliberate.
"Are you sure about this?" Ethan asked, voice low.
"Every step has been calculated," I said. "We only get one chance. One mistake, and Trent will know we're here."
Inside the server room, I placed the drive and started the extraction. Files moved silently, a digital trail growing under my fingertips. Each document was a thread that could unravel Trent's entire empire.
Halfway through, my phone buzzed. A notification: an internal message from an unknown sender — "We know who's inside. Stop now."
I didn't flinch. "Ethan, they're onto us," I said quietly.
He narrowed his eyes. "Then we finish faster."
Minutes felt like hours as we completed the transfer. Claire reappeared just as the last file copied. "All clear," she whispered.
We moved to exit, but the faintest sound behind us froze me — security. Two guards were rounding the corner.
"Split up," I whispered. Ethan and I veered left, Claire to the right. I ran, heart pounding, instincts sharper than ever. Every step calculated. Every breath controlled.
We regrouped outside in the alley. Ethan handed me a small device. "This will upload the files safely without a trace. Trent won't know until it's too late."
I inserted the drive, watching the progress bar crawl forward. The quiet hum of the city felt distant compared to the storm inside me.
When the upload finished, I exhaled sharply. "Done."
Ethan's eyes met mine. "We did it. Now Trent knows we exist."
I smiled faintly. "And now the game truly begins."
As I walked home that night, the city lights flickering across the glass, I felt the weight of what we had done. I wasn't just an assistant anymore. I was a threat.
The envelope of secrets, the Helix files, Claire's shaky allegiance — it all converged into one undeniable fact: nothing would ever be the same.
Tomorrow would bring reactions, betrayals, and new alliances. But for now, I allowed myself a brief moment of triumph.
I was ready for the chaos.