Morning sunlight spilled through my blinds, catching the steam from my coffee. It should have felt normal, peaceful even. But peace had long left my vocabulary. Every move, every keystroke, every word now had to be measured.
Adrian wasn't just my boss anymore. He was my opponent, and I was sitting right under his watch.
I dressed more carefully than usual — fitted blazer, neat ponytail, no trace of fatigue. When I reached the office, he was already there, his jacket off, sleeves rolled up, leaning over Mara's desk.
I watched them from a distance. His voice was calm, reassuring even, but I could see the calculation in his stance. He always positioned himself slightly closer to whoever he spoke to, like he was claiming the air they breathed.
When his eyes met mine across the hall, he smiled faintly. "Morning, Selina."
I smiled back. "Morning, sir."
The word sir tasted bitter, but I made it sound light.
Mara turned toward me. "He's been waiting for you. Big presentation today."
Adrian nodded. "Let's make it count."
Inside the conference room, everything was in order — slides polished, reports printed, digital models aligned. Adrian walked me through the final notes, his tone easy, almost affectionate.
"You've outdone yourself again," he said, glancing at me.
"Just doing my job."
He chuckled softly. "If everyone did their job like you, I'd be out of work."
The compliment made my stomach twist. I hated how easily he played this role.
As the presentation started, I focused on the board members. They nodded through my points, impressed by the data projections. Adrian occasionally interjected, elaborating with the kind of effortless authority that made everyone trust him instantly.
But I caught it — a subtle change in one of the slides. Data that I hadn't entered.
I kept talking, pretending nothing was wrong, while my eyes flicked over the numbers. They were inflated. Artificial growth curves. If this went into the record, it would look like I'd manipulated the metrics.
When the meeting ended, applause followed. Adrian clapped lightly and said, "Excellent work, Selina. You really know how to deliver."
My smile didn't reach my eyes.
After everyone left, I stayed behind, pretending to collect files. Adrian leaned against the table. "You noticed it, didn't you?"
I froze. "What?"
"The numbers," he said quietly. "You have a sharp eye."
I turned slowly. "You changed them."
He smiled — not apologetic, not defensive. Just amused. "It's how the game works. We adjust the truth until it becomes acceptable."
"You're falsifying reports."
"Don't say it like that." His voice was calm, but there was steel underneath. "You're part of this now, Selina. You've seen too much to play innocent."
My chest tightened. "Is that a threat?"
"No," he said softly. "It's an invitation."
Before I could answer, Mara walked in. The moment shattered.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said, eyes flicking between us. "The investors from Tokyo are on the line."
Adrian straightened. "I'll take it in my office."
He left, leaving the faint smell of his cologne behind — sharp, clean, deceptively controlled.
Mara watched me for a second longer than usual. "Be careful around him."
"Why?"
Her lips curved faintly. "Because I know what happens to the ones he trusts."
The way she said it made me pause. "You sound like you've been there."
She shrugged and walked away.
For the rest of the day, I could feel the pressure building. I kept my expression neutral, but my mind was racing. Adrian had crossed another line — this time, publicly manipulating data. If I didn't move fast, he'd have evidence to bury me next.
When evening came, I stayed late under the excuse of finishing documentation. Once the office quieted, I slipped into the internal drive. My fingers flew over the keyboard as I searched for the modified files. There they were — encrypted, stamped with my digital signature.
He'd forged my credentials.
I exhaled slowly, forcing calm. Then I began copying the originals and creating mirrored archives. Each one was uploaded to my hidden server with time-stamped proof. If he tried to frame me, the truth would surface automatically.
A small sound broke the silence — the faint click of heels.
I turned. Mara stood in the doorway, watching me.
"Working late again?" she asked lightly.
"Just cleaning up the mess," I said.
She stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Whose mess?"
"Yours, maybe."
Her smile faltered. "You really don't know what you're dealing with, do you?"
"Then enlighten me."
She hesitated, then said quietly, "Adrian isn't doing this alone. There's someone else. Someone above all of us."
I frowned. "You mean the board?"
"No. Someone outside the company."
"Who?"
Before she could answer, the intercom buzzed. Adrian's voice echoed through the hall. "Mara, Selina — I need you both in my office. Now."
We exchanged a look. The kind that said this conversation isn't over.
When we entered his office, Adrian was leaning back in his chair, fingers steepled. His expression was unreadable.
"I just got word from the cybersecurity team," he said. "Someone's been accessing restricted files tonight."
My stomach sank.
He looked straight at me. "Anything you'd like to explain, Selina?"
I forced a calm breath. "I was verifying the project data after the presentation."
"Without clearance?"
"I have clearance."
"Not for the encrypted logs," he said softly.
I met his gaze. "If you're implying something, just say it."
He smiled faintly. "Relax. I'm sure it's nothing. Just routine."
But the way he said it sent a chill down my spine. He knew.
When we stepped out, Mara walked beside me in silence until we reached the elevator. Then she turned slightly, her voice low. "He's testing you."
"I know."
"And when he's done testing?"
"Then he'll see what happens when someone stops playing by his rules."
Her lips curved in a slow smile. "I almost hope you win."
"Almost?"
She stepped inside the elevator, looking straight ahead. "Because if you do, I lose."
The doors slid shut between us.
Back at my desk, I packed my things slowly, every movement deliberate. My pulse hadn't calmed, but something inside me had shifted.
For weeks, I'd been reacting — to his games, his traps, his manipulations. But now I saw the pattern. Adrian thrived on control. He wanted me to panic, to break, to need his approval.
And that was exactly why he was going to fall.
That night, when I got home, I didn't even take off my shoes. I powered on my system, accessed my hidden backup, and started crafting a digital snare. A data bomb — silent, invisible, and perfectly timed.
If Adrian tried to erase my name again, every false record he'd planted would trace back to him.
I typed until dawn, the city slowly waking outside my window.
By the time the sun rose, I had one thought left in my mind.
Adrian Stone had built an empire of lies.
And I was going to make him choke on every one of them.