The fluorescent lights flickered as Mira Chen stepped into the elevator, her fingers tightening around the strap of her laptop bag. She pressed the button for the 14th floor, watching the doors slide shut with a soft whoosh. As the elevator began its ascent, Mira’s eyes darted to the small screen displaying the floor numbers. She relied on visual cues far more than most, her hearing aids only partially compensating for her impairment.
Floor 3… 4… 5…
The elevator jolted to a stop, and Mira stumbled slightly. The doors opened to reveal a man in his late thirties, his crisp suit slightly rumpled and his tie loosened. He flashed Mira a quick smile as he entered.
“Morning,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of forced cheerfulness.
Mira nodded politely, her eyes dropping to the floor. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk, especially not with someone whose words she might struggle to catch.
The man pressed the button for the 12th floor and leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on his phone. Mira noticed his fingers drumming restlessly against his thigh, a nervous energy radiating from him.
As the elevator resumed its journey, Mira found herself stealing glances at her companion. There was something familiar about him, though she couldn’t quite place it. Perhaps she’d seen him around the office before, but in a company of over 500 employees, it was hard to keep track.
Floor 8… 9…
The elevator shuddered violently, the lights flickering more intensely than before. Mira’s heart leapt into her throat as they came to an abrupt halt. The man looked up from his phone, alarm evident in his eyes.
“What the hell?” he muttered, jabbing at the buttons. Nothing happened.
Mira’s breath quickened. She’d always harbored a fear of being trapped in small spaces, and now that fear was becoming a reality. She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself.
“Hey, are you okay?” The man’s voice cut through her panic. Mira opened her eyes to find him looking at her with concern.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. The man frowned, clearly unconvinced.
“I’m Ethan,” he said, offering a small smile. “Ethan Brooks. I work in marketing on the 12th floor.”
Mira swallowed hard. “Mira Chen,” she managed. “IT. 14th floor.”
Ethan’s eyes widened in recognition. “Oh, you’re the one who fixed my computer last month! The miracle worker who saved three years’ worth of presentations from oblivion.”
Despite her anxiety, Mira felt a flicker of pride. She remembered that particular rescue mission well. “It wasn’t that complicated,” she said softly. “Just a corrupted hard drive.”
Ethan chuckled. “Well, it was a lifesaver for me. I owe you a coffee or something.”
The elevator gave another ominous creak, and Mira’s momentary calm evaporated. She pressed herself against the wall, her breathing becoming shallow.
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Mira? Are you claustrophobic?”
She nodded, embarrassed. “A little,” she admitted.
“Okay, let’s try to take your mind off it,” Ethan said, his voice taking on a soothing tone. “Tell me about what you’re working on in IT these days.”
Mira hesitated, then began to speak about the new security protocols she was implementing. As she talked, she found her breathing slowing, her focus shifting from the confines of the elevator to the intricacies of her work.
Ethan listened attentively, asking questions that showed a genuine interest. Mira found herself relaxing slightly, grateful for the distraction.
“You know,” Ethan said after a while, “I’ve always been curious about how you IT folks do what you do. It’s like magic to me.”
Mira smiled despite herself. “It’s not magic. Just logic and problem-solving.”
“Says the woman who brought my computer back from the dead,” Ethan teased. His expression grew more serious. “I wish I had half your skills. Might have saved my marriage.”
Mira blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. “I’m sorry,” she said, unsure how to respond.
Ethan waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t be. It’s been six months. I should be over it by now.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m dumping this on you. Must be the stress of being stuck in here.”
“It’s okay,” Mira said softly. “Sometimes it’s easier to talk to strangers.”
Ethan nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s just… I keep replaying everything in my head, you know? Wondering what I could have done differently.”
Mira hesitated, then said, “Maybe it’s not about what you could have done differently. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to work out.”
Ethan looked at her, surprise evident in his eyes. “That’s… actually a really comforting way to look at it. Thanks, Mira.”
She shrugged, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. “Just logic and problem-solving,” she said, echoing her earlier words.
Ethan laughed, the sound filling the small space. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Before Mira could respond, the elevator lurched back to life. They both stumbled, Ethan instinctively reaching out to steady her. His hand on her arm was warm, and Mira felt an unexpected flutter in her stomach.
“Looks like we’re moving again,” Ethan said, his relief palpable. He didn’t immediately remove his hand, and Mira found she didn’t mind.
As the elevator continued its ascent, Mira realized that her earlier panic had completely subsided. She felt calm, almost disappointed that their unexpected interlude was coming to an end.
The doors opened on the 12th floor, and Ethan stepped out. He turned back to Mira, a genuine smile on his face. “Thanks for keeping me company, Mira. And for the perspective. I meant what I said about owing you a coffee.”
Mira nodded, returning his smile. “Anytime,” she said, surprised to find she meant it.
As the doors closed and the elevator continued to the 14th floor, Mira leaned against the wall, a small smile playing on her lips. Perhaps being stuck in an elevator wasn’t so bad after all.
Over the next few weeks, Mira found herself thinking about Ethan more often than she cared to admit. Their paths crossed occasionally in the office, and each time, Ethan would greet her with a warm smile and a friendly wave. It was a small gesture, but it never failed to brighten Mira’s day.
One particularly hectic Tuesday, Mira was hunched over her computer, deep in concentration as she debugged a particularly stubborn piece of code. She barely registered the knock on her cubicle wall until a steaming cup of coffee appeared in her peripheral vision.
“Thought you might need this,” Ethan’s voice said, startling her out of her focus.
Mira looked up, blinking in surprise. Ethan stood there, two cups of coffee in hand, looking slightly sheepish.
“I, uh, realized I never made good on that coffee I owed you,” he said, setting one of the cups on her desk. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”
Mira shook her head, reaching for the coffee gratefully. “No, just fighting with some uncooperative code. Thanks for this.”
Ethan grinned, leaning against her cubicle wall. “Glad I could help. So, how’ve you been? Any more elevator adventures?”
Mira chuckled, shaking her head. “Thankfully, no. Once was enough for me.”
“Agreed,” Ethan said with a laugh. He paused, seeming to hesitate before continuing. “Listen, I was wondering… would you maybe want to grab lunch sometime? I promise I won’t trap you in any small spaces.”
Mira felt her cheeks warm, a mixture of surprise and pleasure coursing through her. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Brooks! There you are. We need you in the conference room, pronto.”
They both turned to see Derek Walters, the company CEO, striding towards them. His perpetual frown deepened as he noticed Ethan’s casual stance.
“This isn’t social hour, Brooks,” Derek said gruffly. “We’ve got a crisis with the Hendricks account. Move it.”
Ethan straightened immediately, his easy-going demeanor replaced by a more professional mask. “Of course, sir. I’ll be right there.”
Derek nodded curtly, his eyes sliding over to Mira. “Ms. Chen,” he acknowledged before turning on his heel and marching away.
Ethan turned back to Mira, an apologetic look on his face. “Duty calls,” he said with a rueful smile. “Rain check on that lunch?”
Mira nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. “Sure. Good luck with the crisis.”
“Thanks,” Ethan said, already backing away. “I’ll need it. Catch you later, Mira.”
As Ethan hurried after Derek, Mira sank back into her chair, her mind whirling. Had Ethan really just asked her to lunch? And more importantly, why did the prospect make her feel so… excited?
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This wasn’t like her. Mira had always kept to herself at work, focusing on her tasks and avoiding office politics and social entanglements. But something about Ethan made her want to step out of her comfort zone.
With a sigh, Mira turned back to her computer. The code wasn’t going to debug itself, after all. But as she worked, she couldn’t quite shake the warmth that had bloomed in her chest at Ethan’s invitation.
The next day, Mira found herself in the break room, refilling her water bottle, when she overheard a conversation that made her pause.
“I’m telling you, Sonia, something’s up with Brooks,” a male voice said. “He’s been distracted lately, missing deadlines. It’s not like him.”
“Give him a break, Tom,” came the reply, which Mira recognized as belonging to Sonia Patel, the HR manager. “He’s been going through a rough time with the divorce. These things take time to process.”
Mira froze, her hand hovering over the water cooler. She knew she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but she couldn’t bring herself to move.
“I get that,” Tom said, his voice lowering. “But we can’t afford any slip-ups with the Hendricks account. If we lose them, heads will roll. You know how Walters gets.”
There was a pause, and then Sonia spoke again, her voice laced with concern. “I’ll talk to Ethan, see if there’s anything we can do to support him. But Tom, please try to be patient. He’s one of our best, and he’s never let us down before.”
“I hope you’re right,” Tom muttered. “For all our sakes.”
Mira heard footsteps approaching and quickly busied herself with her water bottle. Tom, a balding man she vaguely recognized from marketing, brushed past her without a glance. Sonia, however, paused in the doorway.
“Everything alright, Mira?” she asked, her dark eyes kind but perceptive.
Mira nodded, perhaps a bit too quickly. “Yes, fine. Just getting some water.”
Sonia smiled, but Mira could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. “Alright then. Have a good day.”
As Sonia left, Mira let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She felt a twinge of guilt for overhearing something she shouldn’t have, but it was overshadowed by concern for Ethan. He had seemed fine yesterday, but then again, she barely knew him. Was he struggling more than he let on?
Mira shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts. It wasn’t any of her business, she told herself. She had her own work to focus on.
But as she made her way back to her desk, Mira couldn’t quite shake the nagging feeling that somehow, it had become her business.
The rest of the week passed in a blur of coding and meetings. Mira threw herself into her work, trying to ignore the occasional glimpses she caught of Ethan in the hallways or cafeteria. He always seemed to be in a hurry, his usual easy smile replaced by a look of intense concentration.
On Friday afternoon, Mira was just packing up to leave when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and frowned. It was the IT emergency line, which was only supposed to be used for critical issues.
“IT department, this is Mira,” she answered, already dreading whatever crisis awaited her.
“Mira! Thank god,” Ethan’s voice came through, sounding frantic. “I need your help. It’s an emergency.”
Mira’s frown deepened. “Ethan? What’s wrong?”
“My presentation for the Hendricks account,” Ethan said, his words tumbling out in a rush. “It’s due first thing Monday morning, and my computer just crashed. I can’t access any of my files. Please, Mira, I’m begging you. Can you take a look?”
Mira hesitated. She had plans to meet her sister for dinner, but the desperation in Ethan’s voice tugged at her. “Okay,” she said finally. “I’ll be right there.”
She grabbed her toolkit and headed for the elevator, her mind already running through possible scenarios. When she reached the 12th floor, she found Ethan pacing in front of his desk, running his hands through his hair in agitation.
“Mira,” he breathed when he saw her, relief evident in his voice. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“Let’s see what we’re dealing with first,” Mira said, setting her toolkit down and moving to his computer. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
As Ethan explained, Mira’s fingers flew over the keyboard, her eyes scanning lines of code and system information. After about twenty minutes of intense concentration, she sat back with a small smile.
“Good news,” she said, turning to Ethan. “Your files are all intact. It was just a driver issue causing the crash. I’ve fixed it and restored access to everything.”
Ethan’s face lit up, and before Mira knew what was happening, he had pulled her into a tight hug. “You’re amazing,” he said, his voice muffled against her hair. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Mira stiffened for a moment, unused to such physical contact, especially at work. But after a second, she relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy the warmth of his embrace.
When Ethan pulled back, his cheeks were slightly flushed. “Sorry,” he said, looking sheepish. “I got a bit carried away there. It’s just… this presentation is make or break for me. If I’d lost it…”
“It’s okay,” Mira said, feeling her own face warm. “I’m glad I could help.”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, a habit Mira was starting to recognize as a sign of his nervousness. “Listen, I know it’s late on a Friday, but… would you maybe want to grab a drink? To celebrate the resurrection of my career?”
Mira hesitated. She should call her sister, cancel their plans. She should go home and relax after a long week. She should maintain professional boundaries.
Instead, she found herself nodding. “Sure,” she said, surprising herself. “A drink sounds nice.”
Ethan’s answering smile was bright enough to light up the entire office.
The bar Ethan chose was a small, cozy place a few blocks from the office. As they settled into a booth, Mira felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach. This was unfamiliar territory for her – both literally and figuratively.
“So,” Ethan said as they received their drinks, “I realized I know next to nothing about you, beyond your miraculous IT skills. Tell me about yourself, Mira Chen.”
Mira took a sip of her gin and tonic, buying herself a moment. “There’s not much to tell,” she said finally. “I’ve been with the company for five years. I like my job. I have a cat named Pascal.”
Ethan chuckled. “Pascal? Let me guess, named after the programming language?”
Mira felt her cheeks warm. “Maybe,” she admitted.
“That’s adorable,” Ethan said, his eyes twinkling. “What else? Any hobbies? Secret talents?”
Mira shrugged. “I like to read. And I’ve been learning sign language.”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose. “Sign language? That’s interesting. Any particular reason?”
Mira hesitated, her hand unconsciously moving to touch her hearing aid. It was mostly hidden by her hair, but Ethan’s eyes followed the movement, understanding dawning on his face.
“Oh,” he said softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”
“It’s okay,” Mira said quickly. “I’m not completely deaf. The hearing aids help a lot. But I thought it would be good to learn sign language, just in case…”
She trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence. Just in case her hearing got worse? Just in case she needed a backup plan? Just in case she wanted to communicate in a world that often felt too loud, too overwhelming?
Ethan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That makes sense. It’s smart to be prepared.” He paused, then added, “Would you teach me some?”
Mira blinked in surprise. “You want to learn sign language?”
Ethan shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Why not? It could be useful. Plus, it’d be nice to have a secret way to communicate in boring meetings.”
Mira couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m not sure that’s the intended use of sign language.”
“Maybe not,” Ethan conceded. “But it’d make those quarterly reviews a lot more bearable.”
As they continued to chat, Mira found herself relaxing. Ethan had a way of putting her at ease, his genuine interest and quick wit drawing her out of her shell. Before she knew it, hours had passed, and the bar was starting to empty.
“I can’t believe how late it is,” Mira said, glancing at her watch. “I should probably head home.”
Ethan nodded, though she thought she detected a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. “Of course. Can I walk you to your car?”
The night air was cool as they stepped outside, a light breeze ruffling Mira’s hair. They walked in comfortable silence for a few blocks, their shoulders occasionally brushing.
When they reached Mira’s car, she turned to Ethan, suddenly feeling shy. “Thanks for the drink,” she said. “And the company.”
Ethan smiled, his eyes soft in the streetlight. “Thank you for saving my job. And for giving me a chance to get to know you better.”
There was a moment of silence, charged with something Mira couldn’t quite name. Ethan took a small step closer, and Mira felt her breath catch in her throat.
“Mira,” Ethan said softly, “I know this might be crossing a line, but… I really like you. And I’d love to see you again, outside of work. If you’re interested, that is.”
Mira’s heart raced. Part of her wanted to say yes immediately, to throw caution to the wind and see where this could go. But another part, the logical, cautious part that had served her well for so long, held her back.
“Ethan,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “I like you too. But… I’m not sure if this is a good idea. We work together, and with everything going on with the Hendricks account…”
Ethan’s face fell slightly, but he nodded. “I understand,” he said. “You’re probably right. It’s just… I haven’t felt this way about someone in a long time. But I respect your decision.”
Mira felt a pang in her chest at the disappointment in his voice. “I’m sorry,” she said, meaning it. “Maybe… maybe when things settle down at work, we could revisit this?”
A small smile tugged at Ethan’s lips. “I’d like that,” he said. “I’ll hold you to it, you know.”
Mira laughed softly. “I don’t doubt it.”
As she drove home that night, Mira’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She couldn’t deny the attraction she felt towards Ethan, the way he made her feel seen and understood. But she also couldn’t shake the nagging worry that getting involved with a coworker could only lead to complications.
Little did she know, those complications were already set in motion, waiting to unfold in ways she could never have predicted.
The following Monday, Mira arrived at work early, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Ethan and their conversation on Friday night. As she waited for the elevator, she noticed an unusual buzz of activity in the lobby.
When the doors opened, she found herself face to face with Sonia Patel, the HR manager. Sonia’s usually calm demeanor seemed strained, her brow furrowed with worry.
“Oh, Mira,” Sonia said, sounding relieved. “I’m glad I caught you. Could you come to my office when you get settled? There’s something we need to discuss.”
Mira felt a knot form in her stomach. “Of course,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Is everything okay?”
Sonia’s smile was tight. “Let’s talk in my office,” she repeated, before hurrying off towards the stairs.
As the elevator ascended, Mira’s mind raced. Had someone seen her and Ethan at the bar? Was she in trouble for using company resources after hours to fix his computer? She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Whatever it was, she’d face it head-on.
After dropping her bag at her desk, Mira made her way to Sonia’s office on the 10th floor. She knocked tentatively, her heart pounding.
“Come in,” Sonia called.
Mira entered to find not only Sonia but also Derek Walters, the CEO, waiting for her. Derek’s perpetual frown seemed even more pronounced than usual.
“Ms. Chen,” Derek said, his voice gruff. “Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”
Mira sat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide their trembling. “What’s this about?” she asked, proud of how steady her voice sounded.
Sonia and Derek exchanged a look before Sonia spoke. “Mira, we need to ask you about your interactions with Ethan Brooks last Friday evening.”
Mira felt her face flush. “We… we had a drink after work,” she admitted. “Is that against company policy?”
“No, no,” Sonia said quickly. “That’s not the issue. Mira, did you access Ethan’s computer that evening?”
Mira nodded slowly. “Yes, he called the IT emergency line. His computer had crashed, and he couldn’t access his files for an important presentation. I fixed the issue.”
Derek leaned forward, his eyes intense. “And did you see the contents of those files?”
Mira frowned, confusion replacing her nervousness. “No, I just restored access. I didn’t look at any of the actual documents. Why? What’s going on?”
Sonia sighed, her expression grave. “Mira, early this morning, we discovered that sensitive information about the Hendricks account was leaked to a competitor. The leak has been traced back to Ethan’s computer.”
Mira felt as if the floor had dropped out from under her. “What? That’s impossible. Ethan would never…”
“We’re not accusing anyone at this point,” Derek cut in. “But we need to investigate every possibility. You were the last person, besides Ethan, to have access to that computer.”
Mira shook her head vehemently. “I didn’t leak anything. I would never do that. And neither would Ethan.”
Sonia reached out, placing a comforting hand on Mira’s arm. “We believe you, Mira. But we need to follow protocol. We’ll need to examine your work computer and phone for any traces of the leaked files.”
Mira nodded numbly. “Of course. Whatever you need.”
As she left Sonia’s office, Mira’s mind was reeling. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Ethan, accused of corporate espionage? It seemed absurd. The man she’d gotten to know over the past few weeks wasn’t capable of such betrayal.
But as she made her way back to her desk, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered doubts. Did she really know Ethan at all? Could his charm and friendliness have been a cover for something more sinister?
Mira shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts. No, she refused to believe it. There had to be another explanation. And she was determined to find it.
The next few days were a blur of questioning and investigation. Mira’s computer and phone were thoroughly examined, but as she knew they would be, they came up clean. Ethan, however, was conspicuously absent from the office.
Rumors flew thick and fast. Some said Ethan had been fired on the spot, others that he’d fled the country. Mira tried to ignore the whispers, focusing instead on her work and on trying to piece together what might have really happened.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mira was deep in concentration, combing through server logs for any sign of unauthorized access, when a shadow fell across her desk. She looked up to find Derek Walters standing there, his expression unreadable.
“Ms. Chen,” he said, his voice low. “A word in my office, please.”
Mira’s heart sank. This couldn’t be good. She followed Derek to the elevator, acutely aware of the curious glances from her coworkers.
When they reached Derek’s spacious corner office on the top floor, Mira was surprised to see Sonia already there, along with two men in suits she didn’t recognize.
“Mira,” Sonia said, her voice gentle. “These gentlemen are from corporate security. They have some questions for you.”
For the next hour, Mira answered a barrage of questions about her relationship with Ethan, her access to company systems, and her activities on the night of the leak. She answered as honestly and completely as she could, all the while feeling a growing sense of frustration.
Finally, one of the security men leaned back in his chair. “Ms. Chen, can you think of any reason why Mr. Brooks might have wanted to sabotage the Hendricks account?”
Mira shook her head vehemently. “No, absolutely not. Ethan was dedicated to his work. He was stressed about that presentation, yes, but he wanted it to succeed. He wouldn’t have done anything to jeopardize it.”
The man exchanged a look with his colleague. “Ms. Chen, are you aware that Mr. Brooks has been in contact with representatives from Hendricks’ main competitor?”
Mira felt as if she’d been doused with cold water. “What? No, that can’t be right.”
Derek spoke up, his voice gruff but not unkind. “We have evidence of several phone calls and meetings over the past month. It doesn’t look good, Mira.”
Mira’s mind raced. There had to be an explanation. “Maybe… maybe he was trying to gather intel on the competition?” she suggested weakly.
Sonia shook her head. “If that were the case, he should have reported it to his superiors. This was all done in secret.”
Mira slumped in her chair, feeling defeated. Could she have been so wrong about Ethan?
As if reading her thoughts, Sonia leaned forward. “Mira, we know this is difficult. But we need to know if Ethan said anything to you, anything at all, that might shed light on this situation.”
Mira closed her eyes, thinking back to their conversations. Suddenly, a memory surfaced – Ethan mentioning his divorce, the hint of financial troubles. Her eyes snapped open.
“He… he mentioned his divorce,” she said slowly. “He seemed stressed about it. Could that have been a motive? If he was in financial trouble?”
The security men exchanged another look. “It’s certainly a possibility we’ll explore,” one of them said.
Derek nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Thank you, Mira. You’ve been very helpful. We’ll let you know if we need anything else.”
As Mira left the office, her mind was whirling. Had she just inadvertently provided evidence against Ethan? The thought made her feel sick. But if he was guilty, didn’t the company deserve to know the truth?
She made her way back to her desk in a daze, barely registering the concerned looks from her coworkers. As she sat down, her eyes fell on a framed photo on her desk – a picture of her and her team at the last company picnic. Ethan was in the background, his arm slung casually over a colleague’s shoulders, that easy smile on his face.
Mira picked up the photo, studying Ethan’s face. Was that the face of someone capable of betraying not just the company, but her trust as well?
With a sudden surge of determination, Mira set the photo down and turned to her computer. She might not be able to prove Ethan’s innocence – if he was indeed innocent – but she could at least try to uncover the truth. It was what she did best, after all – finding the logic in a sea of chaos.
Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she dived back into the server logs. There had to be something she’d missed, some clue that could shed light on what really happened that night. And Mira was determined to find it, no matter where it led.
As the week wore on, Mira threw herself into her investigation with a fervor that surprised even her. She stayed late each night, poring over logs and access records, looking for any anomaly that might provide a clue.
On Friday evening, as most of her colleagues were heading out to start their weekends, Mira sat hunched over her computer, her eyes burning from hours of staring at the screen. She was about to call it a night when something caught her eye – a series of login attempts from an unfamiliar IP address, just minutes before the leak occurred.
Mira’s heart raced as she dug deeper. The login attempts had failed, but they had been persistent, trying various employee credentials. And then, success – a login using Ethan’s credentials, but from that same unfamiliar IP.
“Got you,” Mira whispered, a surge of triumph coursing through her.
She was so engrossed in her discovery that she didn’t notice the figure approaching her desk until a shadow fell across her keyboard.
“Working late, Ms. Chen?”
Mira jumped, looking up to find Derek Walters standing there, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the nearly empty office.
“Mr. Walters,” she stammered, quickly minimizing her screen. “I was just… finishing up some things.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Things related to the ongoing investigation, perhaps?”
Mira hesitated, then nodded. There was no point in lying. “Yes, sir. I think I’ve found something important.”
Derek was silent for a long moment, his gaze intense. Finally, he said, “Show me.”
With shaking hands, Mira pulled up the logs again, explaining her discovery. As she talked, Derek’s frown deepened.
“This could indicate a hacking attempt,” he mused. “But it doesn’t exonerate Brooks. He could have been working with someone outside the company.”
Mira shook her head vehemently. “Sir, with all due respect, I don’t believe Ethan is capable of this. I think he’s being framed.”
Derek’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a bold claim, Ms. Chen. Do you have evidence to support it?”
Mira bit her lip. “Not… not concrete evidence. But I know Ethan. He wouldn’t do this.”
Derek sighed, running a hand over his face. He suddenly looked very tired. “Ms. Chen… Mira. I appreciate your loyalty to your colleague. But in my experience, people are often not who we think they are.”
“But-” Mira began, but Derek held up a hand to stop her.
“However,” he continued, “your discovery is significant. I’ll have our security team look into this IP address immediately.” He paused, then added, “I hope, for all our sakes, that your faith in Mr. Brooks is not misplaced.”
As Derek walked away, Mira slumped in her chair, a mixture of hope and anxiety swirling in her chest. She had found something, yes, but would it be enough? And more importantly, was she right to trust her instincts about Ethan?
She glanced at the clock – nearly midnight. With a sigh, she began to pack up her things. As she reached for her bag, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:
“Mira, it’s Ethan. I need to talk to you. Please meet me at the park across from the office tomorrow at noon. I can explain everything.”
Mira stared at the message, her heart pounding. This was it – the moment of truth. Whatever happened tomorrow, she knew it would change everything.
As she left the office, the city quiet and dark around her, Mira couldn