Aria stared at her phone.

The unknown message still glowing on the screen.

“It didn’t look like a mistake.”

Her heart started racing again.

Aria whispered.

Aria: Who sent this?

Another message appeared.

Unknown: “Relax. I’m not your enemy.”

Aria quickly typed back.

Aria: “Who is this?”

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

But no message came.

Aria sighed.

Aria: Of course.

Perfect mystery.

Just what her life needed.

________________________________________

Orion Office – Noon

The office atmosphere felt strange again.

Too many whispers.

Too many glances.

The intern rushed to Aria’s desk.

Intern (excited): BIG NEWS.

Aria: If this is about the balcony again -

Intern: No.

Pause.

Intern: Kael is firing someone today.

Aria blinked.

Aria: That’s… less exciting than you think.

Intern: It’s a department head.

Aria: Oh.

That was interesting.

Suddenly the entire office heard Kael’s voice from the main floor.

Kael: Everyone in the conference room.

His tone was cold.

Professional.

Dangerous.

Aria grabbed her notebook and followed everyone.

________________________________________

Conference Room

Everyone sat quietly.

Kael stood near the table.

Mira sat beside him, watching the room carefully.

Kael spoke calmly.

Kael: Orion has a confidentiality policy.

Designer whispered.

Designer: Uh oh.

Kael continued.

Kael: Someone violated it.

Silence spread instantly.

Kael placed a printed document on the table.

Kael: Internal campaign files were leaked to a competitor.

Gasps around the room.

Intern whispered to Aria.

Intern: Corporate drama.

Aria frowned.

Aria: Who did it?

Kael looked directly at one person.

Head of marketing.

Kael: Mr. Kapoor.

The man stood up immediately.

Kapoor: This is ridiculous.

Kael: Is it?

Kapoor: I’ve worked here for ten years!

Kael: And yesterday you sent confidential files to Vortex Creative.

The room erupted.

Kapoor: That’s a lie!

Mira calmly slid a tablet across the table.

Mira: The email came from your account.

Kapoor’s face turned pale.

Kapoor: Someone hacked me!

Kael stepped closer.

Kael: Possibly.

Kapoor swallowed.

Kael: But until we confirm that -

Kael paused.

Kael: You’re suspended.

Security entered the room.

Kapoor glared at everyone.

Especially Kael.

Kapoor: You think this company is clean?

The room froze.

Kapoor laughed bitterly.

Kapoor: You have no idea what your boss is hiding.

Kael’s expression didn’t change.

But Aria noticed something.

His hand clenched slightly.

Kapoor pointed at him.

Kapoor: When the truth comes out, you’ll all regret trusting him.

Security escorted him out.

The room stayed silent.

Uncomfortable.

Heavy.

Kael finally spoke again.

Kael: Meeting dismissed.

________________________________________

Hallway – After the Meeting

People immediately started whispering again.

Designer: That was brutal.

Copywriter: Kael didn’t even blink.

Intern whispered to Aria.

Intern: He’s scary when he’s serious.

Aria nodded slowly.

Aria: Yeah.

But something Kapoor said kept repeating in her head.

“You have no idea what your boss is hiding.”

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown message.

Unknown: “Now you see it.”

Aria typed instantly.

Aria: “See what?”

The reply came quickly.

Unknown: “Kael Voss isn’t who you think he is.”

Aria’s stomach tightened.

She looked toward Kael’s office.

The blinds were still closed.

________________________________________

Later – Kael’s Office

Aria knocked.

Kael’s voice came from inside.

Kael: Enter.

She stepped inside.

He looked up.

Kael: Campaign update?

Aria hesitated.

Aria: Not exactly.

He leaned back slightly.

Kael: Then what?

She studied him carefully.

Trying to read his expression.

Trying to see if Kapoor’s words were true.

Aria: Why did Kapoor say that?

Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Kael: People say many things when they’re fired.

Aria: He sounded confident.

Kael stood up.

Kael: Aria.

Aria: Yes?

Kael: Are you asking as an employee…

He paused.

Kael: Or as someone who kissed me on a balcony?

Aria nearly choked.

Aria: That is NOT relevant.

Kael: Everything is relevant.

Silence.

Aria took a breath.

Aria: I’m asking because something feels wrong.

Kael studied her for a long moment.

Then he walked toward the window.

Kael: Orion is a powerful company.

Aria: I noticed.

Kael: Powerful companies attract enemies.

Aria: That doesn’t answer my question.

He turned toward her again.

Kael: Some truths are dangerous.

Aria: And secrets aren’t?

Kael looked like he wanted to say something.

But stopped himself.

Kael: Focus on your work.

Aria crossed her arms.

Aria: That’s not an answer.

Kael: It’s the only one you’re getting.

She exhaled in frustration.

Aria: Fine.

She turned to leave.

But just before she reached the door -

Kael spoke again.

Quietly.

Kael: Aria.

She stopped.

Aria: Yes?

Kael: If someone asks you about Orion…

He paused.

Kael: Don’t trust them.

Aria frowned.

Aria: Why would anyone ask me?

Her phone buzzed again.

Another message.

She checked it.

And her blood ran cold.

Unknown: “I think it’s time we meet.”

Pause.

“Tonight. 9 PM.”

Then the final message appeared.

“I’ll tell you the truth about Kael Voss.”

Aria slowly looked back at him.

He was watching her carefully.

Kael: Something wrong?

She hesitated.

Should she tell him?

Or keep the message secret?

Aria forced a small smile.

Aria: No.

But inside -She knew one thing.

Tonight, could change everything.