Chapter six

CHAPTER SIX

The next morning, the office was unusually quiet. The usual buzz of activity was replaced by a tense, almost eerie silence. I sensed that something was off as soon as I walked in, but it wasn’t until I saw the expressions on my coworkers' faces that I knew something serious had happened.

"Hey, Derek," one of the junior staff members whispered as I passed by. "Did you see the news?"

"What news?" I asked, feeling a pang of dread.

She handed me her phone, and my heart sank as I read the headline: "Major Security Breach at Malwear Lingerie Conglomerate: Sensitive Data Exposed." The article detailed the breach, revealing that confidential information had been leaked, and speculated about the potential fallout. It was already being reported on TV and radio.

I quickly made my way to Malika's office, my mind racing. This was worse than I had imagined. As I approached, I could hear raised voices from inside. I hesitated for a moment, then knocked softly.

"Come in," Malika's voice snapped.

I entered to find Malika pacing furiously, her phone clutched in her hand. Mustafa stood by the window, his expression grim.

"Ms. Badu, I saw the news," I began.

"Of course you did," she said sharply, her eyes flashing with anger. "The whole world has seen it!"

Just then, her phone rang again, and she answered it with a terse, "Yes?"

I could hear the voice on the other end, loud and angry. It was her father. Malika's face paled as she listened, her hands trembling slightly.

"I understand, Father," she said finally. "I'll handle it."

She ended the call and threw the phone onto her desk. "My parents are furious. They think this will ruin us."

Mustafa stepped forward. "We'll contain the damage, Malika. We just need to find the source of the leak and fix it."

She immediately waved me off. I walked out of the door but I stood outside eavesdropping. 

Malika shook her head, her 

eyes filled with fear. "You don't understand. My parents are dishonest people. They divert company funds to brothels, and they're worried this scandal will expose their dirty dealings. If that happens, we're all done for."

I gaped, nearly stumbling over the marble vase at my right. 

The gravity of the situation hit me hard. This was bigger than just a breach; it was a threat to Malika's entire family empire.

I felt she deserved it. 

"I need to go," she said suddenly. "I need to figure out what to do."

I immediately tiptoed and hid behind a wall barricading her office and the elevator. 

She stormed out of the office, leaving Mustafa behind.

I immediately took off, deciding to check on Yen, needing some sense of normalcy amid the chaos.

I found Yen in the break room, looking just as worried as everyone else. 

"Yen," I called softly.

She looked up and smiled weakly. "Derek, this is a mess. What are we going to do?"

I moved closer, instinctively wrapping my arms around her. "We'll get through it," I said, trying to sound reassuring. "We'll find a way."

As we stood there, finding comfort in each other's presence, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up to see Malika standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock and anger.

"What the hell is this?" she screamed. "Are you two together now?"

"Malika, it's not what it looks like," I started, but she cut me off.

"Shut up, Derek!" she shouted, her face red with rage. "I trusted you, and this is how you repay me? By cozying up to her?"

"Ms. Badu, please," Yen tried to interject. "Derek and I—"

"I don't want to hear it!" Malika snapped, her tone brusque and venomous. "Get back to work, both of you. Now!"

Yen and I exchanged a worried glance before quickly leaving the room. Malika's outburst had rattled us both, but we knew better than to argue.

As the day went on, the news of the breach continued to spread, and the atmosphere in the office grew even more tense. Malika's parents made their displeasure known, calling repeatedly to berate her and demand results.

I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get much worse. Malika was under immense pressure, and her anger was growing more unpredictable by the hour.

Later that evening, I overheard a heated conversation between Malika and Mustafa in her office. The door was slightly ajar, and their voices carried out into the hallway.

"We have to find the source of the leak, Mustafa," Malika said, her voice trembling with frustration. "If my parents' dealings come to light, we're finished."

"I know, Malika," Mustafa replied. "But we need to be smart about this. Rushing in without a plan will only make things worse."

"We don't have time for a plan," Malika snapped. "Every minute we waste is another chance for someone to uncover the truth."

Mustafa sighed. "I'll do everything I can. But you need to keep it together, Malika. Losing your temper won't solve anything."

Their conversation was cut short as I heard footsteps approaching. I quickly moved away, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.

The next few days were a blur of chaos and uncertainty. The investigation into the breach intensified, with everyone under scrutiny. Rumors flew around the office, and the atmosphere was thick with suspicion and fear.

One morning, as I was delivering coffee, I overheard a group of coworkers gossiping near the break room.

"Did you hear about Malika and her parents?" one of them whispered. "Apparently, they’re involved in some shady business. Diverting funds to brothels or something."

"Yeah, no wonder she's so stressed," another replied. "If that gets out, they're done for."

"And what about Derek?" a third voice chimed in. "I heard he's been spending a lot of time with Yen. Think they're involved?"

I felt a surge of anger and anxiety. The gossip was getting out of hand, and it was only making things worse. I needed to focus on finding the source of the breach and protecting Yen from the fallout.

As the week drew to a close, tensions reached a boiling point. Malika's parents had flown in, demanding a meeting to address the crisis. The office was on edge, everyone bracing for the worst.

The meeting took place in the main conference room, with Malika, her parents, Mustafa, and a few key staff members in attendance. I was instructed to wait outside, ready to assist if needed.

From my position by the door, I could hear raised voices and heated exchanges. Malika's father, a stern and imposing man, was berating her mercilessly.

"This is unacceptable, Malika," he thundered. "Your incompetence has put everything at risk!"

"I'm doing everything I can, Father," Malika replied, her voice strained. "But we need more time."

"Time is a luxury we don't have," her mother added sharply. "If our dealings are exposed, we're finished. Do you understand?"

The meeting dragged on, the atmosphere growing more hostile by the minute. Finally, the door swung open, and Malika stormed out, her face pale and her eyes blazing with fury.

I approached her cautiously. "Ms. Badu, is everything okay?"

She turned on me, her anger boiling over. "No, Derek, everything is not okay! This is a disaster!"

Before I could respond, she continued, her voice trembling. "I need you to find out who leaked that information. Do whatever it takes. Just find them!"

"Yes, Ms. Badu," I said, feeling the weight of her desperation.

As Malika stormed off, I knew that the pressure was mounting to an unbearable level. The breach had thrown the entire company into chaos, and the true extent of the damage was yet to be seen.

Yen found me later that evening, her expression filled with concern. "Derek, are you okay? You look exhausted."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's been a rough day. Malika's parents are here, and things are getting worse."

She reached out and squeezed my hand. "We'll get through this, Derek. Just remember, I'm here for you."

Her words gave me a glimmer of hope, even as the storm clouds continued to gather. The road ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but with Yen by my side, I felt a renewed sense of determination.

Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, uncover the truth behind the breach, and navigate the treacherous waters of the conglomerate. No matter what it took, we would find a way to survive and protect each other from the darkness that threatened to engulf us all.