Amanda pulled up to the bustling airport, expertly maneuvering her sleek black sedan into the pick-up lane.She stepped out, smoothing her emerald business suit and straightening the visitor pass hanging around her neck. Pushing blonde hair behind pierced ears, her direct blue eyes scanned signs directing towards the North Terminal arrivals.Weaving expertly between travelers hugging loved ones and drivers holding name placards, Amanda made her way past columns soaring stories overhead crisscrossed by walkways.Sunlight flooded through floor to ceiling windows revealing planes taxiing like tiny toys. The cavernous terminal buzzed with a blend of languages mingling with rolling suitcase wheels.Amanda rode a long escalator up to the second level mezzanine overlooking the bustling scene below.Leaning casually against a pillar studying his phone, she spotted a lanky young man around college age wearing faded jeans and a bright pink hoodie.His overstuffed hiking backpack leaned against
“I didn't expect you to come to me…” Reynold said.He leaned back to his chair, he wasn't in any place to be acting bossy but after a lot of exercise in one day, he was feeling very tired.“I know I have to… I just haven't gotten time for it yet.”Reynold stared at the person seated in front of him for a few seconds and sighed heavily.“I suppose Kayla's office has been quite busy?”Lei nodded her head.“Strangely the Prosecution Office here is getting interested in our business. And with the arrival of Zhang Mei, she has been very busy.”She reported. Waiting a few seconds before she looked into his eyes and uttered.“I heard about what happened.”“I'm not surprised you did. If you heard about it, why are you reporting to me… after all Tate and Sean had put you on a recent assigment.”“You're right. They indeed ask me to do something else recently. But you also right, they don't have my best interest at heart.” She breathed.“They just want to use me and throw me away.”Reynold smile
As Reynold sped off into the night, the gravity of the situation weighed on him. Whoever had dug deep enough to uncover buried details of his past had proven themselves a formidable foe.Old memories threatened to cloud his judgment - the high stakes and disciplinary hearing sophomore year that nearly derailed his academic and ambitions before they began, filled his head. He had walked the line since, hiding any further brushes with authority behind a polished veneer of perfection.Now, years of carefully managing his image hung by a rapidly unraveling thread. Reynold gripped the steering wheel to ground himself against the rising tide of anger and resentment the memories evoked.This was exactly why he preferred to work alone rather than trust others who would inevitably disappoint or betray. Except for Kayla...Shaking his head, he refocused on the task at hand - a rendezvous with his cyber security contact, Orion.As one of the top ethical hackers in the country, Orion consulted wi
Lei suppressed a shiver against the night air as she walked briskly back to her apart after dropping off Kayla, replaying the conversation with Reynold.His cold, murderous words kept resurfacing in her mind. What had she gotten herself into by coming to him for help? Was it a mistake… what was he hiding? It bothered her but the desperation of her situation left few options. For now, an uneasy alliance would have to suffice. That way she could keep Kayla in the dark while she solve the issue.And she hadn’t really been liking Kayla's mood these days. Everyday she spent with her boss was internally torturous.Returning to her cramped studio apartment, Lei booted up the secured communication app Sean and Tate had installed on her phone.She stared numbly trying to compose her next message to Sean and Tate, the cursor blinking accusingly. Finally steeling herself, she began typing:"I met with target yesterday. Persona seems rational at first but there are definitely signs of deep instab
Kayla tapped her pen on the sleek glass desk as she reviewed the quarterly reports for her company. Sunlight streamed in from the wall of windows overlooking the city, casting a warm glow on the modern office.She took a sip of coffee, relishing the busy yet peaceful morning. Lei briskly entered with a stack of papers."The projections for next quarter are looking great," Lei said, setting the papers down. "If sales continue at this pace, we could see record profits and shoot higher than expected." "Fantastic," Kayla said. "Let's keep up the marketing campaigns. Our organic line seems to really be taking off."Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by the loud rumbling of engines outside.Kayla walked over to the windows, perplexed. Down on the street, a fleet of black sedans emblazoned with the District Attorney's seal sat parked haphazardly along the curb."What on earth..." Kayla murmured.Before she could finish her thought, the office door swung open. In marched a tall man
Kayla sat with her arms tightly crossed, simmering with anger in the stark interrogation room. The overhead fluorescent lights hummed loudly in the small gray space furnished only with a metal table and uncomfortable chairs.She checked the dainty gold watch on her wrist for the tenth time, growing more impatient.She had been left waiting for almost forty-five minutes since the silent agent had uncuffed her and curtly motioned for her to enter this room.Finally, the heavy door swung open.Julian entered, now wearing a crisp charcoal suit rather than the FBI windbreaker.He gently closed the door behind him and took a seat facing Kayla, setting down a thick manila folder stuffed with papers that made a resounding thud."Ms. Johns, I do apologize for the wait," Julian began politely. "As I'm sure you can imagine, bringing charges against a high-profile executive such as yourself requires many formalities."Kayla squinted at him. "High profile or not, you've made a ridiculous mistake.
When Reynold said he was going to get answers to vindicate his wife’s innocence, he didn’t mean it literally. If he had to get his hands down and dirty then he would. Which was why, when night had struck, he and Jovian had snuck into Emerson Corps office in the city, after getting a little more ‘info’ on what they needed to get, and had come up with some plan.Apparently, most of the Johns shareholders and clientele defected to Emerson corps, in the span of few hours after Kayla was arrested, and this had set of the warning bells in Reynold’s head. He’d began his subtle investigation with Lei, providing most of the necessary information, and it wasn’t so hard to connect the dots. Grant Emerson’s unexpected arrival to the city. The sudden accusations placed on the Johns company, specifically directed at Kayla. The sudden and inexplicable disappearance of several key members in the company. And most importantly the longstanding animosity between the two companies which seemed to have g
If Grant wanted to go low, then she would go lower. This was what Kayla had decided.“Are you sure you want to do this ma’am?” Lei asked and Kayla could see the fear in her eyes, but she wasn’t fazed. Instead she was done.She’d had enough putting up with the bullshit her life had become over the past few months. She didn’t care anymore what it cost her or what the repercussion of getting involved with shady people might be. So with a determined sigh, she replied her assistant. “Yes, Lei. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. You have no idea the kind of interrogation I was put through and the degrading things I had to answer. They spoiled my name. Made me out to be who I wasn’t and I’ll never forget that. If they wanna make me the bad guy, then I’d as well be just that.”“Okay. It’s just that, I want you to be careful is all.” Lei said again and Kayla just flashed the young woman a phony smile. “Of course I am careful. Very careful infact.”“Okay. What do you need me to d