It was around 11:39 in the morning, Daniel had just returned from the subdivision. The city buzzed beneath the tall windows of LewisTech HQ Tower, but inside Daniel's office, it was dead quiet.
Daniel stood behind his desk, arms folded as he stared at the skyline, eyes distant yet heavy. The earlier meeting at the NeuroSpeech subdivision still weighed on his mind. A part of him didn't want to believe it, couldn't.
Someone had breached his company. Violated a sanctuary he'd built with sweat and sleepless nights.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Enter."
Thomas stepped in, his usual crispness dulled. His tie was slightly loosened, and his tablet was clutched tighter than usual.
"We've reviewed the footage again," he said, no preamble. "Every surveillance file at the subdivision was wiped. Not just deleted, corrupted and overwritten. Whoever did it covered their tracks."
Daniel turned slowly, his gaze sharp.
"What about the backups?"
"Same. All internal cloud repositories linked to that security grid were silently infected weeks ago. We didn't notice until today because the virus was masked to avoid detection. This wasn't amateur work. It was surgical."
Daniel sat down, fingers steepled, eyes narrowed in deep thought.
"So they planned it. Knew exactly when and where to strike. What else?"
Thomas hesitated. He wasn't one to stammer, but the next part wasn't going to land well.
"We're currently tracking biometric access logs, anyone who entered the facility in the last six weeks. That includes the dev teams, engineers, data handlers… and Esther."
Daniel's brows furrowed.
"What?"
Thomas took a breath, steady and cautious. "I'm not accusing her, sir. I'm not. But she's part of the NeuroSpeech team now. She's been in and out of that building. And this breach started roughly two weeks after her onboarding. If we're going to be thorough and transparent, she has to be included in the internal review."
A charged silence.
Daniel's gaze didn't waver, but something hard flickered behind his eyes. It wasn't anger toward Thomas, it was instinct. Something primal. Protective.
"You think she'd sabotage the project?" he asked quietly.
Thomas answered just as carefully. "No. But she's close to this now. Close to you. And if someone wanted to cover their tracks, she'd make the perfect scapegoat. That alone makes it necessary to clear her name officially."
Daniel stood, slowly. The weight of that single motion filled the room.
"Esther stays out of this," he said, voice low, final. "I trust her." She wasn't just an employee of his, she was like family, one that his daughter valued and trusted.
He didn't need for her to be proven innocent for him y try o tell she have no hands in it. He know the type of person Esther was, and months with her was enough.
Thomas blinked. "Mr Lewis.."
"She wouldn't hurt this company. She wouldn't hurt me." He leaned forward, both palms on the desk now. "She's not to be questioned. Not included. Do you understand?"
Thomas met his eyes. He did understand, more than Daniel probably wanted him to.
"Alright," Thomas replied, quietly. "But if the board catches wind of this and demands full transparency.."
"Then I'll take the heat."
Thomas nodded but didn't leave. Not yet. Something about Daniel's fierce reaction was… telling.
He couldn't help but ask, cautiously, "Is there something you're not telling me about her, sir?"
Daniel didn't answer. But the silence was one.
Then..
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Before either of them could respond, the door flew open with all the subtlety of a parade.
Dija strutted in, as radiant and chaotic as a summer storm in sunglasses. She wore an emerald jumpsuit that said "rich" without trying, and her perfume filled the room before her voice did.
"Hellooo, Uncle Daniel," she cooed, swaying in. "I hope I'm not interrupting… oh wait, scratch that, I definitely am."
Thomas, blindsided, straightened in confusion. "Uh…"
"Hi, Thomas," she added with a grin, before turning back to Daniel. "I'm here with a serious business proposal. Ahem. I want an internship. Right here. At LewisTech."
Daniel blinked. "You… want what?"
"An internship. I'm starting early," she declared, chin lifted with dramatic confidence.
After her failed attempts to convince her mother to ask Daniel on her behalf, she'd decided to handle it herself. Bold action was, after all, the beginning of every great love story, and she wasn't going to let her mother kill hers before it even began.
"I need experience if I'm going to be a future billionaire," she continued, breezing in further. "And since my best friend works for you, and my mother basically funds half the country's hospitals, I figured… why not start at the top?"
She leaned casually against a glass shelf, nudging a paperweight off balance with her elbow. Neither noticed. Or cared.
"Also," she added with a mischievous grin, "rumor has it Thomas is single."
Thomas stiffened like someone had poured ice water down his spine. His jaw tightened, but he didn't say a word.
Daniel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Dija, this isn't a social club."
"Oh, I know," she replied sweetly. "But I'm very serious."
She tilted her head dramatically. "I even texted my mom to call you about it," she lied with a dazzling smile. "She'll probably arrange coffee. Or a meeting. Or maybe an ambush. You know how she is."
Then she turned to Thomas again, eyes twinkling with delight as she stepped a little too close, rubbing her shoulder against his as if they were already teammates, or something more.
"So… do I get to shadow you or what?"
Thomas looked at Daniel with silent desperation, a quiet plea in his eyes that said: Please don't do this to me.
Daniel exhaled, long and resigned, then waved a hand toward the door.
"We'll talk. Later. I'm busy."
"Fine, fine," Dija replied, already turning on her heel. "I'll just go charm HR while I wait."
She paused at the door, grinning over her shoulder.
"And Thomas, nice shoes."
She swept out of the room like a catwalk queen, the scent of expensive perfume and sheer audacity lingering behind her.
The door clicked shut.
Thomas stared at the empty space she'd just vacated, then slowly turned back to Daniel.
"You're not actually going to approve her internship… are you, sir?"
There was a tremble of dread under his calm tone. Somehow, he already knew what Daniel was going to say.
Daniel gave him a look of resigned amusement, laced with tiredness.
"Just for a short time. She'll probably quit on her own once she realizes it's real work."
Thomas paled slightly, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed with difficulty.
He didn't need a warning. He could already see it, Dija at his desk, Dija in his meetings, Dija everywhere he turned.
"Right," he muttered under his breath. "Short time."
But in his gut, he knew this wasn't going to be short. Or simple.
Not with Dija.
Not at all.
Then, the room went quiet again, and the weight returned.
The truth was clear now:
The breach wasn't a random cyberattack.
It was someone inside.
Someone with access, precision, and motive.
And while Daniel was sure it wasn't Esther…
Not everyone would be.
Thomas closed the door behind him, mentally ticking off the next items on his list. Between the sabotage report, the ongoing investigation, and Dija's surprise arrival, his day had already outpaced his patience.
And speaking of Dija…
"Thomas!" she beamed from across the hallway, waving as if they were childhood best friends reunited after years. Her bright yellow blazer nearly blinded him under the LED lights.
He braced himself.
"Come on," he said, voice more resigned than stern. "Mr. Lewis asked me to take you to HR. They'll assign you… somewhere."
"Anywhere I want?" she asked, skipping up beside him with that same relentless energy.
"Yeah. That was the implication," Thomas muttered as they began walking down the corridor.
"And if I want to be your assistant?"
Thomas paused, turned and looked at her for a brief moment then.. "I'm an assistant myself, I don't need one" he replied , resuming his steps.
"Haven't you heard of an assistant's assistant" Dija pressed with a smile.
As they turned the corner, Sarah approached from the opposite direction, heels clicking in perfect rhythm, eyes focused as always.
Her gaze flicked between Thomas and the new girl beside him. Her expression froze, lips parting slightly.
"Who is this?" she asked, voice controlled but tight. Sarah had a sixth sense for threats, especially those that involved attractive young women hanging around her space. She was already dealing with Esther scooping her dream life, she wasn't ready for another.
"A relative of Mr Lewis," Thomas said quickly. "She's here for an internship."
Just like that, Sarah's guard lowered. Her shoulders relaxed, and a practiced smile tugged at her lips.
"Oh. I see. Welcome to LewisTech," she said, though her tone held no warmth. She gave Dija a cursory once-over before gliding past.
"Is she a colleague of yours?" Dija asked, pulling Thomas's gaze away from Sarah.
"Yes. Mr. Lewis's secretary," Thomas replied dryly.
Dija watched the elevator doors slide shut, but her thoughts lingered on Sarah's face.
"She looks familiar…" she murmured, brows slightly furrowed. "Weird."
What caught her more than Sarah's face, though, was the way Thomas had looked at her. It wasn't obvious, but to a girl like Dija, it was glaring.
The quiet admiration. That flicker of hesitation.
"You like her," she said, turning to glance at him, sharp-eyed.
Thomas blinked. "What?"
"You and Sarah. Are you a thing?" she asked, wanting to be sure.
She had found Thomas attractive from the moment she saw him and wasn't shy about her interest, but if he was already in a relationship, she'd walk.
She wasn't the type to be a third wheel.
"No," he said, clearing his throat. His tone was flat, but his eyes gave him away.
The truth was, he did have feelings for Sarah. He had for years. If he could, he'd marry her in a heartbeat.
But Sarah wasn't interested. And even after three years of working side by side, she still kept him firmly on the no list.
Dija tilted her head, studying his profile. "But you want to be."
Thomas didn't reply.
That was all the confirmation she needed.
Her lips curled into a knowing, mischievous smile. There was a flicker of something in her chest, disappointment, maybe, but she wasn't the type to sulk.
And she certainly wasn't the type to give up.
The most important part? Thomas was single.
The rest? She could handle.
"Well," she said lightly, tucking her hands behind her back, "there's no shame in being a sideline, so long as you know how to steal the spotlight."
Thomas turned to look at her, baffled.
She winked.
"I don't think that's possible" Thomas said at a heart beat.
"Then," she said brightly, folding her arms, "I guess I'll just have to change your mind."
Thomas glanced down at her, brow furrowing.
"I'm serious, Thomas," she continued, eyes twinkling with challenge. "Give me time. I'll earn a spot in that heart of yours. Watch me."
He sighed deeply, staring at the elevator doors like they might magically transport him to another universe.
God help him.
The HR department buzzed with its usual low hum of printers, keyboard clicks, and quiet chatter. Dija and Thomas had barely stepped through the glass doors when John, one of the younger HR officers, looked up from his desk and nearly fell out of his chair.
His eyes swept over Dija with unmistakable interest, and the sly smile that followed was one he probably thought charming.
"Well, hello there," he said, rising with exaggerated smoothness. "Are you new, or have I just been tragically blind all this time?"
Dija offered a sugary smile. "Depends. Do you usually flirt with LewisTech's future billionaires?"
John chuckled. "Only the ones who look like you."
Before he could get any closer, Thomas stepped neatly between them.
"She's here for her assignment," he said, voice flat.
John raised his hands in mock surrender, smirking as Thomas steered Dija away.
"Friendly bunch," Dija whispered as they walked, heels clicking confidently beside him. "I already love it here."
Thomas sighed, already regretting everything.
"He has a fiancée," he said shortly, eyes fixed ahead.
"Why would I care?" Dija shrugged with a smirk. "I'm here for you."
Thomas didn't respond, but a flicker of a smile betrayed him before he caught himself.
They reached Hawa's office, a modest but neat corner space with a soft scent of lemon polish and file paper in the air. Behind the desk sat Hawa Jabbie, her sharp gaze rising the moment the door creaked open.
"Thomas," she greeted warmly, setting aside a folder. Her eyes shifted to the bright figure beside him. "And…?"
"Dija," she said, stepping forward with a confidence that made the room feel smaller. "I'm hoping to intern here. Temporarily."
Hawa glanced at Thomas, her brow lifting in silent question.
"Mr. Lewis asked that she be placed somewhere," Thomas explained. "It's just for a short while."
Hawa gave a slow nod, then turned her full attention to Dija. "Do you have any qualifications? Or a current level of study..?"
Before she could finish, Dija flashed a bright grin and slid a neatly prepared folder across the desk. "Here you go! I had it printed this morning." She shot a quick glance at Thomas and added with a mischievous tone, "Always be prepared, right?"
Thomas rolled his eyes subtly, but Hawa chuckled and opened the folder. Her expression shifted from neutral to impressed as she flipped through the pages.
"Well, someone came ready," Hawa murmured, nodding appreciatively. "Good academic standing, business major… extracurricular leadership, tech fair participation, hmm."
Dija beamed. "Told you I was serious."
"You certainly are," Hawa said. "With this background, I could easily place you in Finance, Strategy Development, or even the Data Analysis team."
Dija hesitated, then cleared her throat. "Actually… I was hoping for something more… flexible? A bit more direct exposure to how things operate at the top. Preferably close to someone who can show me the ropes."
Her gaze slid ever so subtly to Thomas.
Hawa caught the look and leaned back slowly in her chair, eyes narrowing with a knowing smile. "Close to someone like Thomas?"
Dija's expression remained cheerfully innocent.
Thomas exhaled. "Please don't."
"Special Assistant Intern," Hawa declared.
Thomas frowned. "That's not even a thing."
"It is now," Hawa said matter-of-factly, already typing into her system. "It's a floating position, department support, shadowing, errand coordination. And guess what? You're her supervisor."
Thomas looked like he wanted to evaporate.
"Hawa," he said with tight restraint. "This is not the best idea.."
"Oh, it's a great idea," Hawa replied smoothly. "She gets hands-on learning and you get help. Plus, she clearly wants to learn from the best." She winked at Dija.
"It's going to be chaos," Thomas muttered.
"Chaos is how you build resilience," Hawa said without missing a beat. "She'll gain exposure, learn responsibility, and stay within reach of executive-level decisions, just not too close to the fire."
Dija laughed, absolutely delighted. "I knew I liked you."
Hawa handed her a welcome packet. "Congratulations, Miss Dija. Report to Thomas tomorrow morning for your first orientation. And please, don't scare the engineers."
"Never," Dija said with a hand to her chest. "Unless they start it first." She added getting a laugh from Hawa.
Dija was already grinning from ear to ear. "This is the best internship ever."
"You haven't even started," Thomas muttered.
"And yet, I already feel at home," she teased.
As they turned to leave, Dija paused at the door. "Hawa, can I buy you lunch sometime? As a thank you?"
Hawa chuckled. "You're dangerous, girl."
"I know," Dija replied. "But in a charming way."
And just as they stepped off the HR floor, Thomas's phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He pulled it out, and the caller ID made him answer without hesitation.
"Thomas, please come over and check it out. We've detected some strange activity."