Lena felt the weight of Nolan’s words long after he left. His warning lingered like an itch she couldn’t scratch, feeding her growing unease. Donovan’s world was one of power plays and shadows, where trust was a currency and betrayal a constant threat. Nolan wasn’t wrong about the danger—but he didn’t understand the pull Donovan had on her, either.
Back at her desk, she buried herself in work, poring over more documents and searching for the missing link that would expose the mole in Steele Innovations. The deeper she delved, the more the pieces refused to fit neatly together, like a puzzle with missing corners.
It wasn’t just about uncovering the truth anymore. It was about proving to herself that she could navigate this world—and come out unscathed.
A Revelation in the Data
By late afternoon, Lena’s patience was wearing thin. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the jumble of files on her screen.
Something was missing.
The dummy email account was the key—of that much, she was sure. But whoever had created it was skilled, covering their tracks with just enough precision to keep her chasing ghosts.
Then it hit her.
Lena pulled up an old project report from three months ago, cross-referencing it with the most recent team schedules. A name appeared repeatedly in both: Laura Bennett, a mid-level engineer who worked on one of Steele Innovations’ AI teams.
The pattern was subtle, almost imperceptible—last-minute meeting changes, delayed project deadlines, and an unusual amount of access to sensitive files. But the timing aligned too perfectly with the activity from the dummy account to be a coincidence.
Lena’s stomach churned. If Laura was the mole, it would explain a lot. But the thought of confronting her—or worse, reporting her to Donovan—filled Lena with a sense of dread.
She stared at the screen for a long moment before reaching for her phone.
Confronting Donovan
Donovan was pacing in his office when Lena knocked on the door. He looked up, his sharp gaze softening slightly when he saw her.
“Come in,” he said.
Lena stepped inside, clutching the folder of evidence she’d compiled. “I think I found something.”
Donovan stopped pacing, his full attention on her now. “Go on.”
She placed the folder on his desk and opened it, pointing to the highlighted names and timestamps. “Laura Bennett. She’s been in contact with the dummy account. The patterns are subtle, but if you cross-reference her schedule with the data leaks, it lines up.”
Donovan’s jaw tightened as he scanned the pages. The intensity in his eyes was almost frightening, but Lena pressed on.
“She has access to the files that were leaked,” Lena continued. “And she’s been avoiding team meetings recently. It’s circumstantial, but it’s too consistent to ignore.”
Donovan closed the folder with a sharp snap, his expression unreadable. “If you’re right, this changes everything.”
Lena hesitated, her pulse quickening. “What are you going to do?”
Donovan leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. “I’ll handle it.”
“Wait,” Lena said, stepping forward. “If you confront her directly, she might destroy any remaining evidence. We need to be careful.”
Donovan raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by her determination. “And what do you propose?”
“Let me talk to her,” Lena said before she could second-guess herself. “If she’s hiding something, I’ll find out. She won’t see me coming.”
For a moment, Donovan said nothing, his gaze studying her like he was weighing the risk. Finally, he nodded.
“Fine,” he said. “But if you’re going to do this, you need to be sure. No second chances.”
“I won’t need one,” Lena said, her voice steady.
The Meeting with Laura
Later that evening, Lena found herself in one of the company’s break rooms, waiting for Laura. She had arranged the meeting under the pretense of discussing a project report, keeping her tone casual and her request vague.
Laura arrived a few minutes later, her expression guarded but polite. She was in her early thirties, with sharp features and an air of quiet confidence.
“Lena, right?” Laura said, taking a seat across from her. “What’s this about?”
Lena smiled, keeping her demeanor friendly. “Just following up on some discrepancies in the project files. I noticed a few things that didn’t add up and thought you might have some insight.”
Laura’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—nervousness, maybe.
“What kind of discrepancies?” Laura asked, her tone even.
“Some access logs,” Lena said, pulling up a report on her tablet. “It looks like someone’s been pulling data from restricted files during off-hours. Your name came up a couple of times.”
Laura’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know anything about that.”
“Are you sure?” Lena pressed, leaning forward slightly. “Because if there’s an explanation, now’s the time to give it. Otherwise, this could go straight to IT—and to Donovan.”
At the mention of Donovan’s name, Laura’s composure cracked. Her eyes darted to the door, and she shifted in her seat.
“I don’t—” she began, but her voice faltered.
Lena felt a surge of adrenaline. She had her. “Laura, if you’re in trouble, I can help. But I need the truth.”
For a long moment, Laura didn’t say anything. Then, finally, she exhaled sharply, her shoulders slumping.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Laura said quietly.
Lena’s heart raced. “What do you mean?”
“Someone approached me months ago,” Laura admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “They threatened me—said they’d ruin my career if I didn’t give them what they wanted.”
“Who?” Lena asked, her voice firm but gentle.
Laura hesitated, fear flickering in her eyes. “Michael Grant.”
A Bigger Threat
Lena’s stomach dropped. Of course, it was Michael. The man had been circling Donovan’s company like a vulture, and now he had proof of a mole.
“Laura, you need to tell Donovan,” Lena said, keeping her voice steady. “If you cooperate, he can protect you.”
Laura shook her head vehemently. “You don’t understand. Michael has dirt on me—things I can’t let anyone find out.”
Lena leaned forward, her expression fierce. “Donovan doesn’t tolerate betrayal, but he’s not the kind of man who lets his people get hurt. Trust me on this.”
Laura’s gaze met hers, uncertain but desperate. After a long pause, she nodded.
“Okay,” Laura said quietly. “I’ll tell him.”
Aftermath
When Lena reported back to Donovan that night, his reaction was exactly what she expected: cold fury.
“She admitted it?” he asked, his voice like ice.
“She was being blackmailed,” Lena said. “Michael Grant forced her hand.”
Donovan’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “Michael’s been circling for months. I should’ve seen this coming.”
“We can still stop him,” Lena said, stepping closer. “But we need to act fast.”
Donovan looked at her, his gaze softening slightly. “You did well, Lena.”
The compliment sent a strange warmth through her, but she pushed it aside. There was still too much at stake.
“What’s our next move?” she asked.
Donovan’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. “We turn the tables.”