The tension in the air was palpable as the group dispersed after the conversation. Each one of them was left with lingering doubts, but also a sense of urgency. Utter had made his move, and now they had to prepare for the unknown.
Kim stood alone in the hallway, his hands clenched at his sides as he replayed Utter's words in his head. A secret weapon. Someone on the inside. The threat lingered like a shadow, one he couldn't shake. He had always prided himself on being the best in the business, but the thought of someone working against them from within shook him to his core.
Riele, Jane, and Jay had all left to begin their own investigations. Kim remained, staring at the floor, trying to figure out what their next move should be. He was used to facing challenges, but this felt different. Utter was playing a dangerous game, one where the stakes were higher than just the competition.
Suddenly, Kim's phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Riele: "I've got something. Meet me in the office."
He didn't hesitate. He knew Riele well enough to understand that she wouldn't text unless it was important. Quickly, he made his way to their shared office space, the weight of his worries pressing down on him with each step.
When he arrived, Riele was already there, pacing the room, her phone in her hand. Her face was tense, her eyes wide with urgency. She stopped when she saw him enter, locking eyes as she held out her phone.
"I found something," she said, her voice a mix of excitement and concern.
Kim walked over, taking the phone from her. The screen displayed a series of messages—some sent from a burner account, others from Utter's personal contact list. The messages were cryptic, but it was clear that Utter was making moves, contacting someone who had access to insider information.
"Do you know who this is?" Kim asked, his voice steady despite the rising panic in his chest.
Riele nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "I think it's one of Kim's former colleagues... someone he used to work with before the company hit it big. They were close, but Kim hasn't mentioned them in years."
Kim's mind raced. This was the break they needed. But it also raised a new question: Why had this person decided to help Utter?
"We need to find out who this is, and fast," Kim said, his voice sharp with determination. "Riele, can you track them down? I need to know everything—who they are, where they've been, and how deep they're involved."
"I'm on it," Riele said, nodding. "But this is bigger than just that person. Utter has his hooks in deeper than we thought."
Kim's phone buzzed again, breaking the silence. This time, it was a call from Jane.
"Kim," Jane's voice came through, clipped with urgency. "We have a problem. It's worse than we thought."
Kim's pulse quickened. "What's going on?"
"We've been looking into Utter's past, and there's something you need to see. Meet me at the office in twenty minutes. This is bad, Kim. Really bad."
He didn't waste a moment. "I'll be there. Hold on."
Kim hung up and turned to Riele. "I've got to go. Jane's got something important. Keep digging, okay?"
Riele nodded again, already typing away on her laptop. She didn't look up, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. They both knew that this was bigger than just winning the competition. It was about survival.
Kim left the office, his steps quick as he made his way to Jane's office. As he approached, he saw her pacing inside, phone in hand. Her face was a mask of worry, her usual confidence gone. Kim could see the strain in her posture as she glanced up at him.
"Kim," she said quickly, "you need to see this."
Jane handed him her phone, and Kim's eyes widened as he scanned the screen. It was a series of photos and messages, each one more damning than the last. Utter had been in contact with someone from within their circle—someone who had access to Kim's designs and plans for the competition.
"This is bad," Kim muttered, his mind racing. "How did he get this information?"
"Someone on our team is leaking it to him," Jane said, her voice tight with frustration. "And we need to figure out who it is before it's too late. We can't trust anyone right now, Kim."
Kim clenched his fists, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. Utter's secret weapon was inside their ranks. There was no telling how much damage had already been done.
"We'll fix this," Kim said, his voice low but filled with conviction. "I won't let him win. Not like this."
But deep down, Kim knew that this was more than just about the competition. This was about everything he had worked for—the team, the reputation, his future. If they didn't find the mole soon, it could all come crashing down.
Later that night
Back at the office, Kim, Riele, and Jane sat in a dimly lit room, their faces illuminated by the glow of their laptops. They had spent hours going through the evidence, trying to piece together who could be leaking information to Utter. The clock ticked past midnight, but there was no sign of them slowing down.
Kim sat with his head in his hands, his mind foggy from exhaustion. "I can't believe this," he muttered. "We've been working so hard, and now everything's falling apart."
Riele looked over at him, her voice soft but firm. "We'll fix this. We just need to stay focused. Whoever's doing this is already on their way out. We'll catch them."
Kim sighed but nodded, grateful for Riele's resolve. "I hope you're right. I just... I can't lose this. Not like this."
Suddenly, the door opened, and Jay stepped into the room. He had been quiet all evening, working in the background. He wasn't part of the main team, but his presence was always a quiet strength.
"I've been going through Utter's contacts," Jay said, his voice calm but serious. "I found something."
Kim's head shot up. "What did you find?"
Jay handed Kim a piece of paper with a name scribbled on it. "This person. They're not just a friend of Utter. They've been involved in all his dealings for the past year. We need to get to them before they can do more damage."
Kim took the paper, studying the name. He didn't recognize it at first, but something about it felt familiar. This was the break they needed.
"We've got a lead," Kim said, a new resolve building in his chest. "Let's end this. Now."
With that, they set their sights on the next step, determined to expose the traitor in their midst before it was too late. The competition, the stakes—it was all suddenly so much bigger than they had imagined.