Ava's hands trembled as she stared at the black box on her bedroom desk. Its matte surface was cold under her fingertips, almost mocking her hesitation. The note from Damian Kane lay beside it:
> "Open it, and the first real test begins. Fail, and no one will save you. — D."
Her pulse thundered. She had survived the first day, followed every rule, delivered every message, avoided every trap… and yet now, something told her that the real danger was only beginning.
She swallowed hard. The villa was silent. Too silent. Every creak of the floorboards, every hum of the air conditioning sounded amplified in her ears. She knew Damian was watching her, somewhere, always observing, calculating.
I have to do this, she thought. No matter what.
With a shaking hand, she lifted the lid.
Inside was a USB drive, a small key, and a slip of paper. She picked up the slip first. Written in Damian's precise handwriting:
> "Plug the USB into your office computer. Use the key when instructed. Follow the instructions exactly. This is your first real test. Fail, and there will be consequences."
Ava's stomach twisted. A computer? A key? Instructions? It sounded simple—but Damian's version of "simple" was never simple.
---
The Morning of the Test
By 8 a.m., she was back in her designated office, the villa's modern glass-walled room overlooking the city below. She set the USB drive on her desk and took a deep breath.
The instructions were straightforward at first:
1. Insert the USB into her office computer.
2. Follow the file's instructions exactly.
3. Contact no one without prior authorization.
4. Complete the task by 5 p.m.
Ava inserted the drive. Instantly, a folder popped up on the screen, titled "Operation: Kane Recovery."
Inside were files, documents, and photos of a rival company. Damian's voice was recorded in an audio file that played automatically:
> "Ms. Sinclair, this is not a simple mission. You are to infiltrate the company, identify all employees who pose a threat to my interests, and neutralize them without alerting anyone. You may use any resources at your disposal—but failure will cost you dearly."
Ava's eyes widened. Neutralize them? How far did Damian Kane want her to go? Was he testing her obedience… or her morality?
---
The First Move
By 10 a.m., Ava had memorized every file, every name, every schedule. She had to blend in, observe without raising suspicion. She sent a brief text to Damian confirming receipt of the instructions:
> "Instructions received. Starting task now."
Almost immediately, the phone buzzed back:
> "Good. Your first target is Marcus Veyne. He's closer to the truth than you think. Watch him carefully."
Ava froze. Marcus. Her best friend. He had been helping her uncover the truth behind Damian's enemies. And now… he was a "target"?
This isn't real. This can't be real, she thought, panic rising. But Damian's rules were clear: obey, survive.
She left the office and drove to the location specified: a quiet café downtown, where Marcus had been meeting sources for his investigation.
---
Confrontation in the Café
Marcus looked up as she entered. His face lit with relief. "Ava! Finally. I was starting to—"
She cut him off. "Quiet. Don't say anything."
His brow furrowed. "What's wrong? You look… scared."
Ava forced a smile, hiding the tremor in her hands. "I'm fine. Just… work stuff."
She took a seat across from him, the folder from Damian in her bag. She needed to watch him, follow the instructions, but her mind screamed against it. How could she betray her best friend?
Marcus leaned forward. "I've been digging. I think Damian Kane isn't just a businessman. There's something… darker going on. He's obsessed with you, Ava. And I think—"
Ava's stomach clenched. She remembered Damian's messages: "You're mine now… and everyone you love belongs to me too."
She had to interrupt him. "Stop. Don't say anything else. Please."
His eyes narrowed, suspicious. But he didn't press further.
She watched him closely, noting every expression, every subtle gesture. The instructions were clear: observe, report, neutralize threats. But Marcus wasn't a threat… or at least, not in the sense Damian meant.
---
A Dangerous Encounter
By noon, Ava returned to the villa with her report compiled. She sent it to Damian via encrypted email, documenting every detail without interpretation. She didn't know what consequences awaited, but she knew Damian's approval was essential.
The villa's office was empty when she arrived. Just as she set her bag down, the door slammed behind her.
Damian appeared in the doorway, dark eyes piercing. "You took longer than expected."
"I… I completed the task," Ava said, forcing herself to sound confident.
He stepped closer, voice low and dangerous: "I saw your hesitation."
Ava froze. Hesitation could cost me everything.
"You think this is a game?" he asked, his gaze locked on hers. "Every second of indecision, every doubt, every slip could be fatal. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"Good." His expression softened slightly—not warmth, but calculation. "Tomorrow, your task escalates. You will meet Elena again. She is more dangerous than you realize. She will test you in ways you cannot anticipate."
Ava's stomach twisted. Elena had already been intimidating. The thought of facing her again, under Damian's watchful gaze, filled her with dread.
---
Evening Shadows
By evening, Ava returned to her room, exhausted but unable to relax. Damian's presence lingered in her mind. His rules, his cold expectations, his obsession… they were suffocating.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message from M:
> "You're being watched. Every move, every word. Trust no one. Not even your instincts. — M."
Ava's pulse raced. Who was M? Ally? Enemy? And why did their warnings feel as urgent as Damian's threats?
She tried to focus on the USB drive and the key. Maybe they held answers. Maybe they held the next step.
Her hands shook as she inserted the drive into her personal laptop. A new folder appeared: "Level Two – Infiltration Protocol."
Instructions scrolled across the screen:
Visit the rival company's office disguised as an intern.
Access confidential files without being detected.
Use the key for a secure cabinet on the 7th floor.
Document all findings and return by midnight.
Her chest tightened. This wasn't just observation anymore. It was espionage. Illegal. Dangerous. And Damian Kane expected perfection.
I can't fail. I won't fail.
---
The Night Mission
By 10 p.m., Ava was dressed in professional attire, hair tied back, gloves concealing fingerprints. She entered the rival building, heart hammering. Security cameras tracked every step. Employees moved silently, unaware of her true mission.
She slipped past the reception desk, blending with late-night staff. Every second felt like a heartbeat away from discovery.
The key trembled in her hand. She reached the secure cabinet on the 7th floor, heart racing. Sliding it into the lock, she froze. Footsteps approached.
A tall figure appeared—Elena Stark.
"You again," Elena said smoothly, eyes glinting. "I was wondering how long it would take you to show up."
Ava's pulse spiked. "I… I'm here for a… delivery," she said, hoping her voice sounded convincing.
Elena stepped closer, lips curving in a dangerous smile. "A delivery? Or are you here to spy?"
Ava realized the trap. She had walked straight into it. Her mind raced for options. Every instinct screamed run, but escape routes were limited.
Elena's gaze softened slightly, almost amused. "Don't make this hard for me, Ms. Sinclair. One wrong move, and your life gets… very complicated."
Ava swallowed, hands steadying the key. I have to complete the mission. I have to survive.