"…so there's nothing unusual in the pattern so far,"
Kayla was saying as she glanced at Alana, who was her junior analyst to note it down.
"But we need the timeline clear first. Since when do you think this leak may have started, Mr. Veynar?"
Riven replied, "Around a month. Maybe longer.
We only caught it after the financial dip."
Kayla nodded slowly. "
And no specific department or entry point you suspect?"
Riven shook his head. "Nothing concrete yet."
The chief waited until Riven finished, not saying a word before that. Only then did he speak, almost deliberately patient from his usual way.
"We'll have both of you coordinate closely on this," he said,
offering a composed smile. "Keep me updated as you move forward."
Kayla nodded, as he added again,
"And I trust Miss Kayla will handle the internal review with precision. I hope there won't be any concerns going forward, Mr. Veynar."
As they stepped out of the office,
Riven adjusted the cuff of his watch as he walked, his presence calm as he spoke at last.
"This wasn't the kind of meeting I anticipated."
Kayla glanced at him and offered a polite smile
"And I didn't expect a business tycoon walking into a government office either," she replied.
He looked at her then, slipping his hands into his pockets, relaxed. The corner of his lips curved not quite a smile, more an acknowledgment.
"Seems we were both wrong," he said. Kayla let out a soft chuckle.
"I hope this time we'll get to the bottom of how your company's projects are being leaked." He nodded,
"That's the intention. The board wants clarity, not assumptions."
"Agreed," Kayla said. "We'll be starting from the base level, internal access points, archived contracts, and sensitive files that were shared during early project phases. Some of those records may need to be reviewed directly from your office system."
Riven nodded once. "That won't be an issue."
As they stopped near the elevator bay, a quiet composure seemed to settle over the space."You can visit my office tomorrow,"
he continued. "9 a.m, I'll be there as well."
Kayla met his gaze and nodded. .
Something unspoken settled between them.
"That works," she said, her voice steady. There was a brief pause.
"Good," Riven said. "Then we'll proceed accordingly."
He stepped back slightly. "Good day, Miss Winsler."
"Good day, Mr. Veynar."
Riven turned toward the elevator, his assistant already following. Just before the doors closed, Kayla found herself still watching him. The doors slid shut. The elevator descended. Kayla exhaled, unaware she'd been holding her breath.
"Well," she murmured, shaking her head with a faint, almost-smile,
"that wasn't our last meeting… I guess."
She turned and walked down the corridor.
----
Later that day
11:50 PM — Rooftop of the Horizon Tower, Midtown Manhattan
Kyle stopped the car at the entrance of the hotel. The valet stepped forward immediately. Kyle stepped out, handing the keys over.
"Thank you," he said simply,
and the valet took them, nodding, disappearing to park the vehicle. Sophia watched the exchange, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Can you at least tell me where we're heading?" she asked gently.
Kyle only smiled, a quiet, knowing curve of his lips, and gestured toward the lobby entrance. They walked inside together, the soft hum of the luxurious hotel enveloping them.
A few minutes later,
they were inside the lobby, moving toward the elevator. When the doors opened onto the rooftop, Sophia's breath caught.
The city stretched behind them, lights dimmer here, as above the sky opened up dark and wide, scattered with stars that felt rare in a place like this. The noise of the city felt far away. Her face lit up in pure awe. Happiness settled into her features like it belonged there. Kyle watched her, smiling.
They moved to a seating area arranged neatly, soft-lined couches, low tables in comfort, space, and the sky above them. As they settled into the seating, Sophia looked around once more, still taking it in.
"Did you really arrange all this?" she asked, almost to herself.
Kyle lifted his shoulders in a small shrug smiling, just quiet satisfaction.
"You really should start taking breaks,"
Kyle said quietly after a moment. "Enjoy a little."
Sophia smiled, eyes still on the stars.
"Oh… how much I've wanted to see something like this," she admitted. "I was just… always occupied."
She looked aside then, her smile thinning just a bit. Kyle turned toward her, concern clear in his eyes.
"You don't have to push yourself so hard that you forget yourself," he said gently. "I know it gets tough. At least… let me lend a hand."
She looked back at him, warmth returning.
"How lucky am I," she said softly, "to have a friend like you?"
She paused, then added honestly,
"I know I put myself into things too much. But that's me. This is what I'm meant to do. And I love it. Mom and Amie... they're all I have. From baking fresh bread to listening to lectures about university fees… I'm entertained either way."
Kyle chuckled, reaching out to lightly caress her hand.
"Well then," he said, smiling, "let's not spoil this entertainment now."
Sophia laughed softly. And the night stretched on,
with her watching the stars, and him watching her.
----
The next day
9:00 AM — The Veynar Eminence, New York City
Kayla's head felt slightly off as she stepped into the building. Not pain, just a dull spin. The medication had a strong after-effect. She paused for half a breath, steadying herself, then shook the feeling away. She walked toward the reception desk. The receptionist looked up with a warm smile.
"Good morning, ma'am," the receptionist said politely. "You're expected."
Kayla gave a brief nod. "Kayla Winsler."
"Mr. Veynar's office. Top floor. You can take the elevator to your left."
Kayla nodded. "Thank you."
She turned just as Alana joined her, along with one more junior analyst from her team. The three of them stepped into the lift together. The office around them was quiet and precise with the glass walls, muted tones, soft lighting. It felt elite without trying too hard. The elevator doors opened smoothly at the top floor. A staff member was already waiting.
"Miss Winsler? This way, please."
They followed him down a wide corridor and into Riven's cabin. He was already there as he stood near the window, jacket off, sleeves rolled just enough to show he'd been working. He turned as they entered.
"Good timing," he said. "I was just wrapping something up."
Kayla offered a small smile.
"Glad we didn't keep you waiting."
"Not at all," he replied. "Please have a seat."
As he spoke briefly to the staff, Kayla settled into the chair across from his desk. Her gaze drifted around the cabin. The room carried a minimal texture smooth walls, muted tones balanced by polished furniture that caught the light just enough.
Riven joined them moments later, leaning back slightly. They worked quietly. Voices stayed low and focused, as eyes moving between screens and files.
"This person," Kayla said finally, tapping a line on the screen, "isn't just stealing information. They're predicting outcomes."
Riven leaned closer, just enough to see clearly. "Which means they understand our internal structure."
"Or," Kayla added quietly, "they helped build it."
Riven straightened, a faint frown settling on his face, his jaw tightening as he processed it.
"Then we're not looking at an outsider!"
"No," Kayla said. "We're looking at someone who belongs here."
They continued marking names, timelines, and accessing all possibilities narrowing the circle, each answer raising another question. Time moved without announcing itself.
An hour passed. Maybe more.
Riven stepped out briefly to speak with a client. Inside the cabin, Kayla continued explaining the emerging pattern to the junior analysts, pointing at curves and data points on the screen.
"This spike here," she said, "isn't random. It aligns too closely with internal access cycles."
She turned slightly, just as Riven walked back in. Kayla reached for another case file from the desk beside her. As she stepped forward, her vision blurred suddenly. The room tilted. Her foot caught, as she stumbled.
Before she could react, a firm grip caught her, Riven's hand closing around her arm, steadying her instantly.
"Hey...are you okay?" he asked sharply.
Alana rushed forward. "Miss Winsler!"
He helped her into the chair.
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice came out quieter than intended.
Within moments, an office medic arrived. He checked her pulse, asked a few calm questions, observed her carefully.
"This can happen," he said. "Given a prior head injury, mental strain and stress can trigger dizziness. Especially with strong medication."
Riven frowned slightly to the medics statement.
"She's stable," the medic added.
He reassured them once more and left. Silence followed as Riven broke it.
"That's enough for today," he said firmly.
"By the time you go through these files and data," he adds, "George will assist you with anything you need"
Almost on cue, the cabin door opened and George stepped in, giving a brief nod.
"He manages this division," Riven continued. "He'll provide the additional details. Once you've analysed everything, we'll schedule another meeting."
Kayla nodded. "That should work."
The juniors packed their things. As they prepared to leave, Kayla stood.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Riven lifted an eyebrow, a faint chuckle escaping him.
"Take care, Miss Winsler."
Their eyes met for a brief second. Concern from others was something she always pushed aside, she had long believed it made her weak.
She nodded once and walked out with the others. Riven watched her through the glass panels as she walked away, his gaze lingering until she disappeared from view. The medic's words stayed with him.
Head injury.
The city outside moved on. He loosened his tie, sank back onto the couch, and closed his eyes, thoughts no longer on leaked data, but on the way she'd almost fallen, and how easily she'd brushed it off. Something about the morning refused to settle within him.
----
A few days later
9:15 — The Langham, Fifth Avenue
The Langham stood apart from the city around it, glass and stone arranged with deliberate restraint, reflecting Manhattan. Inside, the lobby opened into quiet symmetry, pale marble underfoot, warm lighting diffused through sculpted fixtures, footsteps softened by space itself.
Daemin walked out through the main entrance, flanked by his men. He adjusted the collar of his jacket once, then ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah," he said casually, "I'll see if I can make it to it."
As they moved forward, his men cleared the way without hesitation. A sharp shove here. Another there. People stumbled, catching themselves at the last second, bags swinging, footsteps breaking rhythm. One girl wasn't fast enough.
She was pushed aside, losing her balance.The things in her hands slipped and scattered across the floor.
"Oh God!! Are you okay?!" a female voice said sharply. The girl nodded, being startled. Daemin was already a few steps ahead when the voice sharpened.
"You can't just push people like that. What's wrong with you?"
He stopped mid-step, as he slowly turned back. And then he saw her.
She was crouched beside the girl, gathering what had fallen, calm but firm as she spoke to his men. The staff hurried over, helping them gather the fallen boxes.
There was something about her, nothing obvious, just a faint sense of familiarity that lingered longer than it should have.
His gaze dropped briefly to the boxes now being picked up.
Maple Haven Café.
His lips curved into a slow smirk as he thought,
" The world was far smaller than people liked to believe..."