– First

felt when a board meeting threatened to derail, nor the calculated tension that accompanied high-stakes negotiations. This was different. Personal. Insid

fingers drummed against his leg, restless, even though he had no one to meet, no appointments until Stephanie arrived. Normally, mornings we

and interns, and the receptionist gave him her usual, discreet nod of acknowledgment. Leonard didn't respond

dow with her back to him, reviewing a tablet. The sunlight framed her figure

round. Her voice was even, calm, but it carried a subt

ood morning," he replied cu

e on her lips that didn't quite rea

omputers and distant chatter, seemed to tighten around him. "I...

him carefully. "Maybe someone else left

Stephanie, I want honesty. I

remained unreadable. "Mr. Cross, I work

But there was none. Not a flicker, not a hesitat

himself watching Stephanie. How she moved through the office, how she organized information, how she anticipated every potential prob

ly scrambled and incomplete, to see if she would make a mistake. Within minutes, she had correcte

d, genuinely impressed, though he t

ation, Mr. Cross. And experience. The

ling the edges of an unfamiliar unease. She was

own. He didn't usually take assistants along, but he made an exception today. Not because he needed her, bu

with precision and authority. But as the conversation dragged on, he noticed Stephanie at the edge of the room. She wasn't taking notes or organizing anything; she

usation about a past project Leonard had been involved in years ago-a project that had resulted in significant losses

tatement, referencing precise details about the project, and presenting suppor

ad time to

's restraint faltered. "How did you know about that?" he d

r. "I don't know everything, Mr. Cross. But

rs. But something in her tone, her composure, made him hesitate. He realized

opened a folder containing documents from years ago-records of mergers, acquisitions, and deals he had orchestrated. One in particular caught his eye: the contract

was closed. Daniel was gone. The loss, the scandal, the quiet murmurs of those wh

tent, intuitive, and unnervingly perceptive. She noticed things. Patterns. Details. Secrets. And the t

ils, project updates, stock prices. But even in the noise, Stephani

eetings and to organize a set of confidential financial documents. Normally, this would have been a routine t

eturned, folder in hand. She

she said, her tone even. "And I've fla

en at her. "You caught all of th

my job to see what others might miss. T

mind. She wasn't just good. She was extraordinary. Too extraordinary. The kind

part that unset

hanie had gone about her tasks without complaint, without hint of personal agenda, yet every interaction with her had left

ting, the message: "You can't hide

shake the feeling that it had been her-or at least, someone with knowledge she posse

uorescent lights echoing faintly in the stillness. He paused at his office door, half-expecting Stephanie to appear, but

further, perhaps to confront the unease swirling in his chest. But before

" she said, voice calm, steady, but with a subtle edge that made Leonard's

his daily routines, meetings, and even personal habits-the kind of deta

rrowed. "You've b

ocking on his. "Not tracking, Mr. Cro

posure, her control, the ease with which she walked the line bet

inally, his voice

. "Because some patterns are too important to ign

the start, as he underestimated almost everyone. But now, he realized, th

ept him awake long after the office had emptied, long a

time in years, Leonard

routines, habits, and private life-blurring the line between pro