Mel received Leila Vaughn's coded reply quickly. It wasn't an email—too risky—but a message left in the 'Notes' section of a shared Kallen Capital Group cloud folder, innocuously labeled "Archived HR Policies."
The message was short and direct, laced with adrenaline:
The trap needs a key. Look for the 'ghost' data set. It is labeled 'Project Chimera,' hidden under 'Legacy Security Audits.' It's unstable. Be fast. The owner is back from travel and is watching.
Project Chimera, that sounded like the unvarnished truth. But the last line chilled her. Rhys Kallen, the owner and CEO, was back.
Mel decided she couldn't risk accessing the file immediately. She took a break and headed to the executive cafeteria, which was usually deserted mid-morning.
She was scrolling through her phone, feigning interest in a menu, when a deep, commanding voice spoke near her table.
"I didn't expect to see anyone up here. Especially not one of Hayes's newest recruits."
Mel looked up. Standing over her was a man who seemed to embody every word of Billionaire. He wasn't just wealthy; he was powerfully dressed, his suit tailored to impossible perfection. He had sharp, intelligent eyes that were currently fixed on her with an unreadable, predatory intensity.
This was Rhys Kallen: the Chief Executive Officer, the principal owner, and the ultimate, untouchable force behind the entire corporation.
Mel forced herself to stand up straight. "Mr. Kallen. I apologize, I was just taking a brief break. I'll get back to my desk."
Rhys leaned his hand on the back of the chair opposite her, dominating her space effortlessly. "No need. You're working for Mr. Hayes, correct? The logistics audit."
"Yes, sir. I'm focusing on financial risk mitigation in the partner network."
He gave a slow, measured smile, one that felt less like approval and more like a predator assessing its prey. "Risk mitigation. That's a good way to put it.
You found your five points, Hayes told me. You did well. You didn't ask for the 'real' data."
Mel's heart hammered against her ribs. He was testing her compliance. "The filtered data provided a clear picture of unnecessary expenditure, sir. If you want to cut off bad business, you don't need a morality check; you need an expense report."
Rhys let out a low, appreciative chuckle. "Smart. Very smart, Ms...."
"Melanie Donaldson, sir. Mel."
"Mel," he repeated, letting the name hang in the air between them. "I appreciate competence. Hayes has given you a task that many fail. It tests whether you follow the rules or try to find the conspiracy. You chose the rules. That's how we keep things stable." He paused, his gaze dropping to her exhausted face. "However, if you ever find yourself struggling, if the work becomes too much, my office door is always closed to people who can't handle the pressure."
It was a warning wrapped in an invitation. He knew exactly how close she was to breaking and was giving her the chance to quit, or perhaps, inviting her to play a more dangerous, personal game.
Mel left the cafeteria, physically shaking. The encounter had solidified the high-stakes reality of her mission.
💬💬 Mel: Ran into him. The owner. He's terrifying. I feel like I just signed a deal with the devil.
Tia: Wait, Rhys Kallen?! Back already?! Mel, listen to me. Breathe. He's just a man. A rich, powerful, possibly evil man, but a man. He's trying to get in your head. You are better than his system, and you are going to prove it. Get back to the computer. Find the key.
Tia's unwavering confidence was the anchor Mel desperately needed. She went back to her terminal, her mind no longer focused on fear, but on the Project Chimera data set, and the dangerously brilliant man who was now watching her every move. The game had just gotten personal, and Mel was ready to find the key.