By the end of the day, everyone knew my name, which had never happened before. I felt it the moment I stepped out of the elevator, heads lifting as I walked past, some stopped their conversation, eyes following me just a second too long.
I was like a mini celebrity. The invisible girl was gone, and she hadn't left quietly.
"Mara," Clara from HR called, waving me over with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Well, that was new. "Mr. Halloway asked for your employee file.
My eyes widened in shock. "My file?"
"Yes. Background verification. The usual standard procedure. Everyone does it."
That was a dumb lie. It wasn't my first time, I'd worked enough temporary jobs to recognize one.
"No one ever asks for files on temps," I said carefully, so I don't get on her bad side.
Clara smiled more. I found that annoying. "Well he did." She shrugged, handing me a folder.
I nodded enough already. I took the folder and walked away before she could see my hands shaking.
Something was so wrong, and Adrian Halloway didn't strike me as a man who wasted time on curiosity, on low lives like me. He was calculated, every move he made intentional like he only pulled strings he meant to break.
Did I just become one?
I returned to my desk, something caught my eyes, a sealed envelope waiting for me, this wasn't here before. Strange.
How did it get here? No name written on it, not even a sender. Just my employee number written boldly across the front. My breath caught, and I began thinking of who would likely send me a letter. I hadn't crossed anyone.
I picked the letter again and stared at it for a long time. Should I read it or not? This debate played in my head while I spaced the floor.
Finally, I slid it into my bag without opening it. Was I making a mistake, or was it instinct…I wasn't sure yet. I went back to work to clear my head and keep the thought of the letter buried.
***
At 6:47 p.m., my phone beeped twice, the usual notification sound. I stared at the screen, a message from an unknown number.
I froze, it was just me in the office, like I hadn't told anyone about the envelope. I ignored it and didn't reply.
Another message followed immediately, as if the sender was aware. I opened the message.
Who the hell was playing games with me. My fingers trembled as I typed
ME:
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
My senses sharpened. Why always me?.
I shut down my computer, stood up, and nearly bumped into Adrian Halloway himself. I didn't even realise when he walked in because the letter had consumed me. Up close, his scent again, this time he smelled faintly of cedar and something sharper…danger, maybe.
"You're leaving early," he said.
"I usually do."
"That changes today."
My voice got stuck "Urm…Sir?"
He held a file in his hand. It had my passport and name. Right, that was my employee file.
It was open. Marked. And had tabs sticking out where they shouldn't be like someone watching doing research.
"You said this job was temporary," he continued calmly. "But your file says otherwise."
I forced my voice steady. "I don't understand you, Sir. That's not possible."
"Oh, yes, it is," he said. "Because this file was edited six months ago."
I stared at him, lost for words. "I was hired last week."
"Yes you were" Adrian agreed to my surprise. "But I know for sure someone planned you six months ago."
I struggled to speak. "Who?"
He studied my face like he was checking whether to tell me the truth, if I could handle it.
Then his phone rang. Bad timing. He answered it, still holding eye contact with me.
"Yes," he said. A pause, I couldn't help but notice his facial expression. His jaw hardened, like he was biting back words he shouldn't say.
"No. Not yet." Another pause. I felt his eyes bore into me, holding me like a target.
"She doesn't know."
The call ended, and I gulped hard. "She..Who? Know what?"
Adrian slipped the file under his arm. "That you were never meant to leave this building."
My skin pricked with goosebumps. I remember the bad omens I ignored early this morning.
"I quit," I said immediately.
He didn't even show surprise or regrets. He just smiles coldly. "You can't."
"Watch me." I turned to leave. His hand held wrist like a cuff.
"You don't understand," he said quietly, leaning close enough that his breath brushed my ear. "Someone went through a lot of trouble to put you here."
My heart was racing. What have I gotten myself into?
"And I don't intend to let them take you."
I pulled free and backed away. I'm a bit pissed at his statement. "You don't get to decide that."
The way he looked at me was like a challenge.
"I already have."
***
I didn't go home that night. I booked a room at a motel downtown.
Because when I finally opened the envelope in my bag… I found my old name inside.The one no one here was supposed to know.
And under the name was written in red ink:
WELCOME BACK.