The First Day—Laying the Groundwork
Valerie Blackwood didn't waste time.
After taking a thorough look at the file, she picked it up and left her office.
She had no intention of solving it yet—not completely. Instead, she would spend today doing something far more important:
Understanding the people behind it.
Because inconsistencies weren't just in reports.
They were in the people who wrote them, the people who followed orders, the ones who were too careful or not careful enough.
And so, she walked with purpose—straight to the security department.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt it.
The weight of being watched.
Security personnel were trained to notice everything. And as a new face, she was already under scrutiny.
Good. Let them watch.
She let her heels click purposefully against the floor, holding herself with the same controlled confidence that was expected of someone in her position.
She wasn't here to blend in.
She was here to see.
To observe.
And to be observed.
The first person she met was Mara Jensen.
Mara was polite, professional—but hesitant.
Too hesitant.
She hesitated before answering everything—even the most basic questions.
Valerie took note of that but kept her expression pleasant, her voice light with curiosity.
"Director gave me this file," she said, holding it up with practiced ease, letting just enough uncertainty color her tone. "Can you tell me where I can get some information on it?"
Mara hesitated again.
Then finally she spoke. "Follow me."
Valerie's smile didn't waver. Got you.
Mara led her into a separate room where a young, sharp-looking man was seated at his desk, flipping through documents with a casual kind of efficiency.
He looked up as they entered, his gaze flicking between them before settling on Valerie.
Mara barely explained the situation before quickly excusing herself.
Interesting.
Valerie turned to face the man, tilting her head slightly as he assessed her.
She didn't miss the way his gaze lingered just a second too long.
"I'm an intern," she said, keeping her tone casual, approachable."Today's my first day. The director gave me this file and asked me to solve it. Can you tell me where I can find the necessary information?"
She handed the file over, watching as he scanned through it lazily.
Then, he exhaled. "This is already solved."
Valerie's lips curled into something amused. "Yeah, but the director wants a second opinion."
That made him pause.
He looked up at her, really looking now.
"He never does that." A slow smirk. "He hates second opinions."
She noted that immediately.
So, the director is behaving differently with me.
Why?
Because she was new? Or was there something more?
The man leaned back in his chair, watching her with a faintly curious expression.
Then, finally, he spoke. "Go to the second row, last column. You'll find what you need."
A charming smile.
Valerie returned it effortlessly. "Thanks."
Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward the shelves, her every step measured, deliberate.
Her mind, however, was racing.
Something wasn't adding up.
And she was going to find out what.
Valerie moved with precision, her hands working fast, flipping through the documents, eyes scanning each page with a razor-sharp focus.
One after another.
The first five were ordinary. Standard records, routine reports—nothing out of place.
But the sixth?
Something was off.
A tiny detail, barely noticeable, but her mind caught it immediately.
The dates didn't match.
Two separate reports, filed by two different people—but referencing the exact same event, word for word. A copy-paste job.
Lazy.
And lazy mistakes always meant someone was trying to cover something up.
Keeping her expression unreadable, she subtly pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo. Then, making a mental note of exactly where she left the file, she slid it back into place.
Then, with the actual case file she was supposed to take, she turned, walking back toward the desk.
"Thanks for the help," she said smoothly.
The man leaned back in his chair, watching her with amusement. "Anytime."
Then, with a smirk, "If you ever need more assistance, you know where to find me."
Valerie offered a polite nod but didn't linger.
He's cool. She admitted in her mind. But that doesn't mean I trust him.
She exited the room, making her way back to her office, the unease from that sixth file still lingering in the back of her mind.
As Seraphina left the security department, a voice called her name from behind.
She turned, only to find Elias's assistant approaching her with an unreadable expression.
"Director Elias wants to see you."
Of course, he does.
Hiding her irritation behind a polite nod, she adjusted the files in her hands and followed the assistant to his office.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt his gaze already on her—sharp, scanning, something too interested for a professional setting.
Elias leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "How was your day?"
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The day had barely started.
Instead, she kept her voice even. "Going well so far."
But she knew.
Knew exactly why he called her here.
No real reason. Just an excuse. Just so he could have her standing in front of him again.
As expected, the conversation was pointless.
Something about the case—nothing she didn't already know. He was keeping her there, dragging it out, enjoying the control.
Then he stood up.
Too close.
Too intentional.
Seraphina remained still, unmoved, unreadable.
Elias, however, took it further.
He raised a hand—slowly, deliberately—and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
A useless act.
She didn't flinch, didn't react, but her patience thinned.
"It was bothering you." His voice was smooth, as if he was doing her a favor.
She didn't miss the way his eyes lingered.
Seraphina stepped back—not in fear, but in dismissal.
"I should get back to work." Her voice was clipped, polite, final.
Elias let her go, but not without a smirk.
She turned on her heels, exiting without hesitation.
But as she walked down the hallway, she felt it—a burning need to erase the sensation of his touch.
And an even sharper one to make sure he learned his place
As the dim lights of Elias' office flickered behind her, Seraphina stepped out, her grip tightening around the case documents. The air outside his office felt lighter, less suffocating than the smug gaze he had pinned her with the entire time.
She let out a slow exhale, rolling her shoulders once before striding down the corridor. Time to work.
As she walked toward her office, she passed through the security wing, her sharp gaze noting everything. The way some officers stiffened when they saw her, the hushed murmurs behind her back—she was being watched.
Good.
Let them.
Inside her office, she locked the door and tossed the file onto the desk, pulling out the documents Elias had given her. If he thought she would just take them at face value, he was an idiot.
She dug in.
The first few pages were simple—too simple. A surface-level security breach report.
She flipped through them methodically, scanning for inconsistencies.
And then—there it was.
A signature at the bottom of a clearance form.
It wasn't Elias'.
It wasn't even from Horizon Initiative's usual security council.
She frowned, grabbing her laptop. This was connected to something.
She just had to find out what.
Seraphina sat at her desk, flipping through the reference file she had pulled earlier. The pages were filled with standard documentation—reports, internal correspondences, structured data. But her focus remained on one thing.
The signature.
Her fingertips brushed over the inked name, her mind working through the possibilities. It wasn't Elias. It wasn't anyone from the Horizon Initiative. That much was certain.
Then who?
She leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly. The discovery didn't feel like a mistake. Someone had signed this document, knowing it might eventually be seen. But was it intentional? A message? Or just something that had slipped through?
Her brows furrowed. If the Horizon Initiative had missed this, it meant their internal security wasn't as airtight as they believed. And if they hadn't missed it—if they had left it there on purpose—then she had just stepped into something far bigger than expected.
A sudden knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
Seraphina's gaze flicked up. The knock was light, deliberate.
"Come in," she said, voice steady.
The door opened, revealing a familiar face—Celeste, Elias's assistant. Her composed expression didn't waver as she stepped inside.
"The Director asked me to inform you," Celeste said, her tone polite but distant. "Tomorrow night at 8 PM, there will be a welcome party in your honor."
Seraphina blinked, momentarily thrown off by the shift in conversation. A welcome party?
She studied Celeste carefully. The assistant's face gave away nothing—no amusement, no interest, just professionalism.
Seraphina's fingers tapped idly against her desk. A party. Hosted by Elias. After she had just found this signature.
What an interesting coincidence.
Lifting her chin slightly, she nodded. "Noted."
Celeste gave a small nod in return. "Don't be late."
With that, she turned and left, the soft click of the door echoing in the silence that followed.
Seraphina remained still for a moment before glancing back at the file. The unknown signature stared back at her.
She didn't believe in coincidences.
And something told her this party was going to be more than just a simple welcome.
Seraphina's gaze flickered toward the clock on the wall. Off time.
She exhaled quietly and closed the reference file, slipping it into her bag along with the rest of her documents. The weight of the signature still lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside—for now. Tomorrow night, she would have to play along.
Standing, she smoothed the creases from her coat, grabbed her things, and stepped out of the office. The hallway was quiet, the air thick with the lingering scent of old paper and polished floors. Her steps were steady, unhurried, but her thoughts moved quickly.
As she turned a corner, she caught sight of him.
Elias.
He stood at the far end of the corridor, hands casually tucked into his coat pockets, his posture relaxed. But Seraphina wasn't fooled. He was there for a reason.
Their gazes met. For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then, with the ease of someone completely in control, she let a small, knowing smile touch her lips as she walked past him. A silent acknowledgment of the game they were playing.
Elias watched her closely, his expression unreadable. Just as she was about to pass, his voice cut through the air—smooth, deliberate.
"Don't be late for the party."
Seraphina paused just slightly, her mind already moving ahead of the conversation. This wasn't just about welcoming her. There was something more to it.
A plan formed in an instant. If Elias wanted her there, then she'd make sure the night didn't go entirely according to his expectations.
She turned to face him, tilting her head slightly. "Is the party only for employees?"
Elias raised an eyebrow, as if amused by the question. "Anyone can come."
That was exactly what she needed to hear.
"Interesting," she murmured, nodding slightly before continuing on her way.
She didn't have to look back to know Elias was still watching her.
Tomorrow night, the game would change.
And she intended to make the first move.
The night air was cool as Seraphina stepped outside the Horizon Initiative building. The sleek black car was already waiting for her. No words were exchanged as she slid inside; the driver knew where to go.
The city lights blurred past the windows, but her mind was elsewhere. The signature, Elias's calculated presence, and now the unexpected party—it was all coming together, piece by piece. But she wasn't about to walk into it blindly.
By the time the car reached Oblivion Division's underground entrance, her plan was already forming.
She moved swiftly through the corridors, her presence barely acknowledged by the agents stationed along the way. This was routine now. Even though she was balancing two lives, this—Oblivion Division—was where she truly belonged.
Ezrin's office was dimly lit, as always. The soft glow of his desk lamp highlighted the sharp angles of his face as he worked through a document. He didn't look up when she entered, but she knew he had already noticed her presence.
She stepped forward, placing the document on his desk. "I found something."
Ezrin finally looked up, his cold gaze flickering between her and the file. "Go on."
Seraphina leaned against the desk, crossing her arms. "There's a welcome party for me tomorrow night at the Horizon Initiative. Elias made sure to tell me personally. But here's the interesting part—anyone can come."
Ezrin's fingers tapped lightly against the desk. "And?"
She smirked. "I want you and Kieran to come with me."
For the first time, Ezrin's expression shifted slightly. Not quite surprise, but something close to intrigue. "You want us to walk into the Horizon Initiative's event?"
"Not just walk in," she corrected. "Observe. Elias isn't just hosting a party—he's testing me. He wants to see how I respond, who I interact with, and probably who shows up uninvited. If I go alone, I'll be the one under their watch. But if you and Kieran are there, we'll be the ones watching them."
Ezrin leaned back in his chair, studying her. He said nothing for a long moment, and she knew he was calculating the risks.
Then, he smirked faintly. "You're learning."
"I always do," she said smoothly.
Ezrin glanced at the document again, his expression turning thoughtful. "Fine. We'll go."
A slow satisfaction curled in Seraphina's chest.
Tomorrow night, it wouldn't just be a welcome party. It would be an opportunity.
And she intended to use it.
The next day at the Horizon Initiative, Seraphina was focused on her work, her fingers gliding effortlessly over reports and files. The hours passed in quiet efficiency—until the inevitable interruption came.
Celeste stepped into her office, her expression as unreadable as ever. "The boss wants to see you in his office."
Seraphina didn't even blink. Of course, he did.
She gave a small nod, keeping her face composed, but internally, she cursed Elias. This man can't even breathe without involving me.
Pushing back her chair, she stood, smoothing her clothes before making her way toward his office.
As she entered, Elias was already waiting for her. His office, bathed in warm golden light, had an unsettling atmosphere—calculated, intimate, suffocating. He gestured toward the sofa. "Sit."
She did. But the moment she did, she felt his eyes on her. A heavy, deliberate stare.
Like a predator studying its prey.
Seraphina remained still, unfazed, her expression carefully neutral. She knew exactly what this was. Elias wanted control—over her, over the situation, over everything. And he wanted her to know it.
But she wouldn't let that happen.
She would play along, giving him just enough to lower his guard while keeping herself out of his grasp. If he thought she was falling into his game, trusting him, he would slip eventually.
Tilting her head slightly, she met his gaze with a calm, unreadable expression. "You called for me."
Elias smirked, leaning back in his chair as if enjoying the power he thought he held.
Seraphina simply waited. Because no matter how much he wanted her under him, she would make sure it was him who ended up exactly where she wanted.