Just as Cade said, Krina spent the better part of the afternoon teaching me how to implement firewall rules. Because of this, I had to stay later to finish up all the work I fell behind on since the time I typically would’ve used was allocated to Krina. It’s almost 6PM, and as I glance around the office, I realize that everyone except Cade and I have gone home. Great. This is perfect. Juuuuust perfect. Being alone with him, even if it’s just in a professional setting, always seems to set me on edge. I try to focus on wrapping up my work, but my mind keeps drifting to the man in the office across from mine. I can’t help but steal a pair of glances at him through the glass walls, watching as he types away on his computer, concentrated, his eyebrows furrowed. He seems utterly unfazed by the fact that we’re the only ones left, his demeanor as stoic and professional as ever. Must be nice to be able to act like nothing happened between us.

After a short weekend of doing ‘hoodrat shit’—which really consisted of Ava and I binge watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer and eating about ten thousand calories—it’s Sunday morning, and I’m making cappuccinos while I patiently wait for my freshly baked chocolate chip banana bread to cool.“Alright, I think I’m good to go?”I smile softly as I avert my gaze to Ava, eyeing her as she emerges from my bedroom with her make-up bag in her hand. She stuffs it into her travel bag, zipping it shut before lowering herself onto the couch to slide her boots on.The hardest part about having less than a handful of friends is that they all live in different cities or states and I don’t get to see them very often. I’m a lonely person because I make it harder than it needs to be to connect with people on a deeper level than the surface, and it's intentional.I have a no-tolerance policy,

The next morning, as I drive to work, the cool, fresh air of a 6AM Tuesday morning hardly does anything to calm my nerves or settle the uneasiness in my stomach. I spent the better part of last night thinking about all the ways I could get caught doing what I’m about to do and how I could avoid being caught.The unfortunate truth is that the system automatically sends out a report of any firewall rule changes made. Fortunately, because it’s automated, hardly anyone ever looks at the report thoroughly. Most engineers merely glance over it to see if the change was successful, but no one ever takes the time to actually go through the report thoroughly.Ultimately, the odds of anyone finding out are about the same as the odds of someone not only thoroughly going through the report but also conducting a packet inspection on all traffic pertaining to the specific server.So…ten percent?…I’ll take my

⊰ Cade ⊱I sit in my home office, staring at the pair of monitors in front of me, feeling as though the expansive room is closing in on me, my thoughts racing. Just as Elysian asked me to, I completed the packet inspection. I should’ve braced myself, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what I found.This has to be a mistake…My gaze wanders around the room, taking in the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a stunning view of the city skyline, the sleek, modern furniture, and state-of-the-art technology surrounding me. But even the familiar comfort of my meticulously designed space doesn’t ease the sickening feeling that settled in the pit of my stomach the moment my inspection was complete.What the hell is in that file..? And why the hell would she risk her career to access it?…Why does it have my name on it?I lean back in my leather chair, runni

I’ve never dreaded doing something as much as I do today. After a torturously short weekend, I find myself sitting in the parking garage outside of the office building, wishing that I had stayed home.I should’ve called in sick or used my PTO hours…I don’t know how I’m supposed to face him. It was easier before. I stayed out of his way, and he tolerated me. Now? Now, I don’t know if things are going to go back to how they were or if they should—if they ever could.With heavy steps, I somehow manage to find my desk twice as fast as usual.Well, it feels that way, anyway.Between brief good mornings, the rest of the team sporadically trickle in, settling at their desks before 8:30AM—except for Cade.He’s never late…I’m not the only one that notices. Krina furrows her eyebrows, glancing up at his empty office.“Pst.&rdq