*[At BlueCrest Tech Co.]*
"Any more updates?" Nathaniel spoke to his subordinate through the video call. He was in another branch of the company located in another country.
"Well yes," Darryl, the subordinate, spoke. "a DCI visited the company today. She was asking about the legacy versions of some of our old communication devices,"
"Didn't we dispose of those?"
"Yes we did. I haven't the foggiest why she was asking, but for a DCI to show up in person… I think something might be brewing,"
There was a brief silence before Nathaniel responded "I'll look into it," and ended the call.
"Boss," Darryl's assistant said, knocking lightly before stepping in at Darryl's nod.
Darryl leaned back in his chair. He wasn't the actual Chief Executive. Nathaniel was. But when Nathaniel was away, He ran things. To anyone outside the company, he looked like the man in charge. Even public records listed him as a co-founder alongside Nathaniel.
---
Riley usually came to work early, but today she came extra early. Her eyes were dull, and her dishevelled appearance added to the thought that she had little to no sleep that night.
What was she thinking about?
EG of course.
The mistake she made was doing deep research after reading the file. She discovered serious crimes these letters 'E' and 'G' had been linked to, and realised that the organisation wasn't just some backyard mafia or feared terrorist organisation. They were criminal gods. Hackers with much more technological intellect than anyone she had ever heard of. Criminal masterminds who knew how to instil fear without being there. A whole network of gurus.
And there was not one feeble among them.
She really hoped BlueCrest Tech had no hand in this. If this organisation could do this much behind screens, one cannot imagine what they'd do if by chance they catch her tracking them while she was still undercover.
"Miss Knox," Mrs Miller sounded surprised when she walked into her office and spotted Riley, seated, and waiting for her. Riley gave a small smile "Good morning Mrs Miller," She sounded calm although her look said otherwise.
"Good morning," She checked the time on her wristwatch "You're bright and early," It was just a few minutes past 6 a.m.
"Well, I wanted to have a chat about…the operation"
Mrs Miller took a seat "You seem tense,"
"I…may not be able to do this," Riley finally breathed what had been on her mind since yesterday.
Mrs Miller adjusted herself in her chair and leaned forward, fingers clasped on the desk.
"Riley," she began, calmly, "What changed, you seemed so confident yesterday?"
"I did my research," Riley started "And the organisation didn't seem like any I've heard of. They're very dangerous,"
"Those are just rumours. You know how well Journalists lie when they want to sell off a headline," Mrs Miller gave a small laugh
"But it didn't seem like they were exaggerating," Riley's tone reminded her of the seriousness of the situation.
"Riley, listen" Mrs Miller turned serious, "I recommended you because I've watched you and I know that you're capable,"
Mrs Miller continued. "For five years. You're consistent. Focused. You don't panic, and you don't give up halfway through a problem."
Riley remained silent.
"When 'EG' landed on your desk, you didn't join others to say it was impossible. You carved out a path. Though we didn't get the expected result, we made some ground-breaking research through your discovery. That was you being brave. You did it once, you can do it again,"
"I could have chosen someone else," Mrs Miller said. "Someone older. Someone with more field experience. I didn't." She held Riley's gaze. "You're tech-oriented. That matters, and best of all, you have a solid background as a constable. You know how to act with criminals, analyse evidence and make clean getaways without being caught."
Riley's chest tightened.
"And besides," Mrs Miller said at last, "you'd have to apply for the undercover register specifically for this project, so you'd be properly prepared,"
"Undercover register?" Riley was a bit confused, she thought she had been chosen already.
"Oh you thought we'd just send you in without training? No wonder you were scared,"
"The training isn't in heroics," she continued. "You're not being sent to fight. You're being sent to observe. To listen. To confirm what doesn't add up. I don't see any danger in that."
She leaned back slightly.
"EG are dangerous because they're careful, not because they're monsters. And careful people can still be exposed."
Riley lowered her gaze.
"If a problem arises," Mrs Miller said, more softly, "I trust you to handle it. If I didn't, you wouldn't be sitting here."
Mrs Miller stood up from her chair before continuing.
"Think it over. Properly. And if you're still not up for it, then that's okay."
Riley gave a small nod but still sat in the chair trying to absorb all that she had just heard. It was when Mrs Miller cleared her throat that she realised that she was still seated in her office.
So she quickly stood up, gave Mrs Miller handshake and said "Thank you for your time," before leaving
---
~Special Ops centre, basement of Scotland Yard, TSU.
"Miss Knox, have a look at this data. Use the red marker to circle any irregular network patterns you spot."
"I'm sorry, Mr Greg, but I'm completely swamped at the minute." Riley briefly glanced at the paper and continued what she was doing on the screen.
"Doesn't look like you're doing anything of importance to me."
He dropped the stack of papers on her desk. Thick enough to make a dull thud.
Riley pushed them aside. "I said, I'm busy."
Her voice rose slightly before she could stop it.
"Blimey, anyone teach you not to disrespect your senior officers?" a colleague said, turning to give Riley a look of disdain.
"The Met really does let anyone through the gate these days," another added casually, not exactly facing her.
"Not just anyone," someone else said. "Children. And to think they get special treatments for doing absolutely nothing."
"You know what Mr Greg, leave it there," Riley responded sharply "I'll do it,"
"Too right you will," He said before walking away.
Riley kept her expression neutral. She turned back to her screen, trying hard not to think about how mean her colleagues were to her.
This wasn't new. Since her first year here, the pattern had been the same. When she did well, the work changed. Fewer cases. More errands. Less responsibility disguised as routine tasks.
When the EG case landed on her desk, it hadn't been confidence. It had been convenience. No one else wanted it.
She solved part of it anyway.
That hadn't helped. They never considered her as part of the crew. For three long years she had been bullied, mocked and somewhat hated by her colleagues. She thought of a quote she had seen somewhere 'The best way to predict your future is to create it'. She couldn't go on like this- allowing incompetent individuals to look down on her. She'd show them who they're messing with, and when she reaches the peak she'll shove her success in their faces.
A few minutes later, Riley stood up, gathered her things, and left the office.
She walked down the corridor toward the Chief Inspector's office.
When she stepped inside, she didn't sit.
"I've thought about it," she said. "I'll take the assignment."
--- [At D`oro's Mansion]
Nathaniel had just arrived home from visiting his grandfather in Italy. He sat alone in his study, his chair tilted back just enough to let his body slacken. This room was the only place in the mansion where he could get absolute peace and quietness.
No overthinking of his grandfather's wickedness, not the mafia, not even the company and its affairs. Just peace.
"Padrone (Master)" Someone said while knocking on the door of his study. He already knew who it was. And to think he was about to get some proper rest.
"What is it Barry?" Nathaniel addressed his butler immediately he opened the door.
"The Young Miss just fired a chef for not knowing how to make coffee. I came to seek your permission–"
"Granted. Inform my grandfather about it too. Don't disturb my rest again Barry,"
"Of course," Barry nodded "But Padrone, with all due respect…this is not the way to raise a little girl,"
Nathaniel went silent for a moment, before he closed his study's door. Resting back on the cushioned seat, he thought of what Barry had told him and scoffed. He wouldn't start explaining all over again why he let Melanie do as she liked all the time. The incident from three years ago was just…
Ah, forget it. He needed to sleep.
His eyes had barely closed when a loud bang rattled the door.
"Dad! Daddy!"
Nathaniel exhaled slowly. Of course.
The door shook again, smaller fists this time. Melanie. Eight years old. Persistent. He considered ignoring her, just for a moment longer, but the banging only grew louder. With a resigned sigh, he stood and opened the door.
"What is it, Melanie?" His voice came out rough, heavy with the need for sleep.
She looked up at him, eyes sharp despite her size. "You're still sleeping?" she said, then grabbed his hand. "Come downstairs. It's an emergency."
"What kind of emergency?"
He hadn't finished talking when she turned and ran.
Nathaniel followed, irritation trailing behind him down the stairs.
He met a maid kneeling beside Melanie upon entering the parlour. This kind of scene was nothing new. Melanie was the young miss of the house, it was only right for her to exercise her power. "I caught her," Melanie declared proudly upon seeing her father "She was putting this powder in your morning coffee. I think it is poison".
The maid shook her head frantically. Her face was streaked with dried tears, makeup smudged and uneven. "It's not poison," she stammered. "I swear it isn't."
Nathaniel crouched and picked up the small packet from the floor. He didn't need to open it. The texture. The smell.
An aphrodisiac.
He straightened.
"You're fired," he said calmly.
He handed the packet to Melanie. "Throw it away, alright?"
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked toward the elevator. The doors slid shut behind him, sealing the matter as neatly as everything else in his life.
Melanie stared at the closed doors.
"That's it?" she muttered.
Behind her, the maid's voice trembled. "Miss Melanie, plea—"
Melanie spun around. Her chest felt tight, hot. "You're fired," she shouted. "You heard my dad! Get your things and leave before I throw you out myself!"
The maid rose slowly and walked away without another word.
The room felt too big after that.
Melanie's anger drained as quickly as it had come. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. She knew why she was angry.
In other homes, fathers ate with their children. Talked to them. Sat with them longer than a few minutes at a time. Her father never stayed. He always left. If she tried to talk, he ended it. If she asked questions, he disappeared.
He felt like a stranger who happened to live in the same house.
So she created emergencies. Fired maids. Caused scenes.
It was the only way she could keep him in the same room for more than ten minutes.
But even that was starting to fail.
Melanie swallowed hard and stared at the elevator doors again, already knowing he wouldn't come back.