The building stood taller than I expected.

Glass walls. Security at every corner. People walking in and out like they actually belonged here.

I didn’t.

But that was the point.

“Remember,” his voice echoed in my head, calm and controlled.

“You are not here to work. You are here to observe.”

I adjusted the strap of my bag and stepped inside.

No hesitation. No fear.

At least, none that I allowed to show.

“New employee?”

The receptionist looked up at me with a polite smile.

I returned one just as easily.

“Yes,” I said, handing over the documents.

First lie of the day.

She nodded and handed me a temporary ID.

“Welcome.”

If only she knew.

The office was exactly how I imagined.

Quiet. Organized. Efficient.

Dangerous.

Not because of what it showed…

but because of what it didn’t.

Two years.

For two years, someone inside this company had been leaking confidential information.

Deals lost. Reputation damaged. Position dropped.

And no one knew who it was.

That’s where I came in.

Not as an employee.

Not as a colleague.

But as a shadow.

“Excuse me.”

I turned slightly as a voice called out.

A man stood there, holding a file.

“You’re new, right?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Another lie.

“I’m ben ,” he said with a small smile. “If you need anything, let me know.”

I studied him for a second longer than necessary.

Friendly. Approachable.

Too easy.

“Thank you,” I replied softly.

He walked away without suspicion.

Good.

“Everyone, attention please.”

The room shifted instantly.

Silence fell.

And then… he walked in.

Tall. Composed. Untouchable.

The CEO.

The air changed the moment he entered.

People straightened. Conversations died.

Respect… or fear.

Maybe both.

His eyes scanned the room briefly—

And for a second…

They stopped on me.

Just a second.

But it was enough.

Something about that look felt different.

Sharp.

Observing.

As if he could see through everything.

Through everyone.

Through me.

I looked away first.

Rule one: Never let them read you.

“This project cannot afford another mistake,” he said, voice cold and steady.

No emotion.

No room for error.

“This company has already lost enough.”

The words hit differently when you knew the truth behind them.

When you knew someone in this very room…

was the reason.

And I was here to find them.

But something felt off.

And I didn’t like that.

Because instincts like mine didn’t react without reason.

As I sat there, pretending to listen, pretending to belong—

I realized something.

This wasn’t going to be as simple as I thought.

Because the deeper I looked…

The more this place felt like a trap.

And I wasn’t sure who it was meant for.

And for the first time since I took the job…

I wondered if I was the one being watched...