The moment I stepped out of the meeting room, I felt it again.

That feeling.

Like someone was watching me.

Not casually.

Not accidentally.

Deliberately.

“Wait.”

The voice stopped me instantly.

Cold. Calm. Controlled.

Him.

I turned slowly, masking everything behind a neutral expression.

“Yes, sir?”

His eyes didn’t leave mine.

Not even for a second.

Most people looked away when he stared at them like that.

I didn’t.

I couldn’t afford to.

“You’re new.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.”

Truth.

One of the few.

“Which department?”

“Operations.”

Lie.

Smooth. Practiced. Easy.

He took a step closer.

Not too close.

Just enough to make it uncomfortable.

Intentional.

“Strange.”

My heartbeat didn’t change.

But my mind sharpened instantly.

“Why?” I asked.

“I usually know everyone who joins this company.”

His tone didn’t rise.

Didn’t accuse.

But it didn’t trust either.

I gave a small, polite smile.

“I guess I’m not that important yet.”

Deflect. Soften. Disappear.

For a second, something flickered in his eyes.

Interest.

That wasn’t good.

“Name.”

“Anaya.”

Another lie.

He repeated it slowly, like he was memorizing it.

“Anaya.”

The way he said it made it feel like he didn’t believe it.

“Be careful,” he said suddenly.

My fingers tightened slightly around the file I was holding.

“Sir?”

“This company doesn’t tolerate mistakes.”

His gaze dropped briefly to the ID card hanging around my neck.

Then back to my eyes.

“Especially from new employees.”

Message received.

Loud and clear.

“I understand,” I replied calmly.

And I did.

Just not in the way he meant.

He held my gaze for a moment longer.

Then walked past me without another word.

But the air didn’t ease.

If anything… it got heavier.

He noticed.

That much was clear.

And that was a problem.

Because people like him didn’t just notice.

They investigated.

I exhaled slowly once I was alone.

Step one: blend in.

Step two: observe.

Step three: find the leak.

Simple.

So why did it suddenly feel complicated?

“Hey!”

I turned to see ben walking toward me again.

Smiling. Relaxed.

Unaware.

“First day going well?” he asked.

I studied him carefully this time.

Every movement. Every expression.

Was it real?

Or was he just good at pretending?

“It’s… interesting,” I said.

Not a lie.

“Good,” he said. “You’ll get used to it. This place looks perfect from outside, but—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

“But what?” I asked softly.

He hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then smiled again.

“Nothing. You’ll see.”

That wasn’t nothing.

And just like that…

The list of suspects in my head gained its first name.

Ben.