Behind The False Name

First Day

By Monday morning, I had convinced myself that I wasn’t nervous.

That lasted until I stood outside Aureon’s entrance and realized I’d been staring at the building for almost a full minute.

I took a breath, adjusted my bag, and walked inside.

The receptionist looked up from her desk.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning. I’m Clara Bennett. It’s my first day.”

Her expression immediately brightened.

“Oh, you’re the new employee from HR.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll call your supervisor.”

While she made the call, I looked around the lobby.

It was busier than it had been during my interview. Employees moved in every direction, some carrying files, others speaking quietly on their phones.

A few seconds later, a woman approached me.

“Clara?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Maya. I’ll be supervising you for now.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too. Come with me. I’ll show you around.”

As we walked through the building, Maya explained how the departments were arranged and introduced me to a few people.

One woman waved at us from behind her desk.

“This is Grace,” Maya said. “She’s probably going to be the first person to tell you all the things you’re not supposed to know.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Don’t listen to her. I only tell people useful things.”

Maya turned to me. “She’s lying.”

“I am not.”

“You told the new accountant last week that the CEO eats lunch in his office because he hates people.”

Grace shrugged. “He does.”

Maya gave her a look before turning back to me.

“See why you shouldn’t listen to her?”

I shook my head, amused. “I think I’ll figure out who to trust eventually.”

“Good answer,” Grace said.

The morning went by faster than I expected.

Maya gave me several tasks, explained the company’s filing system, and showed me how their internal reports were handled.

I asked questions whenever I needed to, but I was careful not to ask too many.

I didn’t want anyone wondering why a new employee was suddenly interested in confidential departments.

During lunch, Grace joined Maya and me.

“So,” Grace said, opening her drink, “what do you think of Aureon so far?”

“I like it.”

“You’re saying that because you’ve only been here for four hours.”

“Maybe.”

“Give it three months.”

Maya shot her a warning look. “Don’t scare her.”

“I’m not scaring her. I’m preparing her.”

“For what?”

Grace leaned closer, lowering her voice dramatically. “The deadlines.”

“I think I can handle deadlines.”

“You say that now.”

Maya shook her head. “Ignore her. She enjoys making everything sound worse than it is.”

“Don’t mind her. She likes making new people nervous.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Grace pointed at me.

“See? She’s already learning.”

The conversation continued, moving from work to food and then somehow to which restaurants around the area were overrated.

For a few minutes, I almost forgot why I was really there.

Then someone mentioned Leo.

“You know what I still don’t understand?” Grace said. “How does Mr. Moretti walk into a room and make everyone stop talking?”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “Because you all know he notices everything.”

I kept eating, listening to them.

“Is he really that strict?” I asked.

Grace glanced at me. “You haven’t met him properly?”

“I’ve seen him.”

“Then you already know.”

Maya shook her head. “He’s not unreasonable. He just expects things to be done properly.”

“And if they’re not?”

Grace shrugged. “Then you’d better have a very good explanation.”

I nodded, taking another bite.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The rest of the day passed without anything out of the ordinary and before I knew it, the workday was over.

I packed my things and said goodbye to Maya and Grace before heading toward the elevators.

I’d almost reached them when I realized I’d left my notebook behind.

I turned around and walked back. The department was nearly empty now.

I picked up my notebook and was about to leave when I noticed someone walking down the hallway.

It was a man I hadn’t met before.

He came from the direction of the executive offices and slowed when he saw me.

For a second, we simply looked at each other.

“Are you lost?” he asked.

“No. I work here.”

He looked at my new employee badge.

“First day?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Then you should probably head home.”

There was something about his tone that made me hesitate.

“Right. I was just leaving.”

He continued walking.

I watched him disappear around the corner before looking down at my notebook.

I was about to leave when something caught my attention.

A door farther down the hallway stood slightly ajar.

I recognized it from yesterday.

The restricted office.

My brows pulled together. Maybe I was being too curious.

Still, I found myself taking a few steps toward it.

Voices drifted from inside. At first, I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Then one voice suddenly became clear.

“Did you send it already?”

There was a pause.

“No. I’m waiting for the right time.”

Then I heard the first voice again.

“You know what happens if he finds out.”

“He won’t find out until it’s too late.”