Falling For My Enemy’s Brother

Episode 4

Flora’s POV

The first time I walked back into Stone Corporation, I did not use my real name.

As I entered the building, I couldn’t ignore the wave of nostalgia that hit me and for a short moment, I could almost feel the green couch beneath me, where I had waited for Arthur so many times. The smell of cedar invaded my nostrils, I had never really fancied it but I had grown accustomed to it.

My eyes found their way to the marble floor. Underneath my red stilettos, even I couldn’t recognize the woman that stared back at me, her blonde curly hair was gone and now replaced with a wavy lighter brown shade and blonde streaks. Not even my voice remained the same.

Blinking back the tears that had formed in my eyes , I took long struts to the receptionist who sat behind the wide desk.

“Somethings never change ” I muttered under my breath as I traced circles on the brown cedar desk that had been there for as long as I can remember.

“Excuse me, miss?”

“Nothing.” I managed a smile, extending my hand over the desk, “The name is Elena Rivers and I have a ten o’clock appointment with the board regarding the internal security audit”

While she typed away on the computer, I took the time to look around the place. The lobby looked exactly the same and the employees moved in and out of the elevators with files in their hands

I recognized him, Mr Leonard as he made his way to the receptionist. I held my breath expecting him to recognize me or at least give me a weird look and talk about how familiar I looked but he didn’t.

No one recognized me.

That was the point.

“Yes, Ms. Rivers.” The receptionist declared, pulling me out of my momentary trance, “They are expecting you.”

I nodded and gracefully made my way towards the elevator in slow calculated steps. I smiled at every director and employee that walked past me, it was a better distraction to the fact that my heart was drumming rapidly against my chest and my hands had rolled into fists at my sides.

It had been four long years since the night I left my life and everything I knew about it.

They never found me…. More correctly, they never tried to. Because at first, I had expected they would search everywhere. I thought Arthur would track my accounts, call my relatives, pressure anyone who had ever known me.

And out of fear I had closed every bank account connected to my name, changed my number and left the city through a refugee route.

He never came and for a long time, that hurt more than anything he had said in that study.

But you know what they say about hurt and how it slowly shapes who we become

Then the hurt slowly became something else.

Well, mine became discipline. I had no choice. I spent nights staring at the secondhand laptop i had purchased, researching every route possible to build a new identity for myself.

Arthur could never relate to how I had grown my data analysis and coding skills. I bet he never even got to know that I had them in the first place.

And now, after years of practicing and garnering the recognition I deserved. My plan was finally falling into place.

I could clearly remember the day i stared at the email from Stone Corporation, I wasn’t the least shocked

If anything really it was long overdue and now the games can begin fully.

A woman in a gray suit approached me. “Ms. Rivers, thank you for coming. The board is ready.”

Everyone was already seated round the table when we entered the boardroom. There were only five members present, with Arthur’s chair sitting empty.

I didn't know why but I felt my heart settle a bit in his absence even though I had planned this very moment in my head countless times and was very certain that it would be easy to face him again…. Maybe not just today.

Adjusting my navy blue blazer, I walked to greet each and every one sitted there. I remembered all of them, and it did sting a bit that they couldn’t even tell who I was.

I took the next thirty minutes explaining my exact processes to them , enjoying the thoughtful nods I got everyone during my presentation.

“Ms. Rivers,” one of the older men beamed, adjusting his glasses, while I made to resume my seat. “We appreciate your discretion.”

“Confidentiality is part of my contract,” I replied. “You will receive a full report of vulnerabilities and any irregular transactions.”

Another board member leaned forward. “We are especially concerned about internal financial transfers.”

“I will need complete access,” I proposed, watching them exchange unsure glances within themselves

“Complete access is crucial" I continued, “If I’m going to give my full potential, then You're going to have to give everything,"

Of course I didn’t expect them to agree immediately…it was too risky to just hand an entire company to a girl who was barely in her mid 20s all because of some online reviews and testimonies.

But then, “You will have it” he declared abruptly. Never in my life have I expected online reviews to be enough to convince everyone seated on this table.

I couldn’t even hide the smile that crept to my face at his words.

Straightening my posture on the chair, “is it safe to say that the meeting has come to an end?”

“ No no, miss Rivers,” the older man from earlier replied, “thank you so much for your time” I nodded and watched as they slowly dispersed from the room, while I packed my bag.

“You will be working closely with the executive team,” the feminine voice rang behind me. It was the grey suit woman that had escorted me here. “Follow me” she added, before I could get a single word in.

Dragging my already sore legs, I followed her down the hallway taking note of every picture that hung on either side of the hallway. Turns out Arthur was probably still unmarried. She led me to a kitchen size room with a desk and a computer situated right in the center and to the far left was a small fridge and water dispenser.

“Your office” she announced, corking her head as though looking for the slightest emotion on my face.

I knew better than to give her the satisfaction, so I swallowed my displeasure and smiled, “perfect”

“If you need anything, contact my assistant.”

“I will,” I replied.

She hesitated before leaving. “You look very young for someone with your reputation.”

“I started early,” I shrugged.

She smiled politely and walked away.

The moment she left I finally caught my breath from everything. It felt strange to sit inside this building and quietly search through its secrets.

I didn’t realize how long I had sat there till a knock pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said , adjusting my blazer and stealing a glance at the clock that sat on the desk. How was it noon already?

The door opened, and a male voice spoke. “I heard we hired a ghost.”

I remembered that voice before even looking who owned

Carter Stone stood in the doorway.

He looked older than the last time I saw him, but not in a tired way. He carried himself differently from Arthur. Less rigid. His tie was slightly loosened, and there was a careful intelligence in his eyes.

“I prefer consultant,” I corrected, “Come in” i gestured, sitting up in my chair. And when he did step inside, my breath hitched and I couldn’t believe that he was standing right In front of me with his perfectly ironed burgundy shirt.

“Carter Stone.” He cleared his throat, “Chief Operations Officer.”

“I know,” I replied before I could stop myself.

His eyebrows lifted a little. “Most consultants pretend not to.”

“I review company structures before accepting contracts,” I defended, trying my best to remain calm “It helps me understand who I’m working with.” I added.

I dared not look up, but I could still feel his cold gaze threatening to burn a spot on my skin, while I struggled to keep my face neutral and focus on my screen.

“You have full access?” he asked finally, totally ignoring the earlier topic.

“Yes.”

I didn’t know if I should feel relieved or more anxious. But then his voice filled the room again and it reminded me why I was here

“That makes some people nervous.”

“Security should make everyone nervous,” I replied. “Especially in a company like this.”

His lips curved upwards and for the first time in the few hours I’ve been here, my nerves finally felt calm. “Fair point.”

He walked closer to the desk and looked at the code running across my screen. “Find anything interesting yet?”

“It’s too early to say,” I answered. “But your internal permissions are not well divided. Executive accounts have more access than they need.”

“That would be my brother’s department,” Carter said evenly.

The mention of Arthur did not change my expression.

“My business is strictly with the systems ,” I said. “Not people.”

“Systems are handled by people ,” he countered and for what felt like eternity, neither of us spoke and even though I still haven’t looked up, I could still feel him looking at me.

I was desperate to break the ice… anything at all to get him to leave here. “Is there something else?” I asked.

“You seem familiar.”

And there, my fingers paused on the keyboard and every coordination I had was undone by just three words

“I doubt that.”

He moved closer, still not taking his eyes off me, “I have a good memory for faces,” .

My throat went dry and I forced my fingers to move again, “I work mostly online,” I maintained. “Clients rarely meet me in person.”

“That is true,” he admitted,tilting his head till I could feel his breath against my face

“Mr. Stone,” I said politely, “if there is nothing else, I need to continue my work.”

He nodded slightly, but he stayed where he was for another moment.

“If you uncover something serious,” he finally said pulling away from me , “I expect to be informed directly.”

“You will receive the same report as the board,” I replied.

“That was not what I meant.”

I finally looked up and met his eyes fully. “My contract defines my obligations clearly.”

For a second, something changed in his expression. It was not exactly a suspicion. It felt more like he was trying to remember something.

“Very well, Ms. Rivers,” he said at last.

He turned and walked toward the door, then paused with his hand on the handle.

“Have we met before?”