The CEO's Daughter

Web of Lies.

The morning sun shone through Alina's apartment window, but its warmth did little to alleviate the frost that had crept in her bones. She stared at the protected folder on her laptop, impatience simmering beneath the surface. She had copied Sophia's computer contents to a flash drive, but it was useless without access to them.

Her thoughts turned to Max, a former college classmate with an aptitude for hacking. They hadn't spoken in years, not since their disagreement over a failed group project. But Max's reputation for finding answers where others saw obstacles was unparalleled. Swallowing her pride, she took out her phone and phoned his number.

"Alina Mirabel," Max said after the second ring, his tone both curious and amused. "What do I owe the honor to?"

"I need your help," Alina remarked, getting to the chase. "It's important."

"Is it important enough to forget about how you threw me under the bus in college?"

She winced, but continued on. "I'll make it worth your while."

There was a pause, and Max's voice became softer. "Send me the details. "I will see what I can do."

She felt a rush of relief. She promptly emailed him the papers and spent the rest of the morning pacing her apartment, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Every creak in the floorboards and distant sound from the street below set her on edge.

Max called back in the afternoon. "This isn't just some corporate project," he remarked quietly. "Alina, this is high-level stuff. "Whoever encrypted this did not want anyone poking around."

"Can you break it?"" she asked.

"I will try, but it will take time. Furthermore, you must use caution. If someone discovers you have this, you may be in significant danger."

As if on cue, there was a knock on her door. Alina's heart leaped into her throat. She approached the peephole and noticed a deliveryman holding a bunch of flowers. She hesitated before opening the door.

"Delivery for Alina Mirabel," the man explained, handing her the arrangement.

She thanked him before closing the door, her hands trembling as she read the card attached to the bouquet: "Consider this your first and only warning."

The flowers dropped from her grasp and scattered across the floor. She instantly called Max back. "I think someone knows what I'm doing," she said quietly.

"Then you're already in too deep," Max said. "Don't worry. I will sort this out. "Just stay low and don't trust anyone."

Alina hangs up.