His Little Bride

Chapter 2: The virus

This...

This is my real job.

Well... one of them.

I'm a data analyst.

I analyze large sets of data for clients online, and that's where most of my legal income comes from.

But...

I also have another side.

One that not many people know about.

Sometimes I hack accounts for clients.

Sometimes I create computer viruses or break into secured systems.

People pay me a lot of money for jobs like that.

Don't look at me like I'm some kind of criminal.

I didn't exactly have many opportunities growing up.

Everything I know, I taught myself.

Hours spent watching YouTube tutorials.

Free online courses.

Countless sleepless nights.

I learned everything on my own.

If life had been different...

If my parents had lived...

I would've gone to university.

I would've become a surgeon.

That had always been my dream.

But life had other plans for me.

So instead...

I built a different future using the only skills I could teach myself.

And one thing is certain...

I'm not spending the rest of my life trapped in this house.

Never.

A smile slowly spread across my face as I finished my last task.

"Finally..."

I stretched my arms above my head until my back cracked.

"Done."

I carefully closed my laptop and placed it beside my pillow.

I glanced at the clock.

There was still enough time for a quick nap before lunch.

"Perfect."

I pulled the blanket over myself, closed my eyes, and within minutes...

I was fast asleep.

---

Another boring day.

After finishing all my chores and making sure to avoid both Natasha and Jessica, I quietly returned to my room.

"Finally," I sighed as I shut the door behind me.

"Let's see which customer is waiting for me today."

I placed my laptop on the bed and powered it on.

Once it finished loading, I logged into my account on the dark web using my alias.

Bloody Rose.

The name alone had earned quite a reputation.

"Hmm..."

I scrolled through the list of clients waiting for my response.

"Mr. Rashford..."

"Interesting name."

"Let's see what you want."

I clicked on his request and began reading.

«From: Mr. Rashford

I would like you to create your deadliest virus—one capable of bringing an entire company to its knees. Name your price, Bloody Rose.»

I leaned back against the headboard.

"A deadly virus..."

I stared at the message for several long seconds.

Maybe this is it.

Maybe this is my ticket out of this house.

What do I have left to lose?

No one will ever know it was me anyway.

But another voice echoed inside my head.

What if you get caught?

What if this destroys innocent people?

I groaned, rubbing my forehead.

"Ugh... I hate it when my conscience starts talking."

I bit my lower lip as I stared at the blinking cursor.

After a few moments of hesitation...

I finally started typing.

«Bloody Rose:

Alright. If that's what you want, I'll create it for $50,000 USD.»

I stared at the message one last time before pressing Send.

Almost instantly...

A notification appeared.

Payment Accepted.

My eyes widened.

"No way..."

The client immediately requested my payment details.

For a moment, I could've sworn I forgot how to breathe.

"Oh... my... gosh!"

I squealed, jumping excitedly onto my bed.

"Is this actually happening?!"

I quickly sent over my account information.

A few seconds later—

Half the payment had already been transferred.

"AHHHHH!!"

I screamed into my pillow before bouncing around my tiny room.

"I can't believe this!"

I laughed happily.

"Once I finish this job, I'll receive the remaining balance..."

"And then..."

"I'm finally leaving this place."

I took a deep breath to calm myself before returning to my laptop.

«Bloody Rose:

Transaction confirmed. You'll receive your virus within three days.»

I clicked Send, logged out of my account, and got straight to work.

For the next three days...

I poured everything I had into creating the most sophisticated virus I'd ever designed.

A virus so powerful that almost no one would be able to detect it...

Let alone remove it.

Except me.

For the first time in years...

I finally felt hopeful.

A new beginning was waiting for me.

Three Days Later...

At A.L.T. Company, the largest technology company in the world, everything appeared normal.

The towering glass building stood proudly against the sky, radiating power and prestige.

Inside, the luxurious lobby buzzed with activity.

Employees walked briskly through the hallways, each focused on their tasks.

Everything seemed perfectly in order.

Or so it appeared.

Meanwhile...

Inside the Control Room.

The Computer Engineering Department was in complete chaos.

Engineers frantically typed away at their keyboards, trying desperately to regain control of the company's system.

At the center of the room stood Lucas, the Head of the Computer Engineering Department.

Sweat dripped down his forehead as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

Around him, the other engineers—including Jessica—worked just as desperately.

"What's going on here?"

Robert, the General Director, rushed into the room, breathing heavily.

Lucas didn't even look away from his screen.

"I think someone has implanted a virus into our system."

"What?"

Robert's eyes widened.

"A virus?"

"Are you joking? How? When? Where?"

Lucas clenched his jaw.

"I don't know."

"But whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

Robert grabbed his hair in frustration.

"What do you mean you can't access it?"

"You're the head of this department!"

Lucas swallowed nervously.

"I'm trying my best, sir."

"I first need to identify what type of virus it is before I can break through it."

"But..."

"I've never seen anything like this before."

His fingers continued dancing across the keyboard at an unbelievable speed.

Then suddenly...

Every monitor in the room went black.

The room fell silent.

One second later...

The main screen flickered back to life.

A giant red countdown timer appeared.

23:59:59

The timer immediately began counting down.

"What the hell is this?" Robert whispered, his face turning pale.

Lucas slowly stood from his chair.

"I think..."

"We've been hacked."

"I can't break through this virus."

"If that countdown reaches zero..."

He hesitated before turning toward Robert.

Robert's voice trembled.

"What happens when the timer ends, Lucas?"

Lucas looked him straight in the eye.

"Everything..."

"...will be erased."

Silence.

The entire room froze.

Cold sweat trickled down Robert's face.

"This... this can't be happening."

Lucas lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

"I've never encountered a virus like this before."

"I believe someone managed to access the Control Room and plant it directly into the company's system."

Robert immediately shook his head.

"So what exactly am I supposed to tell him when he comes back?"

"That I allowed the biggest company in the world to be destroyed?"

"That everything will disappear in less than twenty-four hours?"

He paced around the room anxiously.

"There has to be someone."

"Call every cybersecurity expert."

"Call every professional hacker."

"I don't care how much it costs."

"Find someone who can stop this!"

Lucas nodded immediately.

"Yes, sir."

Without wasting another second, he began making phone calls.

---

At that exact moment...

Five luxurious black vehicles pulled up in front of A.L.T. Company.

Security guards immediately rushed forward.

The middle car came to a stop.

One of the guards opened the rear door.

A polished black leather shoe touched the ground.

Then...

Alexander Kim stepped out.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

He adjusted the sleeve of his tailored black suit before walking toward the entrance with calm, confident strides.

The moment he entered the building...

Silence.

Every employee stopped what they were doing.

"Welcome back, sir."

Their voices echoed through the lobby.

Alexander simply gave a small nod.

He didn't need to speak.

His presence alone commanded respect.

Everyone secretly admired him.

He was breathtakingly handsome.

His silky black hair was perfectly styled.

His sharp jawline and straight nose looked as though they had been sculpted by hand.

A tattoo peeked out from the side of his neck, making him look even more intimidating.

His only the one that as tattoos in the entire company.

And then there were his eyes.

Cold.

Piercing.

Captivating.

His grey eyes seemed capable of seeing through anyone.

Standing well over six feet tall with a perfectly built physique, he looked less like a businessman and more like a model.

Every woman's dream.

Without sparing anyone another glance, he walked toward the private elevator.

"Oh my God..."

Freda whispered.

"It's been four months since he was last here."

Dora sighed dreamily.

"I almost forgot how unbelievably handsome he is in person."

---

Back in the Control Room...

Lucas had just finished calling every cybersecurity expert he could think of.

"When will they get here?" Robert asked impatiently.

"In about thirty minutes."

Lucas finally let out a relieved breath.

Robert nodded.

"Good."

Maybe...

Just maybe...

They still had a chance.

Suddenly...

The door opened.

Everyone turned toward it.

The person Robert least wanted to face at that moment walked into the room.

Every employee immediately stood to their feet.

"Welcome back, sir."

Alexander nodded once before walking straight toward the giant display screen.

His eyes remained fixed on the countdown.

Then he spoke.

His deep, calm voice instantly silenced the room.

"What's going on?"

Lucas swallowed hard.

"Sir..."

"A virus has been implanted into our system."

"If we fail to stop it before the countdown reaches zero..."

"The entire company's database will be erased."

Alexander slowly turned toward Robert.

His expression remained unreadable.

"So..."

"I leave my company in your hands for four months..."

"And I return to find it on the verge of destruction."

Robert's legs almost gave way.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"I don't know how this happened."

"Our security systems have always been extremely tight."

"But..."

"I'm certain whoever planted this virus must be someone inside the company."

Alexander remained silent for a few seconds.

Then his eyes returned to the countdown.

"Have you contacted outside professionals?"

"Yes, sir."

"They'll arrive within thirty minutes."

Alexander nodded once.

"Check the CCTV footage."

"We already did," Robert replied quietly.

"It was erased."

For the first time...

Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly.

Whoever had done this...

Wasn't ordinary.

---

Jessica stood frozen near the back of the room.

So...

This is Alexander Kim?

She had spent months trying to see him.

Yet today was the very first time.

And now that he stood only a few feet away...

She realized something.

He was far more intimidating than she had imagined.

The confidence she'd built over the past three months disappeared completely.

For the first time...

She was afraid.

At the Smith Mansion

"Aurora!!"

Natasha's voice thundered from downstairs.

I immediately stopped what I was doing.

"Yes, ma'am!"

I hurried downstairs, finding Natasha standing in the living room with an irritated expression on her face.

"I want you to take this bag to Jessica at the company. These are some of her personal belongings, and she'll need them."

She shoved the bag into my hands.

"Take this card too. It's an entry pass."

She paused, then pointed toward the door.

"You can take my driver with you. And don't be late."

Before I could even respond, she turned around and walked away.

I stared at the bag in my hands.

Then I looked toward the direction she had disappeared.

"Okay..."

I blinked.

"Not even a 'thank you,' huh?"

I sighed before looking down at the entry card.

But then...

A slow smile spread across my face.

"You know what?"

I shrugged.

"I'm not actually angry."

I looked toward the huge windows overlooking the estate.

"I could use this opportunity to look at the house I already applied for."

My smile widened.

"Till the end of this week, I'll finally be out of this place."

The thought alone made my heart race.

Freedom.

I could almost taste it.

After years of being treated like a servant in my own home, I was finally going to leave.

I didn't know exactly what awaited me outside those gates.

But honestly?

I couldn't wait to find out.

"Hmm..."

I tapped my chin thoughtfully.

"I wonder what kind of adventure will be waiting for me at the company."

My eyes suddenly lit up.

"Wait..."

I grinned.

"I should definitely use this opportunity to explore the building."

A.L.T. Company.

The biggest company in the world.

And somehow...

I was actually going there.

I grabbed my things and practically ran out of the mansion.

For once, I wasn't walking out of those gates because someone had ordered me to clean something.

I was going somewhere.

Somewhere new.

And I had absolutely no idea that stepping into A.L.T. Company would change my life forever.