HER DARK PATH

The project

Chapter 15

The Project

The following morning, the university campus was unusually lively.

Colorful banners announcing the upcoming Convocation Week hung across the Faculty of Business. Final-year students were already discussing graduation gowns, photographs, and life after university.

For many, it was the beginning of a new chapter.

For Nadia...

It was another ordinary day.

She arrived early and headed straight to the library to borrow a few books for their business project.

As she stepped out, she saw Ethan walking toward her with two notebooks in his hand.

"I was looking for you," he said.

"You found me."

"I brought these."

He handed her one of the notebooks.

"I rewrote yesterday's meeting notes. I thought it would make our presentation easier."

Nadia flipped through the pages.

His handwriting was surprisingly neat.

"You really did all this?"

"I couldn't sleep."

She laughed.

"One day you'll have to tell me your secret."

"What secret?"

"How you survive on almost no sleep."

He smiled.

"I'll let you know when I figure it out."

They walked toward their lecture hall together.

After class, the lecturer stopped them before they could leave.

"Before you go, I have an announcement."

The room became quiet.

"Your business project presentations will begin in two weeks."

A wave of nervous whispers spread across the class.

"I expect every group to be fully prepared. This project will carry a significant percentage of your final grade."

As soon as the lecturer left, students began discussing their presentations.

Ethan turned to Nadia.

"We should meet this weekend."

She nodded.

"At the library?"

"Too many distractions."

She thought for a moment.

"There's a quiet study center a few streets from campus."

"Perfect."

"Saturday?"

"I'll be there."

Across the corridor, Vanessa watched them from a distance.

She noticed Ethan smiling again.

It irritated her.

Clara sighed.

"You're staring again."

"I know."

"You're going to drive yourself crazy."

Vanessa looked away.

"I don't understand."

"What?"

"He barely spoke to Nadia before this project."

"And now?"

"He smiles more."

"He laughs more."

"He even leaves class with her."

Clara folded her arms.

"Maybe he's just happy."

Vanessa's expression hardened.

"No."

"Something changed."

"And I'm going to change it back."

That evening, Ethan sat at his desk reviewing the project.

As he opened one of the folders on his laptop, something caught his attention.

A file...

He didn't remember creating it.

Its name was simple.

Notes

He frowned.

"I don't remember saving this."

He clicked on it.

The folder was empty.

Nothing.

Not a single document.

Ethan stared at the screen.

He was certain the folder hadn't been there before.

He opened the system log and checked the creation time.

Yesterday.

His smile disappeared.

"So..."

"I wasn't imagining it."

Someone really had accessed his laptop.

Who?

And more importantly...

Why?

He quickly disconnected his laptop from the internet and began running a deeper security scan using software he had written himself.

Across the city, Vanessa's phone buzzed.

A message appeared.

Access failed.

She frowned.

"So he's already noticed."

She deleted the message immediately.

"You're smarter than I expected, Ethan."

She looked out the window, a slow smile forming on her lips.

"But this isn't over."

Far away, hidden in the darkness of an abandoned building, a phone rang.

A gloved hand answered the call.

"The investigation is getting closer," a voice said.

The figure remained silent.

"Should we move forward?"

After a long pause, the figure spoke only two words.

"Not yet."

The call ended.

The room fell silent once again.

Only the faint outline of a silver raven could be seen resting on a nearby table.