Reborn in 1994: Internet Empire

36 Infiltration successful?

The group looked at the young man before they gobsmacked at the situation that they found themselves in.

       “Hold on a minute, please repeat what you just said,” said Max who was still having a hard time wrapping his head around the situation.

       “Uh, right… I’d like to apply for a position in your company?” said the young Ivan Perez, who looked at the group hopefully, if not a little on edge.

       “You’re serious?” Trae asked.

       “Y-yeah?”

       “Wait! Wait! This is almost too convenient!” Charlie exclaimed. “There’s no way that our name spread that far overnight! We just signed the papers with our clients, both in and out of school,” he said trying to keep their affairs discreet in front of the nonmember.

       “M-maybe we should listen to what he has to say,” Lina added meekly.

“Yeah! Let’s hear him out! How about it Max?” Jules added as well.

Max looked at the young man up and down. He was exactly how he looked in their pictures, save for differences in the length of his hair. He gave a sigh and smiled at Ivan.

“Alright! Let’s hear it then,” Max exclaimed. “I’ll interview you outside. The rest of you can continue work as usual,” he said, gesturing for the others to get back to work. 

“Ah, alright,” the young man said, as he fidgeted nervously.

The two stepped out of the room and headed into the empty hallway of the fine arts building. Max leaned on the wall opposite the door of the room they had just exited. He crossed his arms and looked over at the young man who looked as if he was distracted by literally all the noises that were made in that area. Max looked at him skeptically but tried to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“Alright, so you’re Ivan Perez,” Max said. “You feeling ok?”

“Y-yeah! I’m fine, why?” Ivan said, clearly still traumatized from his jarring experience the night before.

“Well, it’s just that you seem a little bit jumpy today,”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s just because I’ve had the shivers for a while. I’m sure they will go away soon!”

“Hmm, well alright. Anyway, I’ll be honest, we have actually been eyeing to recruit you into our team.”

It was just as the man from last night said, Ivan thought.

“So, we know that you are quite the visionary when it comes to the management of a company. That’s why we have been wondering if you would join our team as our business consultant,” Max said, as a matter of factly as he could.

“Yes, I think I would make a great addition to your team,” Ivan said, as he rubbed his stomach as it was still aching from the beating it took the night before.

       Max instantly noticed this but proceeded as normal with the interview.

       “How would you be able to help us with the skills that you have?”

       “Well, I am well versed, as you said, in business planning and decision making. I can help you make plans for the long term, as well as recommend to you particular areas to either invest in or avoid altogether. I am also capable of sharing the load in decision making for where the money goes, that way we are sure to make the right decisions,” Ivan said.

       Max noticed that the second Ivan started to talk about business, his meek persona left him, as if he went into some sort of zone. This persona came back quite quickly though as he noticed a bee started to circle around him. This aside, Max knew that there was definitely something special about this guy. However, there was just this aura of suspicion that Max just couldn’t seem to shake. And it was especially palpable whenever he would see Ivan rub his stomach. It was almost as if he was clawing into it because of some sort of pain. He knew this because he was subject to intense physical training during his time as Matty. Every government position was required to take some sort of martial arts training. And since he was probably the most important figure in terms of security for that particular government's technology, and information, he was subject to a far more brutal regimen. He was sure at that point that was made because of some sort of blow that was delivered into his stomach.

       “Well, that is indeed impressive… And exactly what we are looking for!” Max said as he reached his hand out to shake Ivan’s.

      Ivan jumped back in shock, before meekly reaching out to meet Max’s hand. His handshake was weak and trembling. There was definitely something off about Ivan. Max knew this already, but he just had to make sure to take as much information as he could.

       “By the way, Ivan. Is there something wrong with your stomach? It seems like it’s bothering you,” Max said, laying his trap.

       The youth started to break a sweat, and could not meet eye contact. But stubbornly he tried to cover it up with simple “I’m fines” and “It’s no big deals”. It was clearly not fine, and it was definitely a big deal. Nevertheless, Max ceased his probing and patted Ivan on the back. He jumped again, but Max continued.

       “Well, then we will work on getting you a place in our room! For now, give us some time to prepare alright? Come back in a couple of days!” he said, feigning his excitement effortlessly.

       Ivan sort of forced a smile back, and turned to walk away, mumbling a quiet thank you.

       It was all over Ivan’s face. Max had the odd feeling that he was being coerced into this in some way. The evidence made things too obvious. Physical pain from violence shown through the occasional wince of pain. Anxiety and paranoia that could only come from a recent trauma. Not being able to look Max in the eyes when asked about that specific pain. Max could conclude that Ivan was forced into joining the group. And the fact that it was done in such a brutal manner, could only mean that this outside third party wanted to do harm to XeMillion and Co. That or, one of its members. Max still had to piece things together as this evidence was not enough to conclude the motive of their newest member. But nevertheless, Max was aware of what was going on, and he was not about to let some outside group get in the way of the hard work of all of his friends. For now, Max reentered the room and continued with his daily duties.

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       Ivan walked over to the end of the hallway and stopped at the top of the stairs. He looked around to make sure that there was no one within earshot. Luckily for him, there was no one at the top floor, aside from the people in the company that he had just applied for. However, he knew that they were already busy working on whatever it is that they needed to do for the day. So in that regard, he was in the clear. He pulled out an earpiece that was just hiding behind his collar. The entire conversation had been recorded by the Wolfpack, just as insurance that Ivan would not try and ask for help. He put the earpiece into his ear and spoke into the microphone.

       “H-hello?”

       “Ivan, we heard everything. Good work,” Jasper said at the other end of the line.

       “Uh, so what do you want me to do next?”

       “I’m sure you should have noticed the girl with the red hair.”

       Ivan tried to remember the people in the room and recognized one. There was no mistaking it with her vibrant red hair.

       “Yes sir,”

       “That is our target. After you lead her to the area that we instruct you, you will be scot-free and you will never have to worry about us again. Do you understand?”

       Ivan nodded as if they could see him and acknowledged the question.

       “Understood sir,”

       “Good. We will run you through the plan again in two days before you lead the girl to the place we tell you. You have until then to get closer to the girl. Don’t disappoint us,” he said, as the end transmission sound rang into Ivan’s ear.

       Ivan sighed and sat on the steps of the top floor staircase, pressing his face into his thighs and hugging his knees. He began to tremble at the thought of what he was about to do. He had no idea what would become of the girl whom the Wolfpack was trying to kidnap. However, he had to do what he could in order to survive. There was no way that he was about to let himself die. It was just that his decision to survive came at the direct expense of the life of someone else. For a moment, he battled with his morals. But at the end of it, he sighed and walked away, preparing himself for the decision to have one of his future co-employees kidnapped.