Elara's lips curved upward. "Your analysis is on the right track."Theodore said, "Which means I didn't get it completely right."Elara replied, "I just analyzed the internal network data. Company information has been flowing to Price Nation headquarters every day. Priscilla has been monitoring Quantum Tech's data all along."On the other side, someone without Priscilla's level of access has been smuggling Quantum Tech's data out bit by bit."The car's interior lights were off, and neon glow from outside filtered in, casting an ethereal quality over Theodore's face. When they hit a red light up ahead, the car stopped, and Theodore turned to look at Elara in the passenger seat.He couldn't find any trace of worry on her profile, not even a hint of fatigue. Theodore broke into a grin. "You're excited.""Isn't this more interesting?" Elara countered. "Long-term data research is incredibly tedious. I knew Priscilla would challenge me, but I didn't expect someone else to join in too."
Elara raised an eyebrow at Theodore, the corners of her eyes lifting with a hint of allure."Sorry," she said. "I know you want to help, but this is an internal Quantum Tech matter. I'd rather use my own people to handle it."Theodore replied, "You're right. After all, I'm not your man yet."The two staff members standing nearby looked like they wanted to disappear into the floor. Did Theodore realize what he was saying? Had they just overheard something they shouldn't have?So, the renowned heir from the Snapp family wasn't their boss's man yet?Though these two employees had been stuck watching monitors in the surveillance room since they were hired, they hadn't missed a single piece of gossip about their CEO.Elara shot Theodore a look. Compared to"I'm your man", saying "I'm not your man yet" sounded even more suggestive.Elara set up her laptop on the desk. The two employees watched as she inserted a USB drive into the computer. The drive had Quantum Tech's logo on it, marki
"Should we do a sweep of the building?" Theodore asked her.Elara controlled the mouse with one hand as she checked earlier surveillance footage."No need to make a big deal out of catching one little mouse. Anyone who can hack three floors of surveillance probably has a team backing them up."The two duty personnel standing nearby still looked confused. One of them asked, "Ms. Jones, what exactly is happening?"They didn't quite understand the conversation between Elara and Theodore. As people specifically responsible for monitoring surveillance at the company, they naturally had some knowledge of programming code.They considered themselves graduates of prestigious universities with computer science degrees, making surveillance work at Quantum Tech completely beneath their qualifications.Just an hour ago, they'd been complaining about their stalled careers. Here they were, honor students from top universities earning nearly eight grand a month, yet stuck watching monitors in a
"The surveillance can't be down," Elara said without thinking.Theodore shrugged his shoulders, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at her.Elara sensed something was wrong. She pulled out her phone and opened the app she'd developed for the company. She pressed a button, and all the unlocked exits throughout the building activated their closing procedures.She then pressed the button for the third floor, where the security control room was located. Theodore accompanied her into the monitoring room, and the security guard on duty looked at them with confusion.The guard stared at Elara's face, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Ms. Jones? You're still at the company?"The security guards in the monitoring room had never seen Elara in person, but they'd received training after being hired and recognized some of the leadership team's faces.Elara asked the duty personnel, "Have you noticed anything unusual?"The duty personnel shook their heads in confusion. "No. Eve
Elara ate the late-night snack Theodore had brought, unable to help but marvel, "Your cooking has improved so much."Theodore smiled. "How does it compare to Finnegan's?"Before Elara could answer, Theodore realized what he'd said and corrected himself, "Sorry, I shouldn't compare myself to your brother. We're not really in the same league."He spoke self-deprecatingly but without any real sense of inferiority.She said, "My brother shaped my taste preferences, so it's hard to make that comparison. I can only say that what you're cooking now really suits my palate."Theodore's lips curved upward as he said, "I don't have anywhere to go tonight. You don't mind if I stay here to keep you company, do you?"Elara simply told him, "Suit yourself."After she finished eating, she continued working. When she looked up during her late-night work session, she saw Theodore leaning back on the couch. At some point, he'd put on a face mask and appeared to be asleep.Falling asleep with a fa
Elara's hand holding the phone began to feel weak and tingly. She took a deep breath and told herself not to fall for Theodore's charm so easily."Maybe by the time you get here, I won't need it anymore."Theodore's message appeared almost instantly. "I'm downstairs at your building."Elara's hand trembled. She instinctively glanced toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, though of course, from her height and angle, she couldn't see Theodore down below.She asked warily, "What are you doing here?"An answer had already formed in her mind. "A booty call delivery!"Guys who came on too strong seemed desperate. And desperate men held no allure or challenge.Theodore sent a photo of the lunch container in his hands. "Brought you a late-night snack. I already had the front desk help send it up to you."Wait, that was it? He was just leaving? He'd only come to drop off a snack?Like someone tossing a stone into still water, the thought that Theodore had handed the food to the front des