Alicia

By the time the elevator had reached the ground floor, the tears had dried up but my heart laid in pieces. I trudged out into the evening air, the sun just beginning to descend into the horizon. Everyone went about their business, the city in full rush hour mode. I wanted to scream at the normalcy of it all. How could behave like nothing was wrong when my life had been completely upended?

But I didn't scream. Numb to it all, I hailed a cab, told the driver where to go and wound up in front of my apartment. I remembered all the steps to getting there but it was like someone else was doing it for me.

By the time I entered into number 819, my arms were tired from carrying my purse and laptop bag. Though I don't think it was because of the weight.

Cameron sat in the kitchen, writing in a notebook. "Hey," she said, not looking up.

I didn't have it in me to respond. Dropping my stuff on the floor, I start for my bedroom, hoping I can get in before Cameron sees something is up.

"Are you really just going to leave your stuff there?"

I stopped. I bit down on my lip to stop a sob from breaking out. I wanted to say that I would pick it up later but the second I tried to form a word, the flood gates opened. Burying my face into my hands, I let it all out.

"Woah," Cameron said, placing hand on my shoulder. "Sorry if I came across harsh. You don't have to clean it up right now."

I shook my head. I rasped out one word. "Colin."

Cameron's hand stilled. "I think we better sit down." Leading me to the couch, she sat down beside me, hands clasped in her lap. "Now, start from the beginning. I'll try my best not to interrupt otherwise I may go running out of her to rip him a new one."

A laugh mingled with my sobs. I knew Cameron enough to know she was only half-joking. Where to start? At the beginning she said. So I recounted the history I shared with Colin. Everything from him helping me with my project to the awful night at prom where I sold him out just to save face.

Cameron amazingly stayed quiet, giving nothing away on her face. Then I got to the part about what was going on with CyberSecure. Now that I was fired, I wasn't too worried about breaking company confidentiality.

By the time I was finished, I sat back into the cushions, feeling lighter than I had in days. If I had known how freeing it would be to talk about my problems, I would have done it weeks ago.

"Well," Cameron said, staring at a spot over my shoulder, "I still want to strangle him but slightly less."

I snorted then grabbed a tissue and blew my nose. "I don't know what's worse. Losing Hope Digital or losing my friendship with Colin."

"Friendship? Girl, you guys were totally beyond the friend-zone. And might I add, that he destroyed it by himself. You need to say 'see you later' and move on."

Cameron wasn't wrong. But how to explain that by losing his trust in me, he would be even farther from trusting God?

"I am curious though." Cameron tapped her chin in thought. "If you didn't trash Colin's office and Casey didn't, then who did?"

I shrugged. "I really don't know. Casey and I were the only ones not present during the fire alarm. Everyone else was accounted for. It must be an outside job."

"Maybe," Cameron said, but she didn't sound convinced. "Back to the task at hand. What are you going to do about Hope Digital?"

That was the question I dreaded to face. The bank gave me a three month extension but I currently had no client. And I'm sure Colin had called Faust by now telling him how he had to fire me for trying to steal company property. Not exactly a glowing recommendation. "It's time I accepted that this is the end of Hope Digital." Just having to say it out loud almost brought a fresh wave of tears.

Even Cameron's eyes were tearing up a little. "I'm sorry Alicia, I wish there was more I could do."

I reached out and squeezed her hand. "You've done so much just by listening. Never underestimate that."

My piano ringtone began to play and I stiffened in response, wondering if Colin had changed his mind about having me arrested. Going back to the door, I picked up my purse and found my phone. I breathed in relief when I saw it wasn't Colin. "Hi Erica, it's not really a good time."

"Uh oh, what's wrong?" she said in her mother-like voice.

"Nothing's wrong," I tried to assure her. "I got company stuff going on."

Erica let out this long winded sigh. "Alicia, when are you going to learn to ask for help?"

I bristled at her tone. I was not in the mood to be reprimanded. "You don't know what you're talking about Erica. I can't afford to pay someone to help me."

"You don't need to pay someone when your own dad is a CPA or have you forgotten?"

"How could I forget?" I snapped. "You remind me all the time. And knowing Dad he'd probably charge me double."

Erica scoffed and I could envision the shaking of her head at me.

"You say Dad is not willing to give you a chance to see who you really are. But Alicia, can't you see that you're doing the exact same thing?"

I almost hung up right then and there. Mostly because I didn't have an answer. Erica's words stung. More than I was willing to admit. I've already been accused once today for something I didn't do. I didn't need my sister doing the same. "Are you done?"

My rudeness must have shocked her because instead of answering she ended the call. And here I had thought my day couldn't have gotten any worse.

"I take it that didn't go well."

I ignored Cameron. If I opened my mouth again I would just end up snapping at her as well. "I need to book a meeting with the bank." I said this more to myself than to Cameron.

"What for?"

"To try and salvage what I can of Hope Digital." And to prove to Erica that I don't need Dad's help. I've gotten this far without him, haven't I? I won't quit now.

+++

Colin

I couldn't go back into the office. The image of Alicia standing there, destroyed by my words, had been burned into my mind. The office was compromised anyway. And if Rowan found and removed the bug then whoever was behind this whole blasted affair would know that we were on to them.

So I took the day off. I hadn't taken a day off in years. I could only imagine how fast the gossip mill was spinning right now around the office. Casey was hardly one to talk but the fact that Alicia had disappeared without a trace as well as my own absence. Well...it didn't take much to the imagination to put two and two together.

I should have felt immense relief that we were onto the real insider and getting closer to capturing them. But all I felt inside was guilt. Will it be worth the price of saving my company from what I had to do to Alicia to get it? My conscience told me no.

Hiding away in my apartment almost drove me to insanity, but I knew if I left, I would end up jumping in my car and driving as fast as I could to Alicia's apartment and beg her to forgive me. But Rowan gave me implicit instructions not to do anything or talk to anyone until this whole debacle was resolved.

I had a couple of missed calls from my mom but I refused to return them. She was probably wondering why Alicia turned down her offer for a visit. Knowing Mom, she probably thought it was my fault. I texted her instead that I was extremely busy with work and couldn't talk. A bold faced lie if I ever saw one but Mom would only persist until I gave her the whole story. One I did not plan on sharing. She would only confirm how terribly I treated Alicia.

Friday dragged by. I was relieved when Saturday came and I could head over for my Muay Thai lesson. I would be a poor sport for Anthony but at least I could get my mind off things for an hour.

Changed and warmed up, I met Anthony in the ring. For once, my focus felt dead on. I let everything fall away until it was only Anthony and me. We started with our customary routine of trading jabs, testing where the other was at. Out of know where, he went for a low sweep, trying to knock my feet out from under me. Anticipating it, I jumped to dodge. With his body now low to the ground, I took advantage by aiming for his head. He ducks to avoid but it left him off-balance. Seeing my chance, I'm able to jump on top of him and pin him.

Anthony tapped the floor in defeat. "Not bad. I don't think I've ever seen you this intense. You must have dealt with those demons from last time."

Hardly, if anything I felt like the demons were closing in even more. I shake my body out, feeling the adrenaline coursing through every vein.

"You need to lay off the coffee, it's making you jittery."

I chuckled at Anthony's observation. "I probably wouldn't drink so much if I didn't have an assistant so available to go grab me some." The minute the words left my mouth, I froze. I replayed the day of the fire alarm in my head. It could be nothing but I may had just figured out who pulled the alarm.

I duck out of the ring and immediately head to the change rooms. "Sorry Anthony, I gotta run." Before throwing my stuff off, I scramble to find my phone in my gym bag. I immediately placed a call. "Rowan, I think I finally figured out who our insider is."