...Damian

I sit at the head of the conference table, my finger pressed to my pounding temple, listening to Jared, one of the financial advisors, go on about God knows what. My mind was simply no where here in the room.

I detested mid-morning meetings. My gaze drifts to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the day and the city beyond the windows continue on as I watch birds and planes fly in the sky in the distance.

I listen sparingly as he goes over the reports for this quarter and makes his suggestions. I nod as he waits for me to give him the go-ahead to present it. I insist on being elbow deep in my company's activities. I want to ensure that things run smoothly even it means personally tracking down the hacker that has a posed a threat to it. It was mine.

"This year's quarters reports were very favorable," Jared continued, pointing to the large screen on the wall filled with graphs and charts.

I had already been through the reports but for shits and giggles, I decided to torture myself and sit through it because I have nothing better to do with my time. I get caught up in the petty cycle of my memories of what went down yesterday with the hacker. I'm still livid that somewhere out there he is living it up and probably spending that money. But Drew assured me that that cant be the case when a large sum of money like that is funneled out of an account. They lay low for a while before sparingly withdrawing it.

My phone suddenly vibrates in coat pocket. I pull it out, unlock the screen, and look at the urgent message.

DREW: NEED YOU NOW. I'm in Henry's office.

I rose from my chair. Jared stumbled over his speech and paused to look at me.

"Sorry. I have to take a call. I will only be a second."

I strode out of the conference room and made my way down the halls all the way back to Henry's office. I stepped into the office without knocking into an atmosphere of nervous tension, a pacing Drew and his hacker siting side be side with Henry.

"What have you got?" I look at the multiple screens illuminated on the desk.

"We got the hacker." Dean says as he continues tapping away at his keyboard.

"What? Are you serious?" hope blooms in my chest.

"We can't sing victory yet until we are sure it's them. It's just a trojan cruising the system." Henry adds.

"They are very clever I can tell you that. Very impressive," Dean gloats before his face falls as I glare at him.

"Have they hacked anything?"

"Nope." Dean blurts out.

Fuck.

"It is strange, though." He looks at me, adjusting his glasses.

Drew stops to look at him.

"In what way?" Drew frowns.

"They are just roaming around the system. Not checking files, not accessing anything. As if..." he paused and stared at his screen skeptically.

"As if what?" my patience wanes.

"As if they want to be caught," Drew says at my side.

I shake my head. That can't be possible.

"Why?"

All three of them exchange glances, unable to answer. Why would they want to get caught?

"But don't worry I got a tracer. I've been fine-tuning it for some time and it's on them." Dean straightens up in his chair and continues typing.

I stand with my gut tightening as a map of the metropolitan area lights up the screen with a green dot glowing. He was here in the city, that was for sure.

Dean tapped then swiped the screen, mumbling to himself. I watched as they zoomed around my system.

"Got him?" Dean shouted.

I jumped. And stepped behind his chair.

"Where?" Drew asked as he took his phone out of his pocket and began dialing. He looked up and told Drew the location.

"Gina's coffee shop downtown."

I stand by and watch as Drew begins walking to the door as he gives orders.

I follow him as he heads out the door.

"Where are you going?" he stops mid-stride to look at me.

"We agreed that I get to be there when you find the hacker."

"Damien...." He begins.

"No, you agreed. You can't back down."

Drew sighs as he pinches the bridge to his nose. He is deflecting. Looking for ways to keeping me from going.

"I'll follow you regardless," I warn as his jaw clenches in frustration.

"Fine."

Satisfied, I reach for my phone and instruct my driver to meet me at Drew's job as I follow him out until we are in his car. His phone rings and he answered it. I sit back and listen as its confirmed that they have the hacker.

"You sure its them?" he frowns and remains quiet as he listens.

"Take'em to the station for questioning. I am on my way."

We sit in silence as we make it to the city's business district. Anxiousness claws its way through me as his car pulls up to their underground parking and I follow him in through multiple checkpoints of security.

We make it out of the elevator on to the third-floor level to a swanky area with offices with see through glass windows.

"Stay here," he orders, pointing towards some chairs in a corner. He must be kidding, talking to me as if I'm some kid. I watch him walk past a couple of offices and walk into a room. I can't make out the person sitting in the chair as he leans over the desk and begins talking.

Impatiently, I pace as he says something to the guys in the room and they leave and exit in the opposite direction. I am getting anxious and want to know what's taking so long. Minutes pass by that feel like an eternity as it seems like Drew isn't getting anything as he paces.

Fuck this! it's my company. I should be asking the questions.

I storm off down the hall and make my way to the office and I watch as Drew's eyes grow big as he tries to block the door and keep me from coming in. But it's too late. He steps away and faces the window.

I stumbled to a halt before the table in the room. I frowned as the person sitting in the chair's head jerked up, and our eyes collided.

It was a girl.