"Eve," Oscar said, eyes locking onto hers, "we got a new interesting job."
The mont the words left his mouth, Evelyn’s expression changed. Surprise flickered across her face, followed quickly by guilt.
Since the accident, she had been completely disconnected from everything related to work.
Her laptop remained shut in her office, untouched. The underground network she once navigated with ease had faded into the background of her life, replaced by physiotherapy schedules, pain dication, and quiet afternoons spent watching Oliver playing in the backyard garden.
Even the new phone Axel had given her still sat inside its box on the bedside table, pristine and unused.
She simply had not found the emotional space to open it.
Healing her body had been one battle. Healing her mind after losing the baby had been another entirely.
Evelyn exhaled slowly. "Sorry, Oscar. I haven’t had ti to check on our work."
Oscar’s expression softened, though his voice remained calm. "I know. That’s why I checked the email myself."
A bitter smile tugged at Evelyn’s lips.
"Then it must be quite the job if you look both shocked and excited at the sa ti."
Oscar nodded quickly. Then, as if instinctively reverting to their old habits, he glanced around the clinic.
The trainer had already left. Jimmy was nowhere in sight. The hallway was quiet.
Satisfied, Oscar leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"Soone asked us to investigate Axel Knight," he whispered. "They want his weaknesses."
Silence descended like a blade.
Evelyn froze. For a heartbeat, she wondered if she had misheard him.
"What are you saying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Oscar leaned back slightly and rolled his eyes. "You heard the first ti. I’m not repeating it out loud. And before you ask, yes, they’re willing to pay whatever we ask."
Evelyn blinked slowly, trying to process it.
"Soone wants to investigate Axel... and they ca through ?" Her mind imdiately went to Lexxy, the alias she used in the underground world.
Only a handful of people knew that identity. Fewer still knew how to contact her. And those who did usually ca only when every other hacker had failed.
If soone had managed to trace Lexxy, that ant they were either very desperate... or very dangerous.
"Do you know who it is?" she asked.
Oscar nodded. "Of course I know. But I’m certain they’re not the end client. Just a middleman. If you want, I can dig deeper."
Evelyn leaned back against the sofa, her eyes unfocused as thoughts began to race.
Soone wants information on Axel Knight. Her husband. The man who controlled half the city’s invisible power structures. The man who would burn a country to the ground for her if given reason.
After a long mont, she turned her gaze back to Oscar.
"They’re not from this country, are they?"
"Nope," Oscar replied. "Another country. One of my old clients, actually. Well... soone who once used my talent. You know what I an."
"I see." Evelyn nodded slowly.
She knew Oscar’s reputation in the hacker community. People ca to him when they wanted miracles. When they wanted governnts cracked, corporations bled, or ghosts traced in digital dust. If one of his forr high-profile contacts was involved, this wasn’t a casual curiosity. This was a calculated move.
Oscar observed her closely and cautiously.
"So," he asked, voice gentler now, "what are your thoughts on this matter? Do you want to accept it, or should I investigate the real client first?"
Evelyn shook her head slowly.
"Eve, that’s not the response I expected." Oscar was taken aback.
"Because those aren’t the options I’m considering," she replied.
Oscar leaned back, trying to lighten the mood again. "You’re confusing , my good friend. This is an easy job for . We na a ridiculous price, accept the request, and I give them trivial information about your husband. Stuff like his favorite wine or how many hours he sleeps. Boom. Money fard. Client satisfied. No harm done."
Evelyn stared at him. Then she sighs deeply before calling him coldly, "Oscar."
"Oh, why do you look angry at ?" he muttered.
"I’m not angry," she said, her tone sharpening. "I’m thinking. Thoroughly."
The playful grin slid off Oscar’s face. He sat upright, giving her his full attention.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Tell what you’re thinking."
Evelyn took a slow breath.
"If soone wants to investigate Axel... it ans they’re planning sothing against him, and it could be for business, revenge, or war. If I ignore their plan and let them harm my husband, I won’t forgive myself for only sitting comfortably and watching."
She continued, "And if I accept the job and feed them false information, I still leave a trail that points back to . If Axel ever finds out soone tried to dig into him through my network... he will start digging, and we will be exposed. He will start asking questions."
"And when Axel starts asking questions, people will be in trouble..." Oscar smirked, hearing his own words.
"Exactly," Evelyn said. "I don’t want him to be suspicious of you. Or of ."
Oscar rubbed his forehead. "Oh, fuck. How did I not think that far ahead?"
"Because your first instinct is always profit," she teased lightly, though her eyes remained serious.
"Hey," he protested, "profit and chaos. Don’t forget chaos."
Evelyn can’t help but chuckle. The tension around them eased briefly.
"But there’s more," she continued. "If I warn Axel, he will go on high alert. He’ll start hunting whoever is behind this. But if I say nothing and sothing happens later... And I will never forgive myself."
Oscar stared at her, impressed and worried at the sa ti.
"You married Axel Knight, but you still think like a strategist. Terrifying combination."
"Cos with the trauma package," she replied dryly.
Oscar exhaled slowly. "So what do you want to do?"
Evelyn gazed through the large clinic window, taking in the tranquil beauty of the Valley beyond as she considered her next step.
Reviews
All reviews (0)