Evelyn returned to her desk, coffee in hand, and tried to shake off the tension from her first meeting with Xander. She placed the cup down carefully, lining it up with the edge of her folder. Even small details seemed important here; she reminded herself that observation was part of the job.
She picked up a pen and made a note in her small notebook. Check security logs. Compare schedule with visitor entries. Watch Xander's patterns.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she said, trying to sound casual.
The intern from earlier poked his head through the door. "Ms. Hart, Mr. Voss asked if you could pull the reports for the East Wing project. He wants them ready in twenty minutes."
"Of course," Evelyn said, keeping her voice steady. "Thank you."
As he left, she glanced at the pile of papers. Each folder had a label, a date, even a small colored tab. It felt almost too precise. She made a note: Notice patterns in folder handling. Something about the organization felt too perfect, too controlled.
Xander's voice came from the hall before she could even knock. "Ms. Hart."
She turned. He was leaning against the doorway, hands in his pockets, watching her. "Yes, sir?"
"Check these reports carefully. I want any small errors flagged immediately." His tone was calm, but it carried weight. Every word seemed to demand complete attention.
"Yes, sir. I'll review them now."
He didn't move, just watched her begin. "Do you ever miss mistakes when you're focused?" he asked.
Evelyn paused, pen hovering over the paper. "Sometimes. It happens if I'm rushing."
He nodded once. "Good. Don't rush here. The details matter." He turned and walked away, leaving her with a small shiver running down her spine. Not fear, exactly, but awareness. Everything he said felt like a test.
She opened the first folder and began scanning line by line. The office was quiet except for the faint tapping of her pen against the table. She noticed the way Xander's laptop screen angled slightly to hide his information from side views. The security camera in the corner of the room rotated just enough to cover the entrance but left a small blind spot at the corner of the desk.
Noted, she wrote. Check blind spots, compare logs.
A soft buzz interrupted her. Her phone displayed a message from Scotland Yard: New partner assigned. Ryan Cole. Shadow her first day. Evelyn froze.
Shadow her? She typed a quick reply: Understood.
She put the phone down quickly when Xander returned, holding another folder.
"Ms. Hart," he said, voice even. "I noticed some inconsistencies in last week's East Wing reports. Can you check this and confirm the numbers match?"
"Of course, sir." She moved closer, careful to avoid the blind spot of the camera he always seemed to watch.
He leaned over slightly, glancing at the folder. "Don't just correct them. Find the reason. I want to know why they happened in the first place."
Evelyn nodded. "Yes, sir. I'll double-check everything."
He straightened and gave a small nod. "Good. And… Ms. Hart?"
"Yes?"
"Keep your eyes open. Not just on the files. People make mistakes too."
She swallowed, wondering if he meant his employees or her.
As he walked away, she jotted down another note: Observe people, behavior, patterns. Watch reactions. Every word he said seemed layered, a hint, a test, or a warning.
Her next task was simple on paper: organize the incoming emails and schedule meetings for the next two days. She started typing, noting timestamps, subjects, and the sender's reactions when Xander replied. Even the tone of the emails seemed like it could tell a story if she paid attention.
A knock came again, this time from the open doorway. "Ms. Hart, you have a delivery."
She stood, walking toward the courier. "Thank you," she said, signing the clipboard. Inside the package was a set of binders labeled Personnel Reviews. Evelyn set them on her desk and glanced around. Everything seemed normal, but she had learned not to trust appearances.
She flipped through the first binder, reading notes about employees, performance metrics, and flagged incidents. It was all very precise. Too precise. She made a note: Cross-check flagged incidents with camera logs later.
Xander appeared in the doorway again. "Are you managing everything?"
"Yes, sir," she said. "So far, everything is organized and on schedule."
"Good." His gaze lingered on her for a moment. "It's important to keep the work neat. Chaos hides mistakes."
"I understand," she said.
"Don't just understand. Remember it." He walked away, and she felt a strange mix of relief and tension. His control was subtle, everywhere, but she was learning.
A soft sound made her glance toward the window. A reflection. Someone moving in the street below, pausing near the building's entrance. She frowned. Probably nothing, she told herself, but her stomach tightened.
She returned to the emails, making notes, and then noticed a small anomaly. One email chain had been edited. She hadn't touched it, but the timestamp showed it was updated after she left her desk briefly.
Her pulse quickened. Someone is watching. Or… someone is testing me.
She tried to push it down and focus on the files, making herself visible, careful not to seem nervous. She could feel the weight of the office, the hidden eyes, the control everywhere. She reminded herself: stay alert, stay calm, stay undercover.
Another knock at the door. "Ms. Hart?"
"Yes?"
A junior employee poked her head in. "Mr. Voss asked if you could take a quick coffee run. He's in a call."
Evelyn forced a smile. "Of course. Thank you."
As she walked toward the kitchen, she kept her eyes open for anything unusual. Every step, every glance, every movement was data. The world around Xander was precise, controlled, but cracks appeared if she looked closely.
Returning with the coffee, she placed it on his desk without a word. He barely looked up, taking it with a calm nod. "Thank you. Attention to detail is noticed."
"Yes, sir," she said softly.
She stepped back, straightening her posture, reminding herself: the mission comes first. Observation. Evidence. Survive. No distractions.
A soft beep from her phone drew her attention. Another message from Scotland Yard: Ryan Cole may contact you later today. Keep him updated, but maintain cover.
Evelyn felt a shiver. Ryan Cole. She hadn't met him yet, but knowing someone else was watching, someone from her side made her uneasy.
She sat back at her desk, flipping through the binders again. Everything had a purpose, everything was observed, and yet… she couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone. Not in the office. Not anywhere in the building.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. The intern poked his head in again. "Ms. Hart, Mr. Voss wants the East Wing summary by the end of the hour."
"Understood," she said, picking up the folder. She straightened her back, feeling the tightrope she was walking between observation, obedience, and survival.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew: someone was watching her. Not just Xander, not just the office cameras but someone else.
She didn't know who yet. But soon, she would find out.