The Mysterious Nerd

Chapter - 6: Unwritten Agreements

I watched the clouds roll over the skyline, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over me. Alana was already at her desk, the one I'd carefully chosen. From where I sat, I had a perfect view of her through the glass partition. I told myself it was to keep an eye on her progress—nothing more. But there was a knot in my chest I couldn't quite explain. She was so defensive, like a stray cat always ready to bolt. I didn't know why I cared, but I couldn't shake it.

Alana didn't know yet. She didn't realize I could see everything. Not just her physical movements, but the way she interacted with the people around her, the way she buried herself in the work I gave her, blocking out the world. She was focused now, eyes glued to the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Ricky had been right about one thing—she was fast.

I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers on the desk. A few hours had passed since I'd handed her that Palisade file, and she hadn't once come to me with a question. Impressive. Most analysts or assistants would've flagged something by now, but not her. She was thorough, careful, and yet, I could see the gears in her head turning even from here.

Jake knocked and entered without waiting for permission—he was one of the few who got away with that.

"You keeping tabs on her already?" Jake smirked, glancing at the glass wall separating my office from hers.

I didn't respond, but I knew what he was implying. He could make his jokes, but there was more at stake here. Alana wasn't just another employee, and I wasn't about to let her slip through my fingers before I got the answers I needed. I had to understand why someone as talented as her had gone unnoticed for so long.

"You're protective of her." Jake said it like a fact, not a question.

I turned to face him. "She's valuable."

Jake chuckled. "Valuable, huh? That's what we're calling it now?"

I narrowed my eyes, cutting off his amusement. "She's got potential. And she's not going anywhere until I figure out why she's kept herself off the radar for so long."

"Or why she's so hellbent on staying that way," Jake added, folding his arms across his chest. "You sure you want to poke at that? People with secrets don't always react the way you want them to."

"I'm not here to be her therapist," I snapped, a little sharper than I intended. "I just need to know if she's as good as Ricky claims."

Jake didn't push it further, but he shot me a knowing look before leaving the room.

Alone again, I turned my attention back to Alana. She still hadn't looked up from her screen. The task I'd given her was too easy, honestly. The Palisade file wasn't complicated, but there was a hidden detail—a discrepancy in their financial records. A good analyst would find it, but it wasn't in plain sight. If Alana found it, she'd confirm Ricky's claims. But I wasn't just testing her skills. I needed to see how she operated under pressure. I wanted to know if she could handle the challenges I'd throw her way.

A soft knock broke my focus. It was her.

She stepped into my office, holding the file I'd given her earlier, her face blank but her eyes sharp. "I found the irregularity," she said, cutting straight to the point.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Already?"

She nodded, placing the file on my desk. "Palisade has been underreporting its profit margins for the last six months, funneling funds into a subsidiary no one's been tracking."

I didn't show it, but I was impressed. She'd done it—quicker than I expected.

"How'd you find it?" I asked, leaning forward slightly.