If you only knew...

13.Stay with me

Ana's POV

The air is frigid, an unusual chill for mid-September. Despite the cold, my adrenaline is pumping, and I hardly feel the biting wind. The target building is surrounded by dense trees that cover our glance. It is almost midnight, yet the glow of lights inside indicates that the place is still bustling with activity.

With a playful grin, my partner looks over at me and says, "Alright, Ana, it's your turn to take the reins and make a plan."

Surprised, I blink in disbelief. "What?! Me? Why? I'm terrible at planning! You've always been the one with all the great ideas!" I protest, my astonishment clear in both my voice and my wide eyes.

He lets out a low chuckle, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Well, I think it's your turn to dazzle us with your strategic genius."

Anxiety creeps in, and I hesitate, voicing my concerns. "But what if I mess it up? What if I'm just not cut out for this?"

His expression shifts to something more serious, the gravity of our situation sinking in. "Then we're both in deep trouble," he replies, his gaze locked onto the looming building ahead, where danger lurks just out of sight.

My heart races as I grapple with the daunting task ahead. I need to devise a plan to slip into the target's office, all while ensuring that we remain safe and undetected. The stakes are high, and every detail counts.

"Listen closely, here's the plan: First, we'll need to disable the motion sensors outside. Once you're inside, dive straight into the security feed—turn those cameras off and create a diversion to pull the attention of the folks upstairs. This distraction will give me the perfect chance to slip up to the next floor and grab the crucial data from the office. The entrance should be clear at first, so we'll have to entice them downstairs.
When everyone's focused on the ground floor, I'll need you to head back outside and wait for my signal through the earpiece. After I've secured the data, I'll need your help to escape through the window using a rope. I suspect those windows are locked from the inside, but don't worry—I'll take care of unlocking them from the office. Let's make this swift and smooth!" I explain.

He seems surprised and asks, "Are you sure you want to go into the office alone? It could be dangerous, and I don't want to leave you there by yourself!"

"I'll be okay. I can't let you do all the risky stuff all the time," I chuckle.

We both head towards the building. Xavier disables the silent alarm so it won't go off. We use a small tool to unlock the metal door and sneak inside. Once in, we split up. I make my way to the stairs and hide in a restroom while Xavier takes care of the downstairs camera.

In a swift motion, he skillfully cuts the camera's wire, setting off an alarm that alerts the workers who rush downstairs. With a subtle gesture, he signals to me through the earpiece, indicating that the ground floor is filled with them. In an instant, he disappears into the shadows, managing to avoid detection as the tension in the air intensifies.

I rush out of the restroom, my heart pounding as I stealthily navigate the dimly lit hallway towards the office. I keep a sharp eye out, hoping no lingering employees notice my hurried escape. As soon as I step inside, the door clicks shut behind me, and I swiftly plug in the USB stick to the laptop. The data transfer begins, the bar creeping forward agonizingly slowly at just 12%. Time feels like it's slipping away, but for now, at least, we've managed to remain undetected.

As time passes, I grow more and more nervous as the upload progresses sluggishly. I am on high alert for any sounds outside the door when suddenly I hear footsteps.

A surge of adrenaline courses through me as I hear them approaching from the staircase. The workers are near, and my heart pounds in my chest. I glance at the progress bar—only 54%! Panic sets in; I can feel the weight of the ticking clock. There's no way I'll finish the upload and escape undetected.
Think Ana, think of something fast!!