The Stalker at my Job

Unmasking the Hunter

Chapter 6

The note burned in Emily's hand as she stood frozen by the door. She reread the words over and over, feeling both dread and a surge of defiance. Whoever this was, they knew she was onto them, and they were taunting her, testing her limits. But Emily was done with fear. She wasn't going to let this stalker turn her life into a prison.

The next morning, she made a decision: she would start fighting back. She would gather evidence, catch this person, and expose them. And she would start by keeping her routine as close to normal as possible to avoid raising suspicions.

When she got to work, she went straight to HR to report the camera she'd found in her apartment. Linda, the HR manager, listened with wide eyes, scribbling down notes and promising to investigate further. "Emily, I'll notify building security. We'll check the office for any signs of tampering," she assured her. Emily nodded, hoping her expression looked genuine even though her trust in HR had vanished.

Back at her desk, she spent the day acting as though nothing was wrong, all while keeping an eye on her surroundings. As the hours wore on, she found herself watching Mark more closely. He was at his computer, seemingly absorbed in his work, but every now and then, she caught him glancing in her direction, his expression unreadable. Could he be the one behind this?

Determined to keep him in her sights, Emily waited until the office was nearly empty before stopping by his desk. "Hey, Mark," she said, trying to sound casual, "I've been having some tech issues lately. Would you mind giving my computer a quick check?"

Mark looked up, surprised but eager. "Sure, I can take a look. What's going on with it?"

"Oh, it's just acting up," she replied vaguely. "I keep getting these strange pop-ups."

He nodded, turning to follow her. Emily led him to her desk, every step calculated. As he began examining her computer, she kept her gaze steady, watching his every move. He was thorough, going through her settings and inspecting the system, but there was nothing out of the ordinary in his behavior. Still, a part of her couldn't shake the suspicion.

After a few minutes, he looked up, giving her a reassuring smile. "Nothing seems wrong. Let me know if it happens again, though."

"Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it," she replied, forcing a smile. She watched him walk away, frustration simmering inside her. If he was her stalker, he was playing his role perfectly.

That night, as she sat in her apartment, Emily devised a plan. She'd need help to catch whoever was tormenting her, someone outside of work who could help her track down the anonymous messages. She picked up her phone and called her older brother, Adam. They hadn't been close in recent years, but she knew he'd do anything to help her if he knew she was in trouble.

"Adam, I need your help," she said as soon as he answered, her voice barely above a whisper. She quickly explained everything—the notes, the cameras, the feeling of being watched.

"Emily, this is serious. You should go to the police," Adam said, his tone sharp.

"I don't have any solid proof, not enough for them to take it seriously," she replied, frustration biting at her words. "They'll just brush it off as paranoia."

Adam was silent for a moment. "Fine. Let's start gathering proof, then. I have a friend who's an expert in cybersecurity. He can help us trace any emails or texts and check for more devices. We'll catch this creep."

Relief flooded through Emily, and for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope. They arranged to meet at her apartment the next day, and she hung up, feeling more determined than ever.

The next morning, Emily left for work with a renewed sense of purpose. She'd go through the motions, play her role, and give nothing away. When she reached her desk, she noticed another folded note waiting for her. Her pulse quickened, but she didn't let it show. She calmly opened the note and read the words:

"You're making this fun."

A chill settled over her. Her stalker was watching closely, aware of her every move. But now, she had allies. She wouldn't be alone in this.

Later that evening, Adam arrived at her apartment with his friend, a quiet, sharp-eyed man named Leo. They wasted no time, diving into her laptop and phone, searching for any spyware or tracking software.

After an hour of intense searching, Leo looked up, his expression grim. "You've been hacked, Emily. They've installed spyware on your phone and computer. They're able to monitor your location, your emails, even listen in if they wanted."

The weight of the revelation crashed down on her. Her privacy, her every word and action, had been invaded. But she quickly pushed the fear aside. "Can you trace it? Find out who did this?"

Leo nodded. "It'll take some time, but I'll set up some protections and start tracking where the data is being sent. They won't know we're onto them."

For the first time in days, Emily felt a measure of control returning. They went through every corner of her apartment, finding a second camera cleverly hidden in her living room. Adam removed it, smashing it with a grim determination that echoed her own.

With Leo's help, they created a trap. Leo would monitor any communication from her stalker and trace the source. All Emily had to do was go about her life and act unaware. It was a risky plan, but she was willing to see it through.

The next morning, she returned to work, trying her best to ignore the burning eyes she felt on her back. She kept her expression neutral, her routine steady, knowing Leo and Adam were tracking everything from her devices.

Days passed, and each morning, there was a new note waiting for her—each one more unsettling than the last. Her stalker grew bolder, sending cryptic messages hinting at knowing her every thought, every fear. But Emily remained resolute, knowing the trap was set.

Finally, on Friday afternoon, Leo called her. "We got a hit, Emily. The data is being routed through a private server, but I've traced the signal back to someone in your office."

Her heart pounded. "Who?"

"It's coming from Mark's computer."

Emily's mind reeled. Her suspicions had been right all along. Mark, the seemingly helpful IT guy, had been watching her every move, hiding behind a façade of friendliness.

Leo's voice was firm. "Now we need evidence. Do you think you can lure him into a conversation, get him to slip up?"

Emily took a shaky breath, steeling herself. "Yes. I think I can."

That evening, as the office emptied, she approached Mark's desk, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anger. "Hey, Mark," she began, forcing a nervous smile. "Can I talk to you for a moment? It's... kind of personal."

Mark's eyes lit up, and he stood, nodding eagerly. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

She led him to a secluded corner of the office, hoping her trembling hands weren't too obvious. "I... I feel like someone's been watching me, and I don't know who to trust anymore," she whispered, meeting his gaze with feigned vulnerability.

He shifted, and for a brief moment, his mask slipped, revealing a flicker of satisfaction, a glint in his eye that confirmed everything. He leaned closer, his voice soft. "You're right, Emily. It's hard to know who's watching."

The words dripped with malice, with the thrill of control. Emily felt a surge of fury, her hand tightening into a fist at her side. But she kept her face neutral, nodding along, letting him believe she was powerless.

By the time she walked out of the office that night, her heart was pounding with victory. She had the confirmation she needed.

Mark might have been her hunter, but now, Emily was ready to turn the tables once and for all.