The Stalker at my Job

Dangerous Game

Chapter 7

The weekend was a blur of planning, every thought laser-focused on bringing Mark down. Emily felt as if she was dancing on the edge of a cliff—one wrong move, and he'd know she was onto him. But with Adam and Leo on her side, she finally had the support and strength to face her stalker head-on.

Monday morning came, and as she entered the office, she was hyperaware of Mark's presence. He was at his desk, typing away as if he hadn't been invading her life and terrorizing her for weeks. Emily forced herself to act normal, casually greeting her coworkers, blending into the rhythm of the office, all while keeping Mark in her sights.

During lunch, she met with Adam and Leo at a small café nearby to finalize their plan. Leo had set up a tracker on her devices to intercept any message Mark might send her. They had also devised a way to monitor Mark's computer remotely—he wouldn't even notice they were in his system.

"Once we have solid proof, we go to the police," Leo said firmly. "They won't ignore this once we have concrete evidence."

Emily nodded, a spark of determination in her eyes. "And if he tries anything, we'll be ready."

Returning to the office, Emily felt a rush of adrenaline. The plan was in motion. She only had to keep Mark distracted, just enough to give Leo time to gather evidence of his tracking her.

Hours passed in tense anticipation. Finally, around mid-afternoon, Leo sent her a text: "He's sending a message to you right now. Act natural. We're recording."

A new email popped up in her inbox. The subject line simply read, "One Step Behind."

Emily's heart pounded as she opened it, feeling her nerves fray as she read the chilling message inside:

"I know you've been looking for answers, Emily. I can see it in your eyes. But the game's not over until I say so. Trust no one."

For a split second, her resolve wavered, but then her anger flared up, smothering her fear. She glanced across the room at Mark, who was watching her, a slight, unsettling smirk playing on his lips. She forced herself to look away, fighting the urge to confront him then and there.

The end of the day couldn't come soon enough. Emily gathered her things, heading out with her coworkers in what she hoped looked like a casual exit. But as she reached her car, she had a strange feeling. She glanced around, searching for any sign of Mark, and felt her blood run cold when she saw him in the distance, standing by his car, watching her with an expression that was both daring and dangerous.

She refused to show any fear, giving him a small nod before getting into her car and driving off. She checked her mirrors constantly, half-expecting to see him following her. But when she pulled into her apartment's parking lot, she was alone.

Inside, she collapsed onto the couch, trying to steady her breathing. Leo had promised to monitor her system all night, keeping an eye on any suspicious activity. For now, she had to stay calm and play along.

The following day, the atmosphere at work felt even more charged. Every email she received, every passing glance from Mark, was laced with menace. She kept her distance, avoiding direct eye contact, but inside, her nerves were fraying. This game of cat and mouse was exhausting, and she was desperate for it to end.

Around noon, Leo texted her: "We've got him. Found the spyware he installed on your phone and emails. It's enough to nail him. We'll take it to the police tonight."

Relief washed over her, and she barely resisted the urge to look at Mark and let him see her victory. She only had to get through the rest of the day. But as the hours ticked by, Mark approached her desk, catching her off guard.

"Emily," he said smoothly, his tone friendly, but his eyes calculating. "I was thinking you and I should grab a drink sometime. Talk outside of work, you know?"

She forced a smile, feigning nervousness. "Oh, I'm not sure, Mark. I... I'm a bit busy these days."

His smile faded, replaced by a cold stare. "Well, maybe you should make time. Sometimes, you don't get a second chance."

The threat was clear, and Emily's skin prickled with fear, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her intimidated. "Maybe another time," she replied, her voice steady.

She left the office that evening, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Adam was waiting for her outside, ready to drive her to the police station with Leo's evidence. As they drove, she felt the weight of fear and tension lifting off her shoulders. This nightmare was about to end.

At the police station, Leo laid out all the data: screenshots, emails, and evidence of the spyware Mark had used to track her. The detective listened intently, his face darkening as he reviewed the information.

"We'll bring him in for questioning. With this evidence, he won't be able to deny anything," the detective assured her.

Emily let out a shaky breath, relief flooding over her. It was finally over. She wouldn't have to look over her shoulder anymore, wouldn't have to fear the constant invasion of her privacy.

The next morning, she went to the office as usual, but this time, Mark was nowhere to be seen. The police had picked him up early in the morning, and whispers quickly spread among her coworkers. Emily didn't share the details, but a few colleagues gave her sympathetic looks, sensing something serious had gone down.

By midday, Linda from HR approached her. "Emily, I'm so sorry about everything that's happened. I had no idea it was this serious. If you need anything, please let me know."

Emily nodded, giving her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Linda."

As she left the office that evening, she felt lighter than she had in weeks. The threat was gone, and she had her life back.

But as she got into her car, her phone buzzed with a new text. She froze, her heart pounding as she read the message:

"Did you really think it would be that easy? You'll always be my favorite game."

Panic gripped her, and she looked around, half-expecting to see Mark or another figure lurking nearby. But there was no one.

Emily realized with a chill that ran down her spine: even though Mark was gone, the true identity of her stalker might still be out there, hiding in the shadows, waiting for their next move.