Special Project

ing, Alison walked into the office with renewed determination. She had spent a restless night thinking about her next move, replaying different scenarios in her head. She knew she had only one chance to pull this off, and she needed to make it count.

Henry had already made his way to his office by the time she arrived. She noticed his door was ajar, a signal he was expecting someone or, at least, was open to interruptions. She took a deep breath and straightened her posture, smoothing the fabric of her blouse, before walking toward his office. She needed to act confidently, even if every fiber of her being was tangled in knots of anxiety.

She knocked lightly on the doorframe, and Henry looked up from his computer, his expression unreadable. "Come in," he said, his voice cool but not unfriendly.

"Henry," she began, stepping inside and closing the door behind her, "I've been thinking a lot about what you said yesterday… and about the special project you've entrusted me with."

Henry leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Oh? And what conclusions have you come to?"

Alison took a deep breath, channeling all her inner resolve. "I want to do this right," she said. "I believe this project could be a game-changer for the company, and I have some ideas that could significantly improve our strategy. But I need full access to the files to make an informed proposal."

Henry raised an eyebrow, studying her closely. "And why should I give you that access, Alison? What guarantees do I have that you won't misuse it?"

Alison met his gaze steadily. "Because I'm willing to put everything on the line to prove myself," she replied. "I know you have no reason to trust me after… everything. But if you give me this chance, I promise I won't let you down."

Henry remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. "Fine," he said, his tone still guarded. "I'll give you access, but only under strict conditions. You'll work directly from my office, where I can monitor your progress. No files leave this room, and everything stays on the internal server. Understood?"

Alison's heart pounded with a mix of relief and apprehension. "Understood," she agreed, keeping her face neutral. She had expected something like this. Henry wasn't a fool, and she couldn't afford to underestimate him.

Henry nodded again. "I'll set up your workstation here. We can start now."

---

Henry's office was a world away from the hustle and bustle of the main office floor. As Alison sat at the desk he had set up for her, she couldn't help but feel the weight of his presence just a few feet away. She was acutely aware of his every movement, his quiet, focused demeanor. Every time he looked up from his work, she felt his eyes linger on her for a moment too long, as if he were trying to decipher her true intentions.

Alison dove into the project with intensity, scanning through pages of confidential data and strategic documents. She knew she had to make herself indispensable—present ideas so compelling that Henry would have no choice but to keep her close. Her plan was to buy herself more time while also subtly siphoning the information she needed.

She took notes, highlighted important sections, and occasionally glanced over at Henry, who remained engrossed in his own work. She felt the mounting pressure, the need to keep him engaged, to show him that she was adding value.

"Henry," she said after an hour, breaking the silence. "I've found some gaps in our current market analysis. I think we might be missing some key opportunities in emerging markets. If we adjust our strategy slightly, we could capitalize on these new areas before our competitors do."

Henry looked up, intrigued. "Show me," he said, pushing his chair closer to her workstation.

She leaned over, pointing to specific sections of the report. "Here, and here," she said, tracing the lines with her finger. "Our current projections don't account for the rapid growth in these regions. With a small shift in investment, we could see significant returns."

Henry nodded slowly, his face thoughtful. "That's… a good observation," he admitted, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I hadn't considered that angle."

Alison felt a small surge of satisfaction. "There's more," she continued, flipping to another page. "If we adjust our marketing strategy to target these regions specifically, we could create a foothold that would give us a major advantage."

Henry studied the data carefully. "You've put a lot of thought into this," he said finally, his voice softer. "I didn't expect… I mean, you've surprised me, Alison."

Alison allowed herself a small smile. "I want to prove I belong here, Henry," she said earnestly. "I know I have a lot to make up for, but I believe in this company, and I believe in what we're doing."

Henry leaned back, a contemplative look on his face. "Keep going," he said after a moment. "I'm listening."

---

Hours passed, and Alison continued to work, every moment a delicate dance of balancing her true intentions with her growing desire to actually make a meaningful contribution. She found herself genuinely engaged with the data, finding new ways to interpret the numbers, new strategies that could propel the company forward.

But she couldn't afford to lose sight of her goal. Her employer was still waiting, and she had to find a way to gather the critical information they needed.

As the day drew to a close, Henry stood up and stretched. "You've done well today," he acknowledged, a rare compliment. "Let's continue this tomorrow."

Alison nodded, but as Henry turned to leave, she saw her chance. "Henry," she called out, "I was thinking… there's one more set of data I need to cross-reference. Can I access the financial projections from last quarter? It's essential for what I'm working on."

Henry paused, considering her request. "Those are highly sensitive," he said cautiously.

"I know," Alison replied quickly, "but I think they hold the key to validating my findings. I promise I won't misuse them."

Henry hesitated, his eyes locking onto hers. For a long moment, it seemed like he was searching for something, some sign of sincerity or deceit. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But remember, Alison—this is your last chance."

Alison's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you, Henry," she said, doing her best to keep her voice steady.

Henry unlocked the drawer of his desk and handed her a secure USB drive. "Use this. You'll find everything you need on it. And remember, it stays in this office."

She took the USB, feeling its weight in her hand. "Understood," she said softly.

---

That night, long after everyone else had left, Alison sat alone in Henry's office. The only sounds were the faint hum of the city outside and the quiet whir of the office air conditioning. She inserted the USB drive into the computer and began copying files, her hands moving quickly over the keyboard.

She felt a mix of triumph and guilt. She had the data she needed, but at what cost? Henry had given her a chance to prove herself, and she was betraying that trust. Yet she couldn't back out now; her employer had made it clear that failure was not an option.

The files finished copying, and she quickly ejected the USB drive, slipping it into her bag. She shut down the computer and stood up, her heart heavy with the weight of what she had just done.

She turned off the lights and left the office, the darkness of the empty building feeling like a mirror to the shadows growing in her own heart. As she walked out into the cold night air, she knew that there would be no sleep for her tonight—only the relentless throb of guilt and the unending uncertainty of what tomorrow would bring.

She had crossed a line. Now, all she could do was hope that she hadn't gone too far to find her way back.