Could it be...

By the end of the day, Ryan, alongside Matthew and Megan, could be seen walking out the company building. Nighttime was much too evident, the cold weather being made a harsh occupant. The week was almost drawing to an end, as well as the year, and the constant increase of workloads had been resulting to late closures from work. Today was not exempted.

Behind the trio, a certain number of personnel strode out as well, mostly those from the Editorial department. Voices dented the air as discussions evaded the mouths of every of the individuals. But on a closer listening, their stressful states wouldn't go unnoticed.

"I'm not taking any chances," Megan said, adjusting the hem of her blue pencil skirt which had just come up her knees in an attempt to cover up her skin which was not covered by the popsocks.

"What do you mean by that?" Matthew asked, looking ignorant of her statement.

"What she means, Matthew, is that you're not listening. Where the hell did your mind go?" Ryan spoke out irritably.

"I'm not listening?" Matthew attempted to stare at the man at the right side of Megan. "I think I clearly heard her say she wasn't going to take any chances. But for what exactly?"

Megan rolled her eyes. "You see now, you truly weren't listening,"

"He's such a jerk, believe me."

"But I was listening!" Matthew protested. "I just don't understand why you said that exact statement, Megan."

"Well, I was referring to the blind date I'm meant to attend tomorrow,"

"Oh, that."

Megan continued. "So, I was trying to say I'm not going to take my chances in attending it. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a disaster,"

They approached Megan's smart car, the nearest amongst the three's in the lot. The smart car was rather small but just the right size for driving, Megan's opinion said so.

"You could try me out instead, you know? I'll make a pretty good date," Matthew ran his hand through his hair nervously, revealing a wide grin.

Inwardly, Ryan face palmed himself. 'What is wrong with you, Mathew?'

"Uhn? No way!" Megan declined. "You're still single at thirty, talk less of thinking about settling down with a woman and you expect me to try you out? What's even the guarantee you would have settled down by thirty-five?"

"Never look down on Matthew Holmes, Megan. You never know the good things you're missing,"

"Pfft... go get a girlfriend, mister. Your good looks isn't going to last forever, remember?"

"At least you mentioned my good looks. Don't worry, I'll definitely remember."

Megan waved her hand to shun him, facing Ryan in the process as she made to open the car door. "Goodnight, Ryan." she said.

"Good—"

"Hey!" Matthew cut Ryan off. "Don't I get a goodnight too?" He asked Megan.

"I'll save it till you get a girlfriend," Megan said. And with that, she got into her automobile.

The other two made way to their cars, silence ensuing for awhile before Matthew made sure to break the silence.

"So?" He said.

"So, what?" Ryan inquired.

"Anything you got to say?"

Ryan shook his head. "No," he said. "Wait! I think I do have something to say,"

Matthew looked at him with keen interest, expectation evident in his looks. "Yeah, I'm listening."

Ryan turned to look at him, smirking wickedly. "Get a girlfriend, stupid."

"You—"

"Ryan Stones."

A familiar voice came into hearing and both men turned to look at the silhouette of a man approaching them. They got a clearer view of the picture and who else could it be if not Ryan's seeming rival, the middle-aged man called Brent Williams.

"What is it you want, Brent?" Ryan inquired, his expression neutral.

Brent Williams had a distinct aura to his looks. He wasn't smiling, neither was he looking angry and this sent creepy thoughts to Matthew.

"We need to talk,"

Ryan motioned with his head as a signal to Matthew. "Go on ahead," he told his best friend who immediately complied and left the scene. "What do you want to talk about?"

"What game are you trying to play, Stones?"

"I don't understand." Ryan sounded perplexed.

Brent narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you know about Stephen Ryder?"

'Stephen Ryder? The reporter? What does Brent know about my involvement with him?' Ryan wondered.

"Get to the point, please." He told the news director.

"So, you're trying to say you don't know what I mean?"

"What's with these questions, Brent? Just get to the point, will you!" Ryan was getting exasperated.

Brent still maintained the same creepy expression. "I know you do know something about Stephen Ryder and just pray I don't find out what you actually do know,"

"Are you threatening me?"

"No, not yet. Just passing a message for now."

Brent finished speaking and passed the side of Ryan as he began walking away, not waiting for a reply. But Ryan wasn't ready to let him go.

"I know you see me as a rival, Brent, but threatening me to get a upper hand isn't very smart, you know?"

Brent, now backing the other, sinisterly smiled. "A rival? There's no other thing I see you as asides being my shadow,"

Ryan scoffed. "A shadow that is smarter than you are? How clever! Remember you're getting old. I'll advise you spend more time watching your health,"

Brent gave no reply and walked away completely to his own car just down by the side.

"What happened?" Matthew came over immediately Brent left and questioned on seeing the expression of his best friend.

"I think he knows something about my supposed meeting with Stephen Ryder," Ryan said casually.

"Did he mention anything regarding it?"

"He asked what game I'm playing, also asking what I know about the reporter,"

Matthew frowned. "Game? What makes him think it's a game? Or is he suspecting you of being a traitor?"

Ryan shook his head. "That, I don't know. But a traitor? That's hilarious. Why do people keep on misjudging me these days? I'm not betraying anyone, am I?"

Matthew shook his head. "I don't think you are,"

"You don't think?" Ryan turned to look at him with a weird expression.

"Okay, okay, you're not betraying anyone. What else did Brent say?"

Ryan looked away before replying, "Somehow, he threatened me. Saying I should pray he doesn't find out what I know concerning the situation. Who do you think would send him to say such nasty words?"

"Brent sure is a creepy man. What the heck is wrong with him? Don't even understand what he's trying to achieve. Try to be careful man,"

"And you too..."

Matthew became surprised and revealed a weird expression. "Huhn? Me?"

"Yes," Ryan nodded. "Since he knows something about my involvement, he'll know about yours too. You're the only person I've actually discussed this issue with, remember?"

"Dammit! You're right!"

Ryan continued. "Now the possibilities now actually leads us to this question: Who do you think gave him details about it? I don't believe he actually sent someone to stalk me. It could be something or someone close enough trying to listen in to our conversations,"

"The CCTV cameras?" Matthew asked.

Ryan shook his head. "Something in the physical form. Actually someone,"

Matthew gasped. "It couldn't be Megan, could—"

"Megan will never betray us for that old bastard!"

"Language, Ryan, but you're right," Matthew affirmed. "There's just one person left I believe is capable of such..."

"Cole."

.....

The next day, soon as Ryan stepped into the reception floor after receiving a green light from the facial recognition, someone approached him. It was more like the person had been waiting for him for awhile.

"What is it again, Brent?" He said, casting a glance on the watch on his left hand which clearly read six-forty-two.

"Guess what happened?" Brent said with a shrewd smile.

"Don't waste my time. Just say what you need to 'cause I have to get to the office,"

Ryan stated and began heading to the elevator. By the side, he pressed the 'up' button and immediately, it opened, indicating it wasn't in use. He stepped into the empty space and he saw Brent walk in as well.

"Calm down, Stones," Brent said after. "But I can't believe you're such an actor!"

Ryan put his hand down after hitting the button with the number thirteen and turned to look at the other man. "If you don't stop this nonsense game of words you're trying to play with me, I'll have no choice but to report you to the management," He warned.

"Go ahead. But be sure to explain what you know about Stephen Ryder,"

"You keep on mentioning that but have no clarification to back up your words."

"Maybe the CCTV does," Brent said with a shrug and this sent a message to Ryan. Brent might have been stalking him all along. But would the social security department forget protocols and give Brent access to such?

"Anyways," Brent stated, "you definitely won't believe what actually happened to Stephen Ryder." He noticed Ryan's questioning look and continued. "Two personnel from the live reporting crew were sent to his place last night and they found out something unbelievable.

Stephen Ryder is in the hospital!"

"What?"

"Surprised? According to them, when they got to his residence, they tried knocking but got no reply. Eventually, a neighbor came out and explained that he was found unconscious in an alleyway yesterday morning. And the most surprising thing is that he was last seen with a man just before he was found unconscious,"

Ryan eyed him suspiciously. "And who's that man? Or are you trying to say it was me?"

"No, no. Just saying what I was told. Pretty sure that neighbor's a good gossiper. I'm still wondering how she got so much details on the reporter," Brent laughed slightly.

The 'ding' sound came up and the elevator doors opened. Ryan walked out first before saying, "Thanks for the information. But I don't know why you actually decided to feed me with such. It's not like the director wouldn't eventually get to inform me,"

Brent shrugged as he trailed behind him. "I just needed to clarify something and gladly, I did." He said and made a bend to head to his departmental office.

"For an old man, you sure are sinister." Ryan muttered the words silently. But as he made way to the door of his own departmental office, his mind drifted to a possibility.

Could it be that the man he thought to be John Ruben is actually the reason behind Stephen Ryder being sent to the hospital?