Chapter 2: Running on Spite and Fury

Lia had been careful to mask her IP address, pinging it in different locations. Could one of the security cameras in the building have caught her? She had taken care to hack the security footage before entering the office towers. Her heart leapt to her throat. She could feel sweat begging to break free from the piled on layers of the waterproof foundation she had on.

She felt a whoosh of air as five security men ran past her, onto the street into a waiting van. “Phew,” she let out a breath. The van sped away as she heard the elevator doors open.

“They tracked the hackers IP address to Soweto,” she heard the other man tell Ryan. Lia smiled. She had successfully misdirected them. She looked back and again found Ryan starring in her direction, a quizzical look on his handsome face.

“Gotta act like a banana and split,” Lia thought to herself and quickly exited the building onto the busy street.

Lia got into her small apartment and immediately took the wig off. She shook out her own hair, brown curls bouncing rhythmically. After she had put on a pair of short ripped jeans and a baggy t-shirt, she sat in front of her computer monitors, an energy drink in hand.

She planned to see if the ghost spyware she had installed was working. Before she could get to work, the door to her apartment swung open, and her friend, Bobby, ushered himself in.

“Oh, friend, I wanted to see you all dolled up in the outfit and shoes I got for you,” her friend pouted playfully at her.

“You mean that torturous outfit? I hated it, but thank you. It served its purpose well.”

“Did you at least take a few pictures?”

“I hate pictures. I can’t imagine myself making some duck faces for a few clicks,” Lia stated as Bobby reached out and snatched the energy drink from her hand.

“This is not good for your skin and general health,” he scolded.

Lia grabbed the drink, and with huge chugs, gulped it down before belching loudly as she looked up at her friend defiantly.

“Gross! You are impossible,” Bobby threw his hands up in mock surrender.

Lia laughed, whilst Bobby pulled a chair and stationed himself next to his friend.

“So, how did it go?”

“I saw him,” Lia responded as memories of Ryan flooded her brain.

Bobby’s eyes grew wide in surprise, and a spark of gossip hunger lingered in his blue gaze.

“Spill, and don’t leave any details.”

“He is gorgeous,” Lia mused day dreamily. “I mean, extremely gorgeous.”

Bobby frowned at his friend.

“Gorgeous and gorgeous; got that. You sound like that twenty-year-old college freshman from eight years ago. You even blushing like a WhatsApp emoji,” Bobby mocked.

“Earth to Lia! Did he see you? Didn’t he recognize you?” he probed for more details.

Lia shook her head., “I had on thick clown make-up and a wig. I couldn’t even recognize myself, so I doubt he did. However, I saw him as clear as day. Bobby, did I mention that he is gorgeous?”

“Lia, do not let some stupid crush or infatuation make you lose focus. You live in a horrible part of town. You could not even finish college. You were an A student who could have gone on to be someone important in life. I am your only friend, and I would like to think, some kind of family. Your life went to the dogs.,” Bobby’s face was turning a crimson red from rage.

“Who put you in this situation? Who robbed you of a great future? Who promised you the world but handed you a dry and barren planet instead? Who, Lia?”

“Ryan Nash!” Lia responded as bitter memories of everything that had transpired eight years ago played in her head like a picture roll movie.

“Ryan was the sweetest and most charming guy I had ever known. He was the type to actually remove the shoes off his feet to give to a homeless man, literally. I still fail to understand to this day what went wrong. Why he said all the things he said and left my life a pathetic mess,” Lia said witheringly.

“Wolf in sheep’s clothing, my friend. Make him pay for all the pain he caused you.,” Bobby stirred the burning rage in Lia.

“I still remember those brutal words; ‘You are not my type and would never fit into my world.’ I am not the most beautiful flower in the bunch, and I don’t come from money like him, but those words were uncalled for at a time I needed him most.”

“You are beautiful Lia; any man would be lucky to land such a stunner as yourself. Smooth skin that looks like you bathe in milk daily. You don’t even need make-up to spritz up your beauty. Then your eyes, so enchanting. Your laugh is like angels singing.,” Bobby looked at Lia in a strange way that caused Lia to frown.

“Bobby, if I didn’t know you play for the opposite team, I would think you have a crush on me,” Lia laughed.

“If I was straight, Lia, would you date me? Even back in college, if I was straight would you have chosen me instead of Ryan?”

Lia was taken by surprise by Bobby’s questions.

“I have never seen you in that light and have never thought of such a scenario, to be honest. You are a great guy and good looking. If you were not gay, any girl would likewise be lucky to have you,” she smiled.

“I am not asking about other girls, Lia. I am asking if YOU would date me?”

Lia looked at her friend. His questions were downright weird. She had known Bobby for fifteen years of her twenty-eight-year-old life. For as long as she had known him, Bobby was gay. What was driving him to such questions?

She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could utter a word, her apartment door burst open as three men rushed in. They were all dressed in Nash Global security uniforms.

Lia jumped up and looked at her monitors. She had accessed Nash Global’s servers and had meant to finish hiding her IP address. When Bobby had arrived, she had forgotten that her location was traceable.

There was no escaping this. The evidence of her hacking was right in front of her.

She slumped her shoulders in defeat. One security guard put a firm hand on Bobby, and the other grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly to her feet. The third one started gathering her equipment and her cellphone.

“Would you mind if I just Google how many years in prison I am going to get for hacking and theft?” she asked loudly as Bobby and the three other security guards looked at her, their expressions seemingly wondering, “Are you being for real right now?”

Lia always found it easy to respond to fear with sarcasm. She looked at the four men who were all staring at her and without thinking, she flashed them all with a maniac, wide toothy grin.