Let the flames begin – HAYLEY WILLIAMS

Helping Cat sort through the high-level management team and current working projects data, Alex felt the old familiar bonds of relaxed camaraderie and friendship taking over. They had always worked well together. Even in college when both of them had been regarded as 'prodigies' or freaks by the majority, he had always felt a sense of calm and content peace with her. She had this unsettling habit of making him feel relaxed even as his body revved up in her presence.

It was incredible how she made him feel. He hadn't felt this way with anyone else. Now that she was back in his life he was going to do his damnedest to get the answers he deserved topped with a serving of sweet revenge.

"Alex, look at this." She pointed to something on her PC and leaned back so he could take a better look over her shoulder. Jerking back from the erratic thoughts he'd been having, Alex looked to see a report on past projects open on the screen. Immediately alert, he saw that she was pointing to the system specifications listed for the Theta Project which was a telecom software that Knight Inc. had been contracted to build for the U.S. Army.

"The specs state that the system being built was for a hundred thousand units for the first batch and then another couple hundred thousand for each successive year. But the cost analysis shows that it was done only for only a hundred units. The figures don't add up and the projections are way too low. Plus the specs on this are way inferior." She added in a low voice to herself, "Who was handling this project?"

She scrolled down to see the project manager's signature on the bottom.

"Nathan was in-charge of this project?"

"Yes, he was. The projections done on this project were just a fail-safe, done to justify its viability. Building a sophisticated system on such a large scale with the given specifications and time constraints made this project risky but infinitely valuable. So it was approved initially."

"By whom?"

"Alaric Shore."

"You knew about this and went along with it? You had to have seen that the systems would've been heavily compromised if they were rushed. Also the specifications do not match the original contract's system requirements."

"Yes, I knew about it. But things worked a little differently during Sebastian Knight's regime. I saw the costs and risk analysis and voided the Project when I took over."

"But Alex-"

"Catrina, that's all I have to say about this subject. Just drop it."

He couldn't just keep lying to her and avoiding the subject. She was too smart and resourceful to not eventually figure it out for herself. But he needed a little more time to analyze and piece together what was actually happening in his company. He had a lot of missing pieces and he couldn't let Catrina out of his sight till he figured it out. She followed him as he got up to leave the room.

"I know you're the boss but you had to have known about the risks of developing a powerful software that could potentially be used against U.S. interests. Don't tell me it's about the bottom line with you."

"What do you know about Project Theta, Cat? Did your questioning and snooping yield any results, hmm?"

"I just know that your company was awarded 200 million dollars to research and test out a software built exclusively for the U.S. military to use for improving communication and enhancing the range of listening devices."

"That's partially right."

"What's the whole truth then? The Alex I knew would never-"

Suddenly done with this line of questioning, Alex whirled around and grabbed her arms.

"The Alex you knew would never...what? Would never think about the lives lost in terms of a balance sheet? Would never be so cruel and heartless to do whatever it takes to stay at the top? Would make impossible choices to rebuild the legacy his long lost grandfather left him? What Catrina, what? Answer me."

At this point, he felt so angry that he almost shook her. Feeling himself on the verge of losing control and a little bit crazed, Alex quickly released her. Not noticing the flash of anguish revealed in his eyes, Alex felt an unbearable need to lash out at her in his pain. He squeezed his eyes shut and moved to the window trying to reach some semblance of calm.

"Alex...look at me."

He blindly looked out at the glittering lights as people scurried about and cars were stuck in a traffic jam. Life continued and the world didn't stop spinning just because he was having an attack of conscience. He had long ago shed his jacket and loosened his tie when they'd continued working through the afternoon. One of his hands rested on the window while the other agitatedly yanked at his tie in an uncharacteristic move.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and forced him to turn around.

"Alex, tell me what is this about?"

"I told you what you wanted. That's all there is. You can make your recommendations according to whatever you find. It's not like anyone can stop you from doing what you want."

"You know this has nothing to do with my work here. Please, can't you just tell me the truth? I know there is more to this than you're saying. There has to be."

"Sometimes, we just want to fool ourselves into seeing things that aren't there. To try and find hidden meanings or a deeper motive behind people's actions that don't make sense in the first place. But just because, we wish them, doesn't make it so. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth."