Chapter 4 The new principal

Elara's POV,

I resume work the following week.

And immediately, I begin. I don't waste any precious time. The faster, the better. 

I move through the company like a quiet storm. Redirecting resources, reassigning budgets, and dissolving contracts under the guise of restructuring.

Their money disappears and information leaks. Partnerships crumble and no one suspects a thing.

Because I'm excellent at my job.

I lead flawlessly, my team respects me and I deliver results just enough to keep the company standing while still bleeding it.

I was aware people called me stoic, controlled and upright. But at least, I was efficient.

In short, I came here to infiltrate and bring the company to the ground but I did it slowly. 

During one meeting, I pass by a group of coworkers whispering near the glass corridor.

"They say the CEO's furious," one of them murmurs.

"Someone's been leaking information," another adds. "Stealing big amounts of money and the person hasn't been caught."

I smile inwardly. How sweet. Perhaps, he wasn't as efficient as I thought he would be. Any powerful Don would've caught the amateur stealing from his comapny.

I almost laugh at the absurdity. Except I wasn't an amateur. I was the best hacker and cyber criminal I knew. Online, I was known as Viper. I didn't call myself that. They did.

I inhale slowly, and plaster a fake smile on my face. 

"How about instead of worrying about useless gossip, you work hard enough that the money being stolen is nothing but a speck of dust."

They scurry away without a word and I scoff. 

Humans.

~ ~

Three weeks later

Rain crashes against the glass and I frown. My car chose today of all days to betray me, sputtering once before dying completely in the parking lot. Camilla is out of town, so unreachable. It's the most frustrating day I've had in weeks. And so, I stand by the window, phone pressed to my ear, watching the city blur under sheets of rain.

"Please," I tell Noemi, keeping my voice even. "Just pick Asher up from school. I'll owe you."

There's a dramatic sigh on the other end. "Elara, you'll owe me big time. BIG. It's raining like the heavens are angry."

"I'll buy you dinner for a month."

She replies almost immediately. "Say less. I'm on my way."

I end the call, exhaling softly.

The office is almost empty now so I'm surprised when I hear a voice too close.

"You don't look like someone who's married."

I turn slowly, forcing my expression into something neutral and polite. Lucien Kòrvac stands beside me, hands in his pockets and suit immaculate.

"You don't even act like a mother," he adds coolly.

I force a smile so tight it almost hurts.

"Season's greetings, boss."

He arches a brow. "It's the middle of May."

I lift two fingers in a lazy salute. "I am joyous and filled with festivities all year round."

For a second, I think I see something flicker across his face; amusement, maybe irritation. But then it's gone.

"I didn't see 'married' in your status," he says, eyes dropping briefly to my hand to see it bare. "Or 'widowed.'"

I follow his gaze before looking back up.

"My husband's dead," I lie easily. "Been dead for five years."

I don't know what to expect. Sympathy, discomfort, even an awkward apology.

But Lucien gives me none of that. He just grunts, unimpressed, and turns to leave.

Something in me snaps.

"How's your wife?" I ask instinctively. Why did my mouth always move before my mind could catch up?

He pauses and slowly turns back.

"What do you mean?"

I shrug, light and careless. "As handsome as you are, boss, you don't expect me to believe you aren't married."

I grin so wide and outrageous. He visibly recoils, making me want to laugh at the ridiculousness.

"I'm not," he says flatly. "Solis."

Then he walks away.

I stare after him, my jaw tightening. Liar.

That night, his words won't leave me alone.

I tuck Asher into bed, kiss his forehead, wait until his breathing evens out and open my laptop.

Lucien Kòrvac might've lied. Hell, everyone lies.

But the computer never lies.

And when the truth finally loads onto my screen, my breath catches.

"What the actual fuck…?"

~~

"...the boss is agitated. I heard he's wondering about the hacker's next plan." One of my co-workers says. I think he's the logistics manager, I can't remember his name. 

"Yeah. I heard he went on a rampage in his office yesterday because the person he'd hired to find the hacker didn't do the job." Another chimes in and I inwardly roll my eyes. These people never come to work to…well, work. 

"Shh, he's passing." One of them says in hushed tones and we all stand up as Lucien Kòrvac passes without a glance at us. From my seat, I can see the frustration and anger on his face.

Pfft, he should at least be happy I've stopped.

It's been a week since that night I found out the truth.

Lucien never married Anya.

So I'd just been tormenting an innocent company. I stopped only to find out that it made Lucien angrier. Apparently, he'd been so close to finding the person and when the person suddenly stopped, leaving no traces, he'd gone on a rampage firing all his best cyber agents and computer wizards.

He finally passes into the elevator and everyone heaves a huge sigh. They start whispering, "I heard he fired Monica yesterday because she looked at him." 

"What do you mean 'looked at him'? You mean wrongly?"

"No, he just looked at him."

~ ~

I work harder than usual after that day to replace every stolen dollar and every rerouted transaction. 

One afternoon, I'm in my study, fingers flying over my keyboard, when the door burst open.

"Mama!"

Asher crashes into me with the force of pure joy, small arms wrapping around my waist. I laugh despite myself, instinctively closing my laptop halfway and Camilla leans against the doorframe, arms crossed. 

"You're welcome," she says dryly.

"For what?" I ask, kissing the top of Asher's head.

"For being so beautiful and hot. My credit card declined and some kind sir bought him a cake. Because he wanted my number, obviously."

I blink. "A what?"

"A man," she says, rolling her eyes. "Tall, expensive shoes, perfume and ridiculously handsome."

I raise a brow. "Camilla."

She scoffs. "Relax. If I liked men, I'd let him ruin my life. I almost asked for his number."

I laugh it off, shaking my head. "I thought he was the one who wanted your number."

"Potato, potahto."

Asher pulls back, grinning.

"He was nice, Mama. He bought me chocolate cake."

I say softly. "As a good boy, I hope you said thank you."

Two weeks later, Asher comes home with a flier clutched proudly in his hands.

"My new principal gave me this!" he announces.

I frown, taking it. Inter-school spelling competition.

"He's five," I mutter.

Camilla shrugs as she sets her bag down. "Apparently he's a genius."

When she leaves, Asher crawls onto the couch beside me.

"Mama," he says. "The principal did something weird."