The skyline of Velmora City shimmered behind Jefferson Global's mirrored tower, each window like an eye watching the world forget its secrets.
Elsa Jefferson walked through the executive floor with her head held high, every click of her heels echoing like a declaration. She wore a fitted beige trench coat over a sapphire-blue sheath dress — sleek, commanding, unapproachable.
But beneath her perfectly composed face, a storm was gathering.
Her grandfather's voice haunted her mind:"Control information, and you control fate."
She hadn't paid attention to that line before. Now, it felt like prophecy.
🔐 The Archive No One Talks About
A discreet tip from one of the junior auditors had led her to an unmarked server room located two floors beneath the executive suites — behind a fake wall in a supposedly abandoned tech lab.
She swiped a custom biometric keycard across a narrow panel. The wall clicked. Opened.
Inside: racks of black servers humming with restrained rage.No lights. Just quiet, low blue glows. A whisper of cooled air and ancient data.
Her heart thumped.
"What the hell is this place…?"
🗃️ Buried Names, Forgotten Deals
She began tapping through the encrypted database on a hidden terminal.
At first, she found what she expected — unlogged transactions, shadow payments, buried offshore trails.
But then...
She stumbled across Project Helix.
Her blood chilled.
Her name was in the files.
So was Silas Kade's.
So was Milo Varn's.
So was… Chess Golding?
Elsa blinked. "Why would he be in here?"
But the file wouldn't open. The access clearance needed was founder-level, higher than her own.
"Who the hell are you, Chess?"
📞 The Call That Wasn't a Call
Her phone buzzed.A number that didn't exist.
She stared at it, then answered.
A slow, cold voice spoke.
"You're early, Miss Jefferson. We weren't expecting you for another three months."
She froze. "Who is this?"
"Someone who'd advise you not to keep pulling on threads you don't understand."
"Is this a threat?"
"A friendly one."
The call cut.
Her reflection in the dark glass of the monitor seemed… different.
She closed the console, slipped out quietly, but she knew:
Someone had just watched her watch them.
🍷 Meanwhile... at the Golden Lily
Back uptown, Silas Kade was lounging at the VIP lounge of The Golden Lily, swirling a glass of vintage Mournblade wine, speaking softly to a woman whose eyes screamed investment and seduction.
Until he glanced across the room and saw Milo Varn walking in.
Silas's grip on the glass tightened.
Milo wore black. His expression: unreadable. His presence? Dominant.
As Milo approached, he spoke without sitting.
"You told me Elsa was obedient. That's clearly outdated."
Silas blinked. "What did she do?"
Milo leaned in. "She opened a file she shouldn't have."
"She was never supposed to know about Helix."
"And yet now, she does."
They shared a long, tense silence.
Milo whispered, "If she reaches the second phase, we can't protect her."
🧩 Elsewhere… the Puppetmaster Watches
Deep beneath the Nova Cathedral, a small antique screen lit up.
Elsa's access log flickered in glowing text.
Chess looked at it with amusement.
"Curiosity... or inheritance?" he muttered.
Lance walked in, carrying a tray of snacks.
"You were right. She took the bait."
Chess nodded, already working on a countermeasure. "They always do."
Lance looked uneasy. "You'll tell her eventually, right?"
Chess didn't answer.
Instead, he tapped one line of code and whispered,
"Let her grow... a little longer."
💔 Elsa in the Elevator
As the elevator rose, Elsa leaned against the mirrored wall.
Her mind swirled with thoughts.
Silas.Milo.Her grandfather.
And now... Chess.
Who was this man she married?How was he involved in any of this?
Suddenly, the elevator lights flickered.
Paused.
A soft female voice spoke from the speaker.
"You're now a person of interest, Miss Jefferson."
Elsa clenched her fists. "Who the hell isn't?"
The lights returned.
The elevator resumed.
😶🌫️ And Just Outside…
A street camera across from Jefferson Tower blinked once.
Inside it, an AI script installed by Chess weeks ago quietly logged Elsa's elevation, facial tension, and retinal dilation.
"Subject growing aware. Recommendation: Contain… or awaken."
Chess stood in the shadows of his surveillance cathedral and smiled.
"Let's see how far she gets before the world starts shaking."