At Ascendcore...
The atmosphere was tense inside the conference room.
Executives sat around the long table, exchanging uneasy glances, discussing Orion’s announcement. Everyone looked tense, even anxious.
No one knew what the fate of the project they had been working on for all those days would be.
Would they ever be able to launch it? Or would it be cancelled before being started?
Elena stood at the head of the table.
She had deliberately decided to handle the initial investigation herself. She didn’t want to involve him until she understood exactly what had happened.
"Everyone has seen Orion’s announcement." She placed both hands against the table. "They’ve launched a platform that is remarkably similar to ours."
A senior technology executive frowned. "Not just similar. It’s identical."
Another executive nodded. "Our proposal was never public. How could they get our idea?"
"Exactly." Another added. "It’s confidential. It’s impossible they got it unless..."
He didn’t finish his sentence.
Elena’s jaw tightened. "Our confidential framework was discussed only during internal meetings. But now, all the details are in Orion Holdings’ hands. It wouldn’t have happened unless someone leaked it."
A murmur passed through the room.
"Someone leaked confidential information to the rival company?"
Elena nodded. "That’s what I intend to find out."
She looked around the room.
"Until we know how Orion obtained this information, nobody leaves this investigation to speculation. I want every access record reviewed. Every document transfer. Every external communication involving the project."
She paused. "We need facts."
Everyone nodded.
Then a soft voice broke the silence. "It might be someone inside the team."
The room went quiet.
Elena slowly turned.
Vivian sat several seats away, her expression filled with concern. She looked almost hesitant, as though she regretted asking the question.
Vivian swallowed as she met Elena’s gaze. "Someone with access must have leaked the information. It can’t be someone who is not part of the team. It has to be someone from inside."
The other executives also agreed with her.
"That’s obvious."
"Yes."
Vivian nodded. "Even so, everyone on the team doesn’t have access to the complete project framework."
The executives exchanged glances.
Elena immediately understood where Vivian was going. "What are you implying?"
Vivian hesitated. "I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable." Her eyes moved briefly around the room. "But Orion has all the project details. This is surprising. That means they have the complete project framework. How did that happen?"
"To find that out, everyone’s access will be reviewed." Elena’s voice was firm.
Vivian smiled. "Of course. Everyone’s access should be reviewed. But I only want to say this: the person who designed the original framework has the highest level of access."
Silence.
Elena’s eyes narrowed. The meaning behind Vivian’s words was obvious. "You mean me. Are you accusing me?"
Vivian’s face immediately changed. "No! Elena, that’s not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Elena thundered.
"I was talking about access levels." Vivian looked genuinely distressed. "I didn’t accuse you of anything."
"You didn’t need to." Elena’s voice became colder. "You are deliberately targeting me."
Vivian shook her head. "I only want to resolve the issue and find out the mole inside the team." She looked around helplessly. "Why are you taking it personally?"
A senior executive shifted uncomfortably. "Miss Sterling does have a point."
Elena turned toward him.
He cleared his throat. "The person who created the framework naturally had access to all the sensitive information."
Another executive nodded. "She is right. Neither of us has full access to the framework, but you do."
Elena’s eyes swept across the room. "You all are accusing me before the investigation has even started."
Nobody answered.
"I called this meeting because I want the truth." Elena pointed toward the screen. "I have spent months building this project. Why would I leak my own work to a competitor?"
Vivian immediately spoke. "I never said you would." Her voice was soft. "I know how much effort you’ve put into this project. I would never accuse you of betraying the company."
Elena stared at her.
Vivian looked hurt. "I’m only asking questions because I’m shocked too."
She looked toward the screen. "Orion somehow obtained confidential information. Shouldn’t we be asking how?"
"Yes." The senior executive’s voice was sharp. "And that’s exactly what we are going to do."
"We are all talking about the facts. You should give a proper explanation, rather than lose your temper."
"Miss Sterling only raised a legitimate concern," another executive supported Vivian. "You shouldn’t be angry with her."
Elena’s eyes flashed.
Another executive joined in. "We can’t ignore the possibility that the leak might have happened from your access just because it makes you uncomfortable."
Elena watched Vivian coldly.
The day she had come to work on this project, Elena had suspected that Vivian was up to something. She thought Vivian would try to get close to Elias and play some tricks to frame her while pretending to be innocent.
But this...
Elena had never thought Vivian was trying to frame her like this.
It was a serious accusation.
Vivian, with her innocent act, had already managed to turn the whole team against her.
And now, Elena started to suspect that Vivian was involved in leaking the vital information to the rival company. She wanted to interrogate her, to press her to reveal the truth. But right now, things weren’t in her favor.
If she continued arguing, things would only get worse.
She took a slow breath and calmed her mind.
"I’m not asking anyone to ignore anything." She looked around the table. "Investigate me if you think I am the one who leaked the information. But I won’t stop here. I’ll investigate every member of this team. Check every access log, every file transfer, every external communication."
Her voice grew stronger. "But don’t confuse suspicion with evidence."
Vivian lowered her eyes. "I don’t want anyone to be falsely accused. Please don’t mind."
The irony nearly made Elena laugh. She knew exactly what Vivian was doing.
A senior executive leaned forward. "Then we need answers quickly. Orion’s announcement has already created a major problem."
Another added, "If we can’t prove Orion has stolen our data, we could lose our market advantage. Investors will start asking whether our technology was compromised."
The legal executive spoke next. "If their technology is genuinely based on confidential information from our project, we may have grounds for legal action. But first we need to prove where the information came from."
Elena nodded. "Exactly." She straightened. "I’ll lead the investigation."
Several people looked surprised.
"You are going to investigate yourself?"
Elena’s expression remained steady. "I’m going to investigate the entire team."
She looked directly at the executives. "And if I am responsible for this leak, I will accept the consequences."
The room fell silent.
"But if I’m not, I will find the person who did this."
Vivian watched her carefully.
Elena continued, "Starting tonight, all access to the project database will be reviewed. Nobody will have unrestricted access until we understand how Orion obtained our confidential information."
She looked toward the security head. "I want a complete access audit. I want every communication with external companies reviewed."
Then she turned to the head of finance. "Check every vendor and consultant connected to the project. I want a report on my desk by tomorrow morning."
The finance head frowned. "That’s a lot to accomplish overnight."
"I know." Elena’s voice was unwavering. "But Orion didn’t wait for us to be ready. They launched first. We don’t have the luxury of waiting."
The meeting began to break apart. Chairs scraped against the floor as people stood.
Vivian remained seated. She waited until almost everyone had left. Then she approached Elena.
"I’m sorry, Elena. Don’t feel offended. I only wanted to know the truth. I never meant to doubt you."
Elena looked at her coldly.
Vivian lowered her eyes. "I didn’t mean to upset you."
"You didn’t upset me." Elena gathered the documents from the table. "You made people suspicious of me."
Vivian looked startled. "What? I..."
"Stop the act, Vivian. No one is here now. I can see what you are trying to do."
Vivian’s expression froze for a fraction of a second. Then she smiled weakly. "You don’t like me, do you? That’s why you are being so harsh with me."
Elena snorted. "Still pretending to be innocent? Carry on. But how long can you act like this? I’ll find the truth."
Vivian’s heart skipped. Yet she maintained her innocent expression. "I hope you do. Whoever is responsible should be punished. But here is a suggestion. Keep yourself away from the investigation. Let the security handle it. Or people may think you manipulated the security team to prove your innocence."
Elena held her gaze for a moment. "You mean I am not innocent. I am doing all this just to fool everyone?"
Vivian instantly looked troubled. "I didn’t mean that. I am only saying this for your own good."
"I know what to do, Vivian," Elena snapped, silencing her. "I don’t need your advice."
She left the conference room.
Vivian watched her leave. The moment Elena disappeared through the doors, the innocent expression vanished.
A faint smile appeared on her lips. "This time, you are badly trapped, Elena. Even Elias can’t save you."
She pulled out her phone.
A message from Cedric was waiting. ’How did it go?’
Vivian typed back: ’Everyone is suspicious of Elena.’
A few seconds later, another message appeared.
’Good. Keep vigilant. Don’t do anything reckless.’
Vivian smiled. She slipped the phone back into her handbag. She had accomplished the first step.
"Soon, Elias himself will dismiss you from the company and then from his life."