Chapter 44


    Changing


    The date was set in two days, I was about to meet Can again. I wished I could have had more time to


    prepare for meeting him, but I was also aware that it was going to happen soon.


    “I‘ll be by your side, and I will make sure nothing bad is going to happen,” Aren assured.


    I smiled, trying to fake myposure, but the truth was, I was terrified. Perhaps I should feel more


    comfortable having to hold Aren‘s hand while facing my dreadful ex. Aren was definitely hotter and


    wealthier than Can, and I was nearly certain that he was a better man in every aspect. Still, my


    anxieties were there, slowly consuming my rationality. Nheless, it was Monday, and I had other


    things to focus on. We had to set a trap for a hacker.


    Mr. rk, Neil, Aren, and I sat together in the office and worked up a n to provoke the one who


    invaded the system into another attack.


    “We have to keep Davies in hiding for some time, whether he likes it or not. Officially, he will be on


    vacation while we prevent him from contacting anyone from outside. Those fuckers cannot know that we


    have found out they entered our system and who was their mole,” Mr. rk said.


    “He‘s been handed over to the police. Can we get him back just like that?” I asked, my eyes shifting from


    him to Aren and back to him.


    Mr. rk smirked. “I have my way. Besides, the case has been handled quietly by the NYPD from the


    beginning. There‘s no need to worry.”


    I nodded in acknowledgment. It looked like it was merely one of many crime–like situations in that


    company that he had to deal with over the years. As my eyes turned to Aren, I saw him calmly


    registering Mr. rk‘s words while nodding in approval. He had to trust him and his judgment a lot. That


    made me curious if there was any particr story behind their acquaintance.


    “I prepared a list of potential products that would attract the thief‘s attention.” Neil gave us all a copy of


    the results of his research. “I would say that the sequel to the game “Golden Dragon City” should do the


    trick.”


    Aren quickly read the document and put it down on the table. “I agree. The game was supposed to be


    released by the end of next year. If we spread the rumors that theunch would be a whole year earlier,


    the hacker will certainly try to steal it or corrupt our files.”


    I remembered that the first part of the game was a big hit, and the yers anticipated the sequel for a


    few years, but Moon World, thepany that originally created the game, hadn‘t been so lucky with their


    other products. Two years ago, they were on the verge of bankruptcy. That was when Aren bought them


    out, making them a part of the Lan Diamond Corporation. I heard big money was invested to put the


    Golden Dragon City‘s team back on their feet. If the hacker‘s goal was to threaten Aren‘s business, then


    he certainly wouldn‘t miss the chance to damage the long–awaited game, making all the money invested


    go to waste. “Cora, please exin. What do you think that hacker would do?” Aren gestured at me to


    speak. I straightened in my seat and cleared my throat. “The Moon World operates in its own


    “Perfect.” Aren grinned at me, pping his hands. “Do you need anything to make this work?”


    “Um...” I smiled nervously. “I would like Norton and n to help me... I‘ve already used their programs to


    find the mole, so I think that they would be a great he—”


    “Where do they work?” Aren asked, his voice firm andmanding.


    “We work together at the workshop. We fixputers and sometimes work for minorpanies,” I


    answered.


    “I want to hire them exclusively.” “W–what?” Hearing Aren‘s words made my mind go nk. “You‘ve


    already said that you need your colleague‘s permission to use his software with your program. I‘ll pay


    them to settle all the legal issues and copyrights. In return, they would have to sign a full use of


    confidentiality, but I‘ll make sure their payment would be worth it.”


    His words sounded surreal. Every one of us dreamed of earning decent money for the work that we


    loved, but we also got used to our independency.


    “That‘s very generous of you, but I don‘t think that my friends would agree to work like cogs in a


    corporate machine…”


    Aren leaned closer, his eyes locked on me. “I will create a department for the three of you only. You will


    be in charge of Lan Diamond Corporation‘s IT security. You will have the authority to check on every


    other department and you will answer to no one but me.”


    My lips formed a nervous smile. I didn‘t think that anyone in my ce could refuse such an offer. It would


    be highly unreasonable to refuse such an offer... The problem was that” reasonable” would have been


    thest name I‘d use when calling Norton or n. Norton had once refused to take an assignment from


    apany because he imed that it had too many R letters in the name...


    “I‘I... try to convince them,” I said, turning my gaze away from Aren‘s irresistible irises.


    “Good girl.” He chuckled and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead.


    The level of my flusteredness went sky–high as I realized that Neil and Mr. rk were still very present


    in the room, observing every detail of the discussion between their CEO and me. I couldn‘t possibly miss


    the mischievous grins popping on their faces. Neil had that grin glued to his mouth even when he was


    walking me downstairs so I could go on to meet with n and Norton.


    “What?!” I grunted at him, a red re still visible on my cheeks.


    “He‘s changing, you know?” he said, smiling,


    “Aren?” I asked as if he could be talking about anyone else.


    He nodded, “You are the cause of that change.”


    The fading blush returned two–fold. “What are you talking about?!” Iughed nervously.


    “I have known him for ten years, and I‘ve never seen him affectionate toward a woman. Kisses, holding


    hands... that‘s not what he used to do. I think that you intrigue him in more than one aspect, and that


    makes him do things he has never done. It‘s fun to watch.” He giggled. “Perhaps... but would it make our


    rtionship real?” I lowered my head and didn‘t realize that I said it out loud.


    Neil pulled my hand to stop. “Wait... have you... for my boss...?” I stared at him in panic before bursting


    out in awkwardughter. “N–no! I‘m just kidding!”


    Neil stretched his lips into a thin smile. His eyes narrowed. “Ms. Bell... I believe that you are a good and


    emotional person. That is why I wouldn‘t want to see you hurt. Although I think that my boss can be a


    good person as well, he is a deadly calctive son–of-a–bitch ny percent of the time. What I‘m


    saying is that some people are just never meant to be in an emotional rtionship, and Aren Lan is the


    best example of one of them.”


    I forced myself to smile, ignoring the odd squeeze in my chest, before patting Neil‘s arm.” Don‘t worry.


    I‘m not nning to fall in love with your boss. I mean... he is sexy... and he can drive my nuts, but he


    would have to work very hard before I let him into my heart.” My voice sounded quite confident. I only


    hoped that I could keep that confidence for the long run.


    I couldn‘t say how many deep breaths I took before I got rid of Neil‘s words from my head. I needed to


    focus before I talked to n and Norton. While Benjamin drove me to the workshop, I kept making


    mental notes and improving my sales pitch. When I entered, my geek friends were already waiting for


    me, sitting by the table as if they were the board of examiners. “What‘s so urgent?” n frowned,


    crossing his arms over his chest. Norton mirrored n‘s expression. “Yeah... What is so urgent? And


    more importantly, did my program work?” I chuckled. “Yes, Norton. Your program helped a lot. Thank


    you.” I blew him a kiss that instantly painted a sweet blush on his cheeks.


    “So?” n impatiently tapped his fingers on his crossed arm. I smiled nervously and sat in front of them.


    “Well... As you know, I have a boyfriend...” I started.


    “A rich and generous boyfriend,” n added, narrowing his gaze at me. My lips curled even more


    awkwardly than before. “He actually owns a hugepany... When I asked for your help on Saturday, it


    was to deal with the crisis in thatpany...”


    “And?” n urged.


    I took a deep breath. “I‘m aware that you both treasure your independence, but he wants to hire you


    and offered to create a special department with only the three of us in it, taking orders from no one


    except for him alone. He promised to treat you fairly, with good pay and –


    “What is the name of thepany?” Norton asked, his expression more severe than ever before.


    I choked out, “Lan Diamond Corporation.”


    They both looked at each other before shifting their eyes to me, saying simultaneously,” Where do we


    sign?”