Delphine had barely settled into her seat when a message came through the internal system, short and direct. “My office. Now.” She stared at the screen for a second, her pulse tightening slightly before she stood up. As she stepped into Wilson’s office moments later, she didn’t wait to be told to speak. “You wanted to see me,” she said, her voice steady despite the lingering tension from earlier. Wilson didn’t respond immediately, his eyes lifting slowly from the file in front of him. “Close the door,” he said. Delphine hesitated for half a second, then did as instructed, the quiet click echoing louder than it should have.

“You handled the file this morning,” he said, watching her closely. “You found something most people would have missed.” Delphine folded her arms lightly, not defensive, but grounded. “That’s my job,” she replied. Wilson’s gaze sharpened slightly. “No,” he said. “That’s beyond your job.” A brief silence followed before he pushed a thick stack of files toward her. “You’re taking the lead on this case,” he added. Delphine blinked once, caught off guard despite herself. “That’s not a junior assignment,” she said carefully. “Then don’t approach it like one,” he replied.

She stepped closer to the desk, her fingers brushing the edge of the file without opening it yet. “You’re assigning me something this complex on my first day?” she asked. Wilson leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving her face. “I’m giving you an opportunity,” he said. “What you do with it determines whether you stay here.” Delphine let out a slow breath. “And if I fail?” she asked. His answer came without hesitation. “Then you prove you don’t belong.” The words were blunt, but something in his tone made them feel like more than a threat.

Delphine nodded once, picking up the file. “Fine,” she said. “Then I won’t fail.” Wilson studied her for a moment, as if deciding whether to believe her. “I’ll be watching,” he said. Delphine met his gaze directly. “I assumed that already,” she replied. A faint shift passed through his expression, almost approval, but gone before it could settle. “Good,” he said. “Because I don’t repeat instructions.” Delphine turned slightly, then paused. “And you don’t give second chances either, do you?” she asked. Wilson’s voice dropped just slightly. “Not often,” he said.

Hours later, the tension hadn’t eased, it had deepened. Papers were spread across Delphine’s desk, her focus sharp, her movements precise as she worked through the case. “You’re going too fast,” a voice said beside her. She glanced up to see a colleague watching her with mild concern. “Or you’re going too slow,” she replied without looking away from the document. He let out a quiet breath. “This case isn’t simple,” he said. “Neither am I,” she answered. From across the room, Wilson’s voice cut in without warning. “Then prove it,” he said.

Delphine didn’t look up this time. “Give me something worth proving,” she replied. A brief silence followed, then the sound of a file being placed on her desk. “There’s your problem,” Wilson said. She flipped it open quickly, her eyes scanning. “This clause is inconsistent,” she said almost immediately. “It contradicts the earlier agreement.” Wilson watched her carefully. “And the implication?” he asked. Delphine’s voice steadied. “If it’s challenged, the client loses leverage,” she said. “Which means the entire negotiation weakens.” Another pause followed. “Fix it,” he said.

Before she could respond, a knock cut through the moment. The door opened without waiting for permission, and a man stepped in, his gaze moving directly to Delphine. “I need information on her,” he said bluntly. Delphine froze slightly, her grip tightening on the file. “Excuse me?” she asked. The man didn’t look at her again. “Her background,” he said to Wilson. “Personal details. Who she is outside this office.” The air shifted instantly, tension sharpening.

Wilson’s voice came cold and controlled. “That’s not relevant,” he said. The man stepped closer. “It is to me,” he insisted. Delphine straightened slightly. “You don’t get to ask that,” she said. The man’s eyes flicked to her briefly, something unreadable passing through them. “I just did,” he replied. Before Delphine could respond, Wilson’s tone dropped, quieter but far more dangerous. “And I just refused,” he said.

A silence followed, thick and suffocating. The man studied Wilson for a moment, then gave a small nod. “Then we’ll revisit this,” he said before turning to leave. The door closed behind him, but the tension didn’t leave with him. Delphine exhaled slowly, her heart still racing. “Who was that?” she asked. Wilson didn’t answer immediately. “Someone you don’t need to concern yourself with,” he said. Delphine frowned slightly. “That stopped being true the moment he asked about me,” she replied.

Wilson’s gaze shifted to her, sharper now. “You’re overstepping,” he said. Delphine shook her head slightly. “No,” she said. “I’m paying attention.” Another pause followed, longer this time. “Then pay attention to your work,” he replied. Delphine held his gaze for a second longer before looking back down at the file. “I am,” she said. “That’s why this doesn’t feel normal.” Wilson didn’t respond, but the silence between them changed.

Time passed, but the tension didn’t ease. It was built. Delphine worked, focused, precise, but her mind kept circling back. Then her phone vibrated. She froze slightly before pulling it out, her eyes scanning the message.

“She knows too much. Protect yourself.”

Her breath slowed.

“What is it?” Wilson’s voice came from across the room. Delphine locked her phone instantly. “Nothing,” she said. His gaze didn’t move. “You hesitated,” he said. She met his eyes. “So did you earlier,” she replied. A pause followed. Neither of them looked away.

Minutes later, her phone vibrated again in her hand, and this time Delphine didn’t rush to check it. “You felt that too, didn’t you?” she asked quietly, her eyes already lifting before she even read the message. Wilson was watching her, closely, intensely and it made her chest tighten in a way she couldn’t explain. She finally looked down at the screen and read the words slowly. “You cannot trust anyone. Not even him.” Her fingers tightened slightly. Then she looked back at him. “Someone keeps sending me messages,” she said, her voice controlled but no longer steady. “And now they’re telling me not to trust you.”

Wilson didn’t react immediately, but something in his expression

shifted, subtle, but real. “Show me,” he said quietly, stepping closer without breaking eye contact. Delphine hesitated, then turned the phone toward him. He read it once, his jaw tightening just slightly before he exhaled slowly. “This isn’t random,” he said. “Someone is watching you.” Delphine let out a small, tense laugh. “That’s not the part that concerns me,” she replied. “It’s the part where they think you’re involved.” Wilson’s gaze snapped back to hers. “And do you?” he asked.

The question landed harder than she expected. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice quieter now but sharper at the edges. “That’s the problem. Every time I think I understand what’s happening, something like this shows up.” Wilson took another step closer, lowering his voice. “Then listen to me carefully,” he said. “Whatever this is, it didn’t start today.” Delphine frowned slightly. “Then when did it start?” she asked. Wilson’s gaze flicked briefly toward the door, then back to her. “That’s not a conversation we should be having here,” he replied.

“Then where?” Delphine pressed, frustration creeping into her tone. “Because I’m the one getting the warnings, Wilson. I’m the one being dragged into whatever this is.” He didn’t answer immediately, and that hesitation made her pulse spike. “Say something,” she demanded quietly. Before he could respond, a file suddenly slid off her desk, crashing onto the floor as papers scattered in every direction. Delphine jumped, her breath catching sharply as she stared at it. “Did you do that?” she asked, her voice tight. Wilson’s expression hardened instantly. “No,” he said.

The silence that followed was thick and immediate. “Then how did it just” she started, but stopped when her phone vibrated again in her hand. Both of them looked down at it this time. Delphine swallowed before unlocking the screen. “Leave now.” Her breath hitched slightly. “This isn’t funny anymore,” she whispered. Wilson stepped closer, his voice firm now. “Delphine, look at me.” But she didn’t. Her eyes were still locked on the screen. “It changed,” she said quietly.

Wilson frowned. “What changed?” he asked. Delphine turned the phone toward him, her fingers trembling slightly. “The message,” she said. “It changed on its own.” He read it, his expression tightening as the words updated in real time. “You’re not supposed to be here.” A cold silence settled between them. “This isn’t just someone watching,” Wilson said slowly. “This is someone inside.” Delphine’s heart slammed against her chest. “Inside the firm?” she asked.

Before he could answer, the lights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then everything went dark.

Delphine’s breath caught as the sudden silence swallowed the room. “Wilson?” she called softly, her voice barely steady. “Stay where you are,” he replied immediately, his tone low and controlled, but she could hear the tension beneath it. A sharp sound came from behind her, too close, too deliberate and her entire body went rigid. “Did you hear that?” she whispered. “Yes,” he said.

And then—

Something moved.

Right beside her.

The office was too quiet, the kind of silence that made every small sound feel intentional. Delphine didn't look up when she heard the voice behind her, but her typing slowed slightly as if her body already recognized who had entered. "You're still here," Wilson said from the doorway, his voice calm but carrying that familiar weight that made the air feel heavier. Delphine finally turned her chair slightly, keeping her expression steady. "I said I would finish the reports," she replied. "I don't leave work unfinished." Wilson stepped inside slowly, his gaze fixed on her. "Most people say that," he said quietly, "but most people don't actually prove it."

Delphine straightened in her chair, refusing to let his presence unsettle her. "Then I guess you're not used to people like me," she said, trying to keep her tone even. That made Wilson pause for a second before he moved further into the room, stopping near her desk without asking permission. "People like you usually last two weeks here," he said. "After that, reality adjusts them." Delphine tilted her head slightly, holding his gaze. "And what makes you think I'll be like the rest?" Wilson's eyes narrowed just slightly. "I don't think," he said. "I observe."

The word "observe" lingered in the space between them, making Delphine more aware of how closely she had been watched since she arrived. She leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "So tell me what you've observed so far," she challenged. Wilson didn't answer immediately, his eyes drifting briefly across the scattered files on her desk. "You compensate with control," he said finally. "People who do that are either hiding something... or running from it." Delphine's lips tightened slightly. "And which one am I?" she asked.

Wilson stepped closer to the desk, lowering his voice slightly. "That's what I'm still trying to figure out," he said. The honesty in that answer was more unsettling than anything else he had said. Delphine exhaled slowly. "You make it sound like I'm a case file," she said. Wilson's gaze lifted to hers again. "Everyone here is a case file," he replied. "The only difference is how quickly they break under pressure." Delphine met his gaze firmly. "And you enjoy watching that happen?" she asked.

For a moment, Wilson didn't answer, and that silence felt sharper than words. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower. "I don't enjoy it," he said. "I prevent it when it matters." Delphine studied him carefully. "That sounds like a contradiction," she said. Wilson's expression shifted slightly, unreadable again. "It only sounds like one if you don't understand the system you're in," he replied. Delphine frowned slightly. "And what system is that exactly?" she asked. Wilson leaned slightly closer to the desk. "One where ignorance is expensive," he said quietly.

The intensity in his voice made her pulse quicken slightly, but she refused to look away. "You talk like you've already decided what happens to people here," she said. Wilson didn't deny it. "I haven't decided," he said. "I anticipate." Delphine leaned forward slightly now, her tone sharper. "And what do you anticipate about me?" Wilson's gaze locked onto hers. "That you're either going to survive this place," he said slowly, "or become part of its history." The words landed heavily between them.

Before Delphine could respond, her phone vibrated sharply on the desk. The sound cut through the tension instantly. She hesitated, then picked it up, her eyes scanning the screen. Her expression changed slightly. Wilson noticed immediately. "What is it?" he asked. Delphine didn't answer right away, her thumb hovering over the message. "It's another unknown number," she said finally. Wilson's voice dropped slightly. "Read it." Delphine hesitated, then read aloud softly. "Someone is watching you tonight."

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. Wilson didn't move, but his expression sharpened. "That's not random," he said. Delphine looked up at him quickly. "Then what is it?" she asked. Wilson stepped slightly closer, his tone lower now. "It means you're already inside something you didn't agree to," he said. Delphine's stomach tightened. "Inside what exactly?" she pressed. Wilson didn't answer immediately, his gaze drifting toward the glass wall behind her desk instead.

Delphine noticed it and followed his line of sight slowly. "Wilson," she said more carefully now, "you're not answering me." He finally spoke, his voice quieter than before. "Because the answer depends on whether you're ready to hear it," he said. Delphine turned fully toward him now. "Try me," she said. That earned a faint shift in his expression. Not amusement. Not irritation. Something closer to concern. "You're not supposed to be the target," he said quietly.

Delphine's breath slowed. "Target?" she repeated. Wilson's eyes didn't leave hers. "Not yet," he added. The word "yet" made her chest tighten. She tried to steady herself. "Then why does it feel like I already am?" she asked. Wilson didn't answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped briefly to her phone again. "Because someone is testing how close they can get without you noticing," he said.

Delphine's fingers tightened slightly around the phone. "And you?" she asked carefully. "Are you part of that test?" The question hung between them for a second too long. Wilson finally stepped back slightly, breaking the closeness. "If I was," he said quietly, "you wouldn't be sitting here asking me that." Delphine studied him, still unsure. "That's not very comforting," she said. Wilson's gaze held steady. "Comfort was never part of this job," he replied.

The silence that followed felt heavier than before. Delphine slowly placed her phone back on the desk, trying to regain control of her breathing. "So what now?" she asked. Wilson looked at her for a moment longer than usual before responding. "Now," he said quietly, "you finish your work... and you don't leave this office alone tonight." Delphine frowned slightly. "That sounds more like an order than advice," she said.

Wilson didn't deny it. Instead, he turned slightly toward the door. "Call it what you want," he said. "But ignore it, and you'll understand the message in that phone better than you want to." Delphine watched him carefully. "And if I stay?" she asked. Wilson paused at the doorway. "Then I can at least make sure you're still here to ask the right questions tomorrow," he said.

And then he stepped out.

Delphine sat in silence for a moment, staring at the empty doorway, her thoughts racing faster than she could control. She reached for her phone again instinctively, but before she could unlock it, the screen lit up on its own.

A new message appeared on Delphine's phone without any number or sender, the screen lighting up in the silence of the office and pulling her attention away from everything else. Her fingers hesitated before touching it, but her instinct pushed her to open it anyway. The moment she read the words, her breathing shifted slightly, and her grip on the phone tightened without her permission. "You should have listened to him."

Delphine whispered under her breath, "What does that even mean... who is this?" but there was no answer, only silence pressing heavier around her. Her eyes lifted slowly from the screen, and she forced herself to speak again, though her voice was lower now. "Wilson..." she called without turning fully, uncertain if she even wanted him to respond. The unease in her chest deepened when she realized how quiet the office had become.

From outside the glass wall, something moved again, closer this time. Delphine froze immediately, her voice breaking slightly as she said, "Tell me I'm imagining that." Wilson didn't answer right away, but when he finally spoke, his tone was controlled and sharp. "You're not imagining it. Don't move." The way he said it made her body go still, as if his words carried physical weight.

Delphine swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay calm even as her pulse climbed. "Then what is it?" she asked, her voice tightening. Wilson stepped slightly forward but didn't take his eyes off the glass. "Someone wants you to notice them," he said quietly, almost like he was measuring every word. That made her stomach drop because it meant he had seen it too, and he wasn't surprised.

The shadow outside didn't leave. Instead, it lingered just beyond the glass, as if waiting for the exact moment she would react again. Delphine whispered, "This isn't normal... is it?" and for the first time, Wilson didn't respond immediately. His silence stretched long enough to feel like an answer on its own, before he finally said, "No. It's not normal. And that's the problem."

Delphine's hand tightened around the phone again as she forced herself to look back at the message. Her voice dropped even lower as she said, "Then why does it feel like this started before I even got here?" Wilson's gaze shifted slightly toward her for a brief moment before returning to the glass. "Because someone didn't wait for you to arrive," he said. "They were already ready for you."

Delphine paused at the office door before entering, gripping her bag tighter than necessary. Wilson's voice came from inside, calm but sharp, "You're five minutes late. That is not like you." She stepped in quickly, forcing a steady tone, "Traffic was heavier than usual." His eyes lifted slowly, studying her. "Or something kept you out longer than you're saying."

Delphine dropped her bag beside the desk, trying to ignore the tightening in her chest. "Are you interrogating me now?" she asked, half nervous, half defensive. Wilson leaned back slightly in his chair. "I'm assessing patterns. That's what good lawyers do." She frowned, "And what pattern do you see in me?" He didn't answer immediately, which made her more uncomfortable than words could have.

Wilson finally said, "A woman who is being followed and still insists on walking alone at night." Delphine stiffened instantly. "You don't know that," she replied quickly. He tilted his head slightly. "Then explain the message you tried to hide yesterday." Silence fell between them, heavy and immediate, as her pulse began to rise.

Delphine exhaled slowly, forcing control into her voice. "So you did see it." Wilson stood up, walking closer to her desk. "I see everything that matters in my office." She swallowed, refusing to step back even though his presence was overwhelming. "Then tell me what it means," she asked, "because I'm starting to think I walked into something bigger than a job."

Wilson stopped just beside her chair, his voice lowering. "You didn't walk into it. You were already inside it." Delphine frowned, "Inside what exactly?" He didn't answer right away, only watching her like he was deciding how much truth she could survive. Then he said quietly, "That depends on who is trying to reach you."

Delphine's phone vibrated sharply on the desk, cutting through the air between them. She hesitated before picking it up, her fingers tightening around it. Wilson didn't move, but his eyes sharpened instantly. "Open it," he said calmly. She obeyed slowly, her breath catching as she read the message.

A new message appeared with no number attached. Only five words.

"You should have listened to him."

Delphine froze. "Who is him?" she whispered. Wilson's expression didn't change, but something in his gaze hardened. "Put the phone down," he said quietly. She looked at him sharply, "No. I deserve answers." He stepped closer again, voice controlled but lower, "Not all answers are safe for you right now."

Delphine stood up abruptly, frustration breaking through her fear. "Then stop talking in riddles, Wilson. Someone is clearly targeting me." He didn't deny it. That silence alone made her stomach tighten. Instead, he said softly, "Sit down before you make a mistake you cannot undo." But she didn't move.

Delphine's voice came out sharper than she expected as she stepped closer to Wilson's desk. "So what you're saying is someone inside this building is watching me?" Wilson didn't deny it. He only replied calmly, "I'm saying someone here knows more about you than you think." She narrowed her eyes. "That sounds like a very dangerous assumption." He answered quietly, "It's not an assumption."

Delphine folded her arms tightly, trying to control her breathing. "Then tell me the truth, Wilson. Why would anyone in your firm care about me?" Wilson's gaze stayed fixed on her. "That's the part you're not ready to hear." She shook her head slightly. "I don't like being kept in the dark." He stepped closer, voice lowering, "And I don't like you being exposed."

Her pulse tightened at his words and she quickly replied, "Exposed to what exactly?" Wilson hesitated for the first time, then said slowly, "To something that started long before you walked into this office." Delphine frowned. "That's not an answer." He looked at her more directly now. "It's the only warning you need right now."

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated again on the desk. Delphine didn't move immediately. Wilson noticed. "Open it," he said quietly. She hesitated. "What if it's another threat?" Wilson replied without looking away from her, "Then I need to see it too." Slowly, she picked it up, her fingers trembling slightly.

Delphine read the message and her breath stopped for a second. "It says I shouldn't be here alone with you," she whispered. Wilson's expression didn't change, but his voice dropped lower. "That message is not wrong." She looked up instantly. "Excuse me?" He stepped slightly closer. "You heard me."

Delphine took a step back, her voice rising slightly. "So now you're part of the threat too?" Wilson shook his head once. "No. I'm part of the reason you're still safe." She frowned deeply. "That doesn't make any sense." He replied calmly, "It will when you understand who is behind this."

Delphine's breathing became uneven as she looked at him. "Why does it feel like you already know who it is?" Wilson didn't answer immediately. That silence alone made her stomach tighten. Finally, he said, "Because I've seen this pattern before." She stepped forward again. "Seen it where?"

Wilson's eyes darkened slightly. "In any case I should have never taken it." Delphine went still. "So this is about your past?" she asked carefully. He nodded once. "And now it's touching your present." She whispered, "And I'm in the middle of it." Wilson replied quietly, "Yes. And that is exactly why I told you not to ignore the messages."

Suddenly, the office lights flickered once again. Delphine turned sharply. "Did you see that?" she asked quickly. Wilson's voice became more controlled. "Yes. And it's not a coincidence." She backed away slightly. "Then what is it?" He didn't answer immediately. Instead, his eyes shifted toward the glass door.

Delphine followed his gaze. "What are you looking at?" Wilson said quietly, "Someone is outside." Her body stiffened immediately. "Outside the office?" she asked. Wilson nodded slightly. "And they are not walking away." Her voice dropped. "How do you know that?" He answered simply, "Because I can feel them watching."

Delphine whispered, "This is insane." Wilson stepped closer to her again, voice firm now. "Stay behind me." She shook her head slightly. "I don't need protection." He looked at her directly. "This is not about what you need. It's about what you cannot survive alone."

At that exact moment, the office door handle began to move slowly from the outside. Delphine froze instantly.

"Wilson..." she whispered. He didn't move. "Don't speak," he said quietly. The handle turned again, more deliberately this time, as if whoever was outside knew they were already being watched.

Delphine's voice barely came out. "Who is it?" Wilson's answer was low, controlled, and final. "Someone who should not know I'm here with you." The handle stopped turning.

A silence fell between them, heavy and unnatural, as if even the air inside the office had stopped moving. Delphine's lips parted slightly but no words came out, because something about the atmosphere had shifted in a way she could not explain. Then, from outside the glass door, a voice broke through the stillness, soft but clear enough to freeze everything inside her chest. "Wilson... I know she's with you."

Delphine's body reacted before her mind could catch up, her fingers tightening instinctively against the edge of the desk as the words sank in. Her throat went dry instantly, and she turned her head slowly toward Wilson, searching his face for confusion or denial. But what she saw instead made her stomach drop even further, because he wasn't startled, he wasn't questioning it, he was simply still, like the voice had already reached somewhere inside him before it even spoke again.

Wilson's expression changed in a way Delphine had never seen before, not fear, not shock, but something deeper that made her breath catch without permission. "That voice..." she whispered without thinking, but Wilson didn't answer her, his gaze fixed on the door like he was measuring something only he could see. The silence that followed was no longer empty, it was loaded, like the entire room was holding its breath with them, waiting for what would come next.

Delphine forced herself to speak again, though her voice came out thinner than she intended. "Wilson... who is that?" she asked, but even as she said it, she realized he wasn't looking at the door anymore. He was looking at her. And in that moment, she understood something she didn't want to understand, because whatever was outside that door wasn't just looking for him anymore, it was looking for both of them.

And then Wilson finally spoke, but his voice was lower now, controlled, almost dangerous in its calmness. "Don't move," he said quietly, not taking his eyes off her. "Whatever happens next... stay exactly where you are."