C104 Quiet Schemes

Before knocking off work, I finally completed the rewritten files Josh had demanded. My eyes were burning from staring at the screen the entire afternoon, but I still forced myself to double-check everything before standing up. When I walked into Josh’s office and placed the documents on his desk, he didn’t even open them.He simply glanced at the stack, leaned back in his chair, and without a word said, “You are dismissed.”

His tone was flat, almost uninterested, as if I had become nothing more than a routine inconvenience. I stood there for a second, waiting for some form of acknowledgment, but he had already turned his attention away from me. As I walked out, I couldn’t help but notice his distant expression. His mind was clearly elsewhere. Not on the work. Not on me. On something else entirely.

Josh sat in his chair puzzled, the Vice Director Ben’s words seemed to still be lingering in his thoughts. The idea of arranging a marriage for Laura… it had clearly taken root in his mind. He was searching for something, someone, a solution that would remove Mike from his daughter’s life. When he finally looked up again, his eyes briefly landed on Bright laughing with Alex in the open office space.

Josh narrowed his eyes slightly, studying them longer than necessary. Then he muttered under his breath, barely audible, “I need to do a background check on him.” That single sentence carried more weight than it should have. Soon, the day ended. When I stepped out of the Cybersecurity Department building, Alicia was already waiting outside her office area. The moment she saw me, she walked over immediately, her usual calm presence returning after a long day.

We walked together toward Chris, who was leaning casually against the wall near the parking area, already waiting for us. As soon as we reached him, he straightened up and asked, “So? How did it go with the work he gave you?” I let out a tired breath and replied, “I finished it. But he made me redo it anyway.” Chris raised an eyebrow. “Redo it?” I nodded. “And when I gave it back, he didn’t even check it. He just tossed it into his drawer and told me I was dismissed.”

Chris let out a short sarcastic laugh. “So basically he just wasted your time.” Alicia folded her arms, thinking carefully. “That means one of two things,” she said calmly. “Either the task wasn’t urgent at all… or he simply gave it to you to frustrate you.” Chris smirked. “Honestly, I’d go with the second one.”

He then leaned forward slightly, his tone sharpening. “Why don’t we just play his game then? Give him a taste of his own medicine.” Immediately, I shook my head. “No, brother. That won’t help anything. Remember… he is Laura’s father. Everything between me and Laura is still fragile. If we provoke him, it will only give him more reasons to oppose us.” Chris clicked his tongue but didn’t argue immediately. Instead, he turned to Alicia. “So we’re just supposed to sit and watch our brother get treated like this?”

Alicia sighed softly, clearly caught between logic and frustration. “Chris… I understand what you’re saying. But he’s right. We need to be careful.” Chris crossed his arms, still unconvinced, but he stayed quiet. After a brief pause, Alicia clapped her hands lightly. “Alright, enough of this for today. Tomorrow we are not working anyway.” Chris tilted his head. “Why not?” Alicia smiled slightly. “Vice Director Ben’s wedding… and Samantha’s as well.” Chris blinked. “Right… that thing.”

Alicia then continued, her mood shifting slightly brighter. “Since we are free tomorrow, why don’t we do something useful? Let’s go get our driving licenses.” We both stared at her. Chris pointed at himself. “Driving license?” She nodded. “Yes. I will speak to my father. He can arrange a slot for us at a driving school tomorrow morning. All three of us.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Chris laughed. “Honestly, that’s actually not a bad idea." I nodded slowly as well. “Yeah… we’ve been talking about it for a while.” Alicia smiled, satisfied. “Then it’s settled.” With that, we parted ways.

When I got home, the atmosphere was still heavy. My parents were sitting in the lounge, clearly waiting for me. The worry in their faces hadn’t faded since everything started. Mary was the first to speak. “You’re late again… are you really okay?” I forced a small smile. “I’m fine, Mom. Just work.” Quinton studied me carefully. “That man didn’t trouble you again, did he?”

I hesitated for a second, then shook my head. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.” They didn’t look convinced, but they didn’t push further either. We had dinner together, though I barely tasted anything. My mind was elsewhere, replaying everything that had happened during the day.

Meanwhile, at the Mooney residence, Alicia changed out of her work clothes and headed straight to the kitchen. “A promise is a promise,” she said to herself softly as she tied her apron. Soon, the entire mansion was filled with the rich aroma of food. The smell alone was enough to draw Peter, Georgia, and Mark out of their rooms.

Peter raised an eyebrow as he entered the kitchen. “This smell again… it can only be you.” Alicia turned around with a small smile. “Of course it is.” Georgia clapped her hands in delight. “My granddaughter is cooking again!” Mark leaned on the doorframe, amused. “You really don’t rest, do you?” Alicia shrugged lightly. “I said I would cook for grandpa. A promise is a promise.”

Within minutes, she had prepared a full meal traditional Scotch Broth with Herb-Roasted Chicken and Buttered Potatoes. The combination filled the house with warmth and comfort. When they all sat down to eat, the mood softened instantly. Even Mark, usually strict and reserved, seemed relaxed.

After dinner, Alicia’s expression turned slightly more serious. “I need to talk about Mike,” she said quietly. The table fell silent. She explained everything she knew, Josh’s growing interference, the pressure Mike was under, and the way things were slowly becoming more complicated at work. Mark listened carefully before responding. “We should observe first. Interfering too early may make things worse.” Alicia nodded, though her worry didn’t disappear.

Then she added, “Dad… I need another favor.” Mark raised an eyebrow. “What is it?” “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to be picked up like a child anymore. I want independence.” She paused. “Can you arrange for a driving school session tomorrow morning? For me… and for Mike and Chris as well. Before we attend the wedding.” Mark looked surprised. “All three of you?” Alicia nodded firmly. “Yes.” For a moment, Mark said nothing. Then he sighed lightly and smiled. “Alright. I’ll arrange it.” Alicia’s face brightened immediately. “Thank you, Dad.”

That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was slowly shifting. Work. Relationships. Power. Even the smallest decisions now felt like they carried weight. But for the first time that day, there was a small thought that gave me some relief. Tomorrow… we would learn something new. And maybe, just maybe… things would start changing for the better.