C3 He Was Targeting Me

My parents saw it as a major opportunity, especially since the Woods were technically connected to their employment.

Chris and I spoke about it. Despite everything that had happened between us and Ben, we both agreed on one thing work was work.

We needed opportunities and we couldn’t afford to let personal history stop us. I applied for the Cybersecurity internship. Chris applied for Business Administration.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like my life was moving forward again.

Because Ben’s father knew us, it was easy for both Chris and me to get into the internship program at Wood’s IT Company.

On the day we arrived, there was excitement in the air. We celebrated quietly between ourselves, knowing this was a big step in our lives.

None of us truly understood what was coming next.

We were assigned to different groups for training.

Being young and inexperienced, we were nervous at first but the teams we joined were welcoming and calm. That helped us settle in quickly.

One thing became clear. Ben was already ahead of us, because of his father’s influence, he wasn’t just an intern. Within a short time, he was promoted to Vice Director of the company.

It was his father’s company, after all, so no one questioned it. We were shocked when we heard the news but we kept our focus on our own work.

Chris overheard something in the administrative department. People were saying that Ben was going to become a father and that he was planning to marry his pregnant girlfriend.

At first, we didn’t take it seriously. It sounded like office gossip just another rumor that didn’t concern us. But that same afternoon, something happened that changed my focus completely.

As we were leaving work, I saw a familiar figure in the distance. A woman’s back… her walk… something about her felt familiar. She walked toward a luxury car parked nearby. A Royce.

Chris stopped beside me. “Doesn’t she look familiar?” he asked. I squinted, trying to make sense of it but before I could respond, she got into the car and disappeared. I stayed silent the entire ride home.

When I get home, my parents were waiting for me with strange expressions on their faces. Concern. Unease. Something they were clearly trying to hide.

“What’s going on?” I asked immediately. “Why do you both look like that?” My mother quickly forced a smile. “How was work? Are your colleagues treating you well?”

I was tired, so I answered briefly, letting the question slide. Whatever they were hiding, I didn’t have the energy to push further.

We had dinner like normal that night but the silence felt heavier than usual. Afterwards, I went to my room, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

The next morning, I woke up feeling unusually refreshed. I was ready for work.

Before I left, my mother looked at me with concern. “Son,” she said softly, “don’t mind anything around you. Keep your head focused and be strong.” I smiled. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll work hard.”

I left the house but her words stayed in my mind. So did the strange expressions from both my parents the night before.

I had forgotten to ask them about it. I told myself I would ask them later that night.

That morning, I wore my glasses, dressed simply in white sneakers, blue jeans and a white shirt.

It was old, but clean. I looked like what people called me, a Nerd. But I didn’t feel ashamed of it. I felt proud.

I had worked hard for everything I had learned and somehow, after losing Samantha, my work had become the only thing holding me together.

Before work even began, I was called to the Vice Director’s office. Something about it made me uneasy.

As I walked toward the office, I saw Chris approaching from the other side of the corridor. “Maybe it’s just a meeting to congratulate us,” I said quietly. Chris nodded. “Yeah, probably.” We both stepped inside together.

The moment we entered, the atmosphere changed. And then I saw him, Ben.

But this wasn’t the Ben I remembered. He sat in the Vice Director’s seat with a cold expression on his face. There was no friendliness, no familiarity only authority and irritation.

Chris tried to lighten the mood. “Ben! How have you been? Why are you ignoring our calls? Aren’t we still friends?”

I stood silently beside him, adjusting my glasses. I didn’t say anything. Ben didn’t smile. Instead, he looked straight at me.

“It’s your second day in this company,” he said coldly. “And this is how you come dressed to work?” I glanced at my clothes. There was nothing wrong with them.

He continued before I could respond. “White sneakers. Old jeans. A shirt that looks like it hasn’t been replaced in years. And those glasses…”

His eyes narrowed. “Do you think you’re a special technician or something?” I stayed quiet. Ben leaned back slightly, his voice sharper now. “And those sneakers… do you even know where they came from?

My father gave them to you. And yet you still can’t even dress properly for work.”

Chris frowned immediately. “Ben, what’s wrong with Mike’s attire? You know he needs glasses. He spends most of his time on computers.”

Ben scoffed. “That’s his problem. I didn’t force him to become obsessed with computers while ignoring his girlfriend until she left him.”

He looked at me directly. “And now look at you. Same style, same mindset. No wonder she left you.”

The words hit harder than I expected. My chest tightened. My vision blurred slightly, but I forced myself to stay calm.

After a moment, I spoke. “Sorry, Vice Director. I didn’t understand the dress code of your company. I’ll remove my glasses immediately.” Slowly, I took them off. Chris turned toward me in shock, his mouth half open as if he wanted to speak but I stopped him with a small gesture.

I could see it clearly. Ben wasn’t just talking. He was targeting me. And anything Chris said would only make things worse.