Finn stood outside the office door, the file in his hand suddenly feeling heavier than it should.
The entire floor was dead silent.
These past few days, Kelvin had been… unstable.
Not loud. Not angry.
Just quiet.
And that was worse.
People preferred it when he was angry.
At least then, you knew where you stood.
Finn adjusted his tie, exhaled slowly, then pushed the door open.
Kelvin didn't look up immediately.
He stood by the glass wall, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass of untouched whiskey. His reflection stared back at him—cold, distant… dangerous.
"Got something?" he asked, voice low.
Finn stepped forward quickly, handing over the file like it might burn him if he held it any longer.
"There's good news, boss."
Kelvin's eyes flicked to him.
Sharp.
Cold.
Finn felt his throat tighten.
"Ms. Lilly… she got her hands on the antivirus."
Silence.
A beat.
"Okay."
That was it.
No surprise. No relief.
Finn hesitated, then added carefully, "But… she wants to see you first before handing it over."
That did it.
Kelvin's fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
He closed his eyes for a second, dragging his hand down his face slowly.
"Handle her."
"Boss… she insisted."
Another silence.
He opened his eyes.
"Fine," he said flatly. "When she comes… let her in."
Finn let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Thank you, boss."
He quickly slid the second file forward.
"And… about the body buried beside your mother. I did some digging."
Kelvin took the file.
The moment he opened it—
Everything changed.
The air dropped.
Tina Wang.
The name hit like a bullet.
For the first time in days…
Emotion flickered.
A memory surfaced—
A small girl.
Dusty stairs.
A trembling hand holding his.
—
"Why are you hiding here?"
Her voice had been soft… curious.
He had looked up, eyes red, small fingers clenched tight.
"They said… my father brought another son home…"
His voice had cracked.
"I don't want him to leave us."
She didn't laugh.
Didn't mock.
She just sat beside him in the dark.
Held his hand.
"It will be okay," she had said, like she believed it.
—
The next thing he remembered—
A loud crack.
The stairs collapsing.
Her small body—
Gone.
Buried under debris.
While he lived.
—
Kelvin's grip on the file tightened.
He flipped through it slowly.
Orphan — St. Louis Orphanage, City Z.
Field — Computer Engineering & Programming.
Sponsored by the state.
Adoption status — Not adopted.
His eyes paused.
Not adopted?
Then what the hell had they told him back then?
His gaze dropped lower.
Died: March 3rd, 2039
Cause: Suicide
A dark shadow passed through his eyes.
Suicide?
That girl?
The same one who had comforted him?
Who held his hand while he was breaking?
Impossible.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Finn stood quietly, watching the shift in Kelvin's expression.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
"Has the body been moved?" Kelvin asked suddenly.
"No… but I already told the caretakers to take care of it—"
"Take care of it?"
Kelvin's voice dropped.
Finn froze.
"Tina Wang…" Kelvin muttered under his breath.
The girl who saved his life.
The promise he never kept.
For a brief moment—
His expression softened.
Then it vanished.
"Cancel it," he said coldly.
Finn blinked.
"Boss… you mean—"
Kelvin turned, eyes sharp.
"Assistant Finn… do you need me to repeat myself?"
"…No, boss."
The phone rang.
Kelvin picked it up immediately.
His tone switched smoothly to fluent Russian.
"Did you trace it?"
A laugh echoed from the other side.
Low. Amused.
"So you finally answer my calls. This virus must be killing you."
Kelvin's jaw clenched.
"Enjoy prison while you can."
"Relax," the man chuckled. "But I'll admit… whoever made this? Genius. Absolute genius. I've never seen anything like it."
Kelvin's eyes darkened.
"Whoever it is… they're working with Aurexx."
"With your brother too?" the voice asked, suddenly more interested.
"…Yes."
"Then you've got a problem," he said casually. "Also… the tracker you placed on your brother?"
A pause.
"It's gone."
Kelvin's fingers tightened around the phone.
"He removed it."
"Exactly. And not just removed… he found it."
Silence.
"I'll be out in a month," the man added. "Save that genius for me."
The line went dead.
The room turned freezing.
Finn didn't dare move.
Kelvin slowly lowered the phone.
His expression—
Back to nothing.
Cold. Empty.
Dangerous.
"Where is my brother?" he asked.
Finn swallowed.
"I… haven't checked. The workload—"
"Check."
One word.
Sharp.
Final.
Finn straightened immediately.
"Yes, boss."
As he turned to leave—
Kelvin's voice came again.
Low.
Deadly.
"And Finn…"
Finn stopped.
"If there's no antivirus by tomorrow…"
A pause.
"Aurexx burns."
Finn's heart skipped.
"…Understood."
He left quickly.
The door shut.
Kelvin stood alone.
His gaze drifted back to the file still open on the table.
Tina Wang.
His fingers tapped slowly against the desk.
Once.
Twice.
Then he smiled.
A cold, dangerous smile.
"Julia Roberts…"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"You just made this interesting."