Chapter 201
As the evening rush hour descended and dusk painted the sky, Kellan drove, acutely aware of the peculiar silence between them, likely a byproduct of the restaurant's atmosphere.
He seized a moment to text Sherman: "Don't forget to throw a wrench in the server."
After hitting send, he put his phone away and, adopting a calm demeanor, casually asked, "Ms. Clarke, when did you first meet Dr. Pierce? He seems to have quite a grasp on your habits."
Allison, candid and unreserved, responded without hesitation, "I met him ages ago. He once pursued me, but I turned him down. He deserves someone better."
Rolling down the window, she welcomed the cool night breeze. Kellan felt his mood lift, the earlier annoyance dissipating.
"You deserve better too, Ms. Clarke," he said gently. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel before asking, almost casually, "But tell me, what sort of man do you fancy, Ms. Clarke?"
Allison stared at the passing cars, her voice barely audible above the evening air. "A man in a black suit, aloof and reserved, preferably with slightly wavy hair and a small mole on his Adam's apple." She tossed her wind-tousled hair. "And he should have layers; that's what really spices things up."
Kellan listened intently at first, but as she continued, an unsettling feeling crept in. By the time she mentioned the mole and layers, he instinctively glanced at her, only to find her beaming. Allison was laughing at him. Yet, he'd never seen her look so blissful; her smile lit up the dim evening like a lighthouse.
He froze, his heart racing, struggling to regain his composure as a horn blared behind them. "Ms. Clarke, you certainly know how to keep things lively," he managed, his heart still pounding.
Upon arriving at the company, Allison swiftly addressed the firewall breach. "It's a small hiccup; no need for a wild goose chase. If it happens again, call in two security personnel. Information security is paramount." She reclined, confident she could resolve the issue quickly. But her expression shifted as she added, "But this network intrusion wasn't external. Someone accessed internal permissions; there's probably a mole within the company. I suspect the previous team hasn't been fully cleared out."
Kellan remained unfazed, casting a discreet glance at Sherman.
Sherman quickly interjected, "I can't believe we just dealt with one pack of corporate spies, and now this! There must be stragglers causing this security headache." He was sweating profusely but maintained his composure.
"Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Clarke, don't worry. I will conduct a thorough investigation! This is serious!"
Allison nodded. "It should be taken seriously. Internal traitors are the worst!" She wasn't particularly worried, confident in Kellan's abilities. But Sherman's expression shifted oddly. After another pointed look from Kellan, Sherman reluctantly closed his eyes and echoed, "Yes, those traitors are truly despicable!" He ground his teeth in frustration.
Kellan's recent decisions had been erratic. He'd called Sherman late at night, only for Sherman to be branded a traitor.
As the sky darkened, Kellan slipped on his suit jacket. "It's getting late; I'll take you home, Ms. Clarke."
"Lloyd Mansion and Muisvedo are in opposite directions," Allison teased, echoing his earlier words. "So, no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Lloyd. I'll see you tomorrow."
Kellan frowned, sensing a shift in Allison's mood. Was she upset he hadn't been friendly enough to her friend? They'd navigated that route before without objection.
As he hesitated, Allison waved and strode toward the elevator, heading for the underground parking lot, leaving no room for him to change her mind. In that fleeting moment before the elevator doors closed, Allison caught a glimpse of Kellan's bewildered expression.
She'd concocted an excuse to dismiss him, not because of their dinner conversation, but because she needed to go to Muisvedo to fix the server. Her schedule was delayed after a trip abroad, and she was scrambling to catch up. These details, however, weren't easily explained to Kellan.
As Allison reached the underground parking lot and was about to unlock her car, she unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure, souring her already frazzled mood. Frowning deeply, she asked, "What are you doing here?"