Page 8 of Shadows of Obsession

But honestly? I didn't take this job for the money. I'm here because I believe in what we're building...and because I needed to disappear from my old workplace. Fromhim. From those "visits" that never seemed to end.

These days, I'm practically invisible online - no LinkedIn, no social media, nothing. Just a ghost in our hyper-connected world. Can't risk him finding me. I made myself a deal: two years of silence from him, then maybe I'll rejoin the digital world. Until then, I'm not testing fate.

The meeting wraps up, and I dive back into my code. There's this bug in the monitoring system that's been driving me crazy for days - database records refusing to save properly. I'm deep in troubleshooting mode when Gregory's email pops up, officially announcing the acquisition. At least there's good news - he's staying on as a project manager above Finn. It feels right; this whole system is his creation, his vision. He deserves to see it through.

Obviously, I had to Google our new overlords. Nearly choked on my coffee when I saw BTech's revenue - 2.3 billion dollars. That explains why I'd never heard of them; they're one of those silent giants that just keeps absorbing smaller companies into their ecosystem. And their reach? It's mind-blowing. From e-commerce to social media algorithms - and now our medical tech - these people are everywhere. Like some kind of corporate octopus with tentacles in every imaginable industry.

A quick search reveals the power duo running BTech: Roman Borisov as CEO, his brother Nikolas as CFO. Every photo I find shows them at some high-society event, and the headline "Chicago's Most Sought-After Bachelors" suddenly makes perfect sense. These men look otherworldly. My eyes linger on my new CEO - God, those eyes. Gray like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Hair black as midnight, cut sharp andprecise. His brother's softer somehow, with forest-green eyes and chestnut hair, but they both radiate the same energy. Even through photos, dressed in their perfect suits, everything about them screams danger. They carry themselves like kings who know their worth but choose to let others orbit around them.

If there's one thing this past year has taught me, it's to trust my gut when it spots a predator. And right now? Every instinct I have is screaming red alert.

Chapter 6

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Luna

Gregory calls me in to test some real-time features at the hospital. We're lucky - the staff here, from management down to the nurses, have been amazing about letting us trail behind them while we monitor our data.

Before heading out, I find myself standing at my perfume collection, trying to pick today's scent. It's been my thing since forever - this obsession with fragrances. I've never been able to commit to just one; my mood always decides how I want to smell that day. To me, perfumes are like jewelry or the perfect bag - they're part of who you are, boosting your confidence just right. Sure, I've probably spent a small fortune building my collection, but some obsessions are worth it.

I still remember the first time I fell in love with perfume. Mom came home one January day, the world outside buried in snow, but she brought spring with her - smelling of lilies and fresh flowers mixed with winter's crisp air. I hugged her, breathed in that magical scent, and declared I wanted to smell like snow and flowers too.

She laughed at first - until she saw my determined little face and realized I wasn't kidding.

Seven-year-old me wouldn't take no for an answer even though I had no idea how impossible it was to bottle the scentof snow. But Mom, bless her heart, actually found it - Demeter Snow. Literally smells like snow. I know, right? The flowers part was easy after that. So there I was, mixing my two perfect scents together, and that's how my perfume obsession began.

Today, I need something that says 'approachable but professional.' My eyes scan the collection until they land on Armani My Way Intense.Perfect- white flowers and tuberose with that sweet undertone. Done.

The wind's brutal outside, and I'm thanking past me for grabbing my coat and beanie. I probably look like I'm heading to an Arctic expedition, but at least I'm warm.

The ER hits me with that distinct hospital cocktail - antiseptic and medicine. It's chaos in here - a doctor's wrestling with an uncooperative IV patient while a nurse listens to some kid's third epic hand-breaking adventure. I'm scanning for directions when I hear my name and jump slightly. My brain kicks in immediately:You're safe. He can't find you here.

“Luna, glad you made it,” Kai calls out, waving me over.

Kai was the first doctor we discussed the bracelet concept with, and he was the one who talked to the hospital manager to give us access to some patients to test their functionality.

We arrive in a ward where four people are waiting for us. A seventy-year-old lady, a man around forty-five, a girl probably seventeen or eighteen years old, and a man who is about thirty, wearing cargo pants with boots and a simple black T-shirt that clings to his abdomen. They all look up at us when Kai begins.

"Luna's going to monitor your bracelets for the next half hour," Kai explains. "We've updated the system and need to make sure everything's transmitting properly."

Everyone gives me warm smiles as I move around checking their devices. Scanning through my notes, I match conditions tofaces: elderly lady with diabetes, middle-aged man with a gastric ulcer, and a young woman managing epilepsy. I work my way through the room, calibrating each bracelet.

I catch glimpses of Kai chatting with the teenage girl, his usual professional demeanor softening into genuine warmth as she makes him laugh. When his phone buzzes with an emergency call from the ambulatory, I wave him off - I've got this covered.

As I approach the girl with epilepsy, her bodyguard shifts closer, protective instinct kicking in. Her cheeks flush pink.

"Sorry," she whispers, "he gets a bit intense about personal space."

I take a moment to study her - straight black hair framing a heart-shaped face, and those eyes...gray like storm clouds. Just like... No. I need to stop seeing my new boss's eyes everywhere. There's something sweetly innocent about her, especially in her pink knit dress.

"Love your dress, by the way," I tell her, smiling. "I'm a sucker for pink."

She extends her hand delicately. "Vi," she introduces herself.

I can feel Victoria's bodyguard dissecting me with his stare, like he's got some kind of built-in security scanner.

“Luna,” I offer, shaking Vi's hand.

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