Ruby Fae A. Espinosa, a woman revered by many IT professionals of this generation. A visionary who has earned countless awards, a pioneer who has shaped the technological landscape in ways no one else could. She is powerful, influential, and, above all, ruthless. Despite the admiration she commands, she is a woman who would stop at nothing to maintain her dominance. She has blood on her hands, eliminating those who dared to stand in her way, throwing aside people as if they were nothing more than mere obstacles.
And because of that, many are waiting for the right moment to bring her down.
I used to be one of those kids who idolized her. I once looked up to her brilliance, her cunning mind, and her undeniable influence. But now? Now, all I feel for her is seething hatred. She crossed a line she should have never dared to cross she did something unforgivable to my mother. And as if that wasn't enough, she didn't stop there. My father? She discarded him just as easily.
Now, here I stand, hidden in the shadows outside her grand estate, my eyes carefully tracking her every move. Every step she takes, every decision she makes I study them all, waiting for the perfect moment. The day she finally pays for what she has done is fast approaching.
Working for her father has given me an advantage. Not only does the elder Espinosa benefit from my skills, but so do I. This position has given me access to information that will be key in bringing her down. And soon, I will finally make my move.
I wonder what her reaction will be when the world turns against her. When I finally unleash the storm that will shatter everything she has built. When I spread the false evidence that will paint Sanae the person she cherishes the most as the mastermind behind all of this.
What will she do when I hand Sanae fabricated proof that makes it look as if Ruby was the one responsible for Akio's murder?
"Are you done?" Lesley's voice cut through my thoughts.
"Yes. Let's go."
Lesley and I walked side by side, the weight of our plan pressing heavily between us. There was no room for mistakes. If we wanted Ruby to fall, we had to be precise.
"We need to be more careful," Lesley warned, her voice low but firm. "We can't predict Ruby easily. That bitch thinks differently from everyone else. One moment, we believe we have the upper handâthen suddenly, before we even realize it, we're the ones being played."
"I know," I replied calmly. "That's why we're going to use Sanae against her. She is her weakness."
Lesley scoffed, shaking her head. "Good luck with that."
I smirked. "We just need to find the perfect opportunity to get close to Sanae."
"And once we do," I continued, my voice laced with determination, "that's when we strike."
----------------------------
"Ruby, we need to talk."
Karla entered my office abruptly, dropping her words without so much as a greeting. Whatever she had to say must be important.
"Sure," I said, closing the file I was reading. "But we can't talk about anything personal here."
She nodded in understanding.
"I have a place in mind," she said.
I grabbed my keys and stood up. "Let's go."
As per her suggestion, we went to the fake graveyard of Akioâa place meant to serve as a cover, a place where we could pretend to visit him while discussing matters only the dead should be privy to. We sat down, setting up drinks and food as if we were simply here to reminisce.
"I'll be resigning after this," Karla finally spoke, breaking the silence.
I looked at her, studying the expression on her face. "I just want to leave peacefully," she continued, her voice calmer now, almost pleading.
"Karla, I understand," I said sincerely. "After all, who am I to stop you? Everyone deserves a peaceful life. We're getting older, and you should be able to live yours without looking over your shoulder."
She hesitated before asking, "You're not mad?"
I chuckled. "No."
In truth, I had already planned on letting her go.
"Honestly, I was planning on dismissing you anyway," I admitted. "And I'm planning to sell my company to the Federation of Technology. Maybe, finally, I can have some semblance of peace, too. But before that, I need to make sure someone trustworthy takes over, someone who won't be driven by greed or power."
Karla sighed, shaking her head. "I can't believe you're really thinking of stepping away from all this."
"I have my reasons."
She glanced at me, sensing the weight behind my words.
"There's something you need to know," I said, my tone turning serious. "And you have to keep your mouth shut."
Karla straightened. "Okay. I'm listening."
I exhaled slowly before speaking.
"Akio is not dead."
She stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she processed my words. "That's not a funny joke, Espinosa."
"I'm not joking," I said, pulling out a USB drive from my pocket. "Here. He wanted me to give this to you."
Karla hesitated before taking it from my hand.
"What's on this?" she asked.
"A video message from him," I answered. "He's out there, Karla. He's alive. He had to fake his death because someone found out about the development of 8G. And the biggest threat right now is my father. He wants both of us dead, and he wants those research files at any cost."
Karla swallowed hard, gripping the USB tightly. "So... all this time... he was alive?"
"He's been protecting you and his family from the shadows," I continued. "He'll return once the 8G project is launched. Until then, I've been working in secret to continue it, just as he requested."
"Is that why you left for Japan?" she asked, her voice slightly trembling.
"Yes," I admitted. "I secretly ordered Fiasco to investigate, and he found out Akio was in Japan. I had to confirm it myself, so I went there alone. We talked and made an agreement. He's moving to another country now, but he didn't tell me where."
That part was a lie.
A heavy silence settled between us, broken only by Karla's sharp intake of breath. And then, I heard her crying.
"Fuck," she muttered, wiping at her tears. "That asshole. I swear, when I see him, I'm going to kill him myself. Does he have any idea how painful it was to lose him? Do you know how much I suffered? I even slapped you because I thought you were the one who killed him!"
I gave her a small, knowing smile. "He just wanted you and his family to be safe."
I lit a cigarette, taking a slow drag as she tried to compose herself.
"I have a request," I said after a moment.
Karla sniffled. "Come on. Spill."
"If something happens to me, or if things take a turn for the worse... take Sanae and her family away from here."
She stared at me, stunned.
"I've already spoken to Fiasco about it," I continued. "And I have a contact inside the Federation who will escort you if necessary."
"Ruby..." Karla's voice wavered.
I met her gaze, my expression unwavering.
"I want to face him alone, Karla. This fight is between me and him. I already lost my mother. I lost Amanda. I refuse to lose any more people I care about. I can't risk losing all of you, too."
Karla clenched her fists, her breath shaky.
"You're not alone, you know," she muttered. "You don't have to do everything by yourself."
I exhaled a cloud of smoke, my lips twitching into a bitter smile.
"I know," I said quietly.
But some battles, I had to fight alone.
-----------
Since my girlfriend and Karla had gone out for something, I decided to hang out with my former intern mates. It had been a while since we last got together, and this seemed like the perfect time. Kendal and I were already waiting at the café for Reuben and Lesley. Quiera had also agreed to join us.
But this wasn't just any casual meetup.
There was something I needed to ask them, a favor that could change everything.
I wanted to secretly investigate Akio. I needed to know what really happened to him.
There was this nagging feeling inside me, a weight pressing against my chest, something I couldn't shake no matter how hard I tried. I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I uncovered the truth.
I took a deep breath, staring at the entrance of the café just as the door swung open.
"Sorry if we took too long!" Quiera called out as she approached our table. She gestured toward Lesley, rolling her eyes. "You guys already know how slow she is, nothing's changed."
"Damn it, I swear, she was one step away from dragging me here by force," Lesley grumbled, crossing her arms.
"You two never change," Reuben chuckled, shaking his head. He set a cup of coffee in front of me before taking a seat. "Here. You look like you need this."
I nodded in thanks, wrapping my fingers around the warm cup.
"So, Sanae," Lesley started, raising an eyebrow. "It's a miracle you're not with Miss Karla and Miss CEO today."
"There are some things I can't always be included in," I answered vaguely.
"Like what?" Reuben pressed, tilting his head.
I simply shrugged. "It's nothing important."
Lesley leaned forward, her expression shifting into something more mischievous. "The two of them are suspiciously going out alone. Don't you find that strange?"
"Not really," I said casually, taking a sip of my coffee. "They're usually the ones handling appointments and business deals. It's normal for them to be together at times like this."
"Still..." Lesley mused, tapping her fingers against the table. "Something feels off about it."
Before I could respond, Reuben suddenly shifted the conversation. "Have you read the article about your brother?"
My fingers stiffened around my cup.
"What article?" I asked, confused. "I didn't know there was one."
Kendal, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Reuben, maybe we shouldn'tâ"
"Let her see it," Reuben interrupted, pulling out his phone.
I took the device from his hand, my eyes scanning the headline that flashed across the screen.
"Did Akio Delen take his own life, or was he murdered?"
A sharp, cold weight settled in my stomach.
"What the hell is this?" I muttered under my breath.
Lesley studied my face carefully before asking, "What do you think happened?"
I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
"That's exactly what's been bothering me," I admitted. "After Akio's death, no one ever talked about it. It was as if the topic was completely erased from existence. It's suspicious, because in a place like this, rumors spread like wildfire. But when it came to Akio's death? It was like everyone had been ordered to forget."
Silence hung over the table for a moment before Kendal spoke again, her voice low and hesitant.
"This is actually a forbidden topic," she admitted. "It's in the contract we signed. Personal details about former employees,especially those who have passed, are not to be discussed in the company. It's a strict rule."
"Of course, they wouldn't want anyone asking questions," Reuben muttered under his breath.
"I agree with thatâ" Kendal started, but I cut her off.
"And that's exactly why I need to find out the truth," I said firmly. My grip tightened around the phone. "If Akio was killed, then who killed him? And if he really did take his own life... what pushed him to do it?"
The air around us grew heavier. I could see the hesitation in their eyes, the uncertainty. Getting involved in this wasn't just risky, it was dangerous. But then, Lesley suddenly smirked.
"We're here," she said, determination flashing across her face. "And we're going to help you."