Chapter 6 Beneath the surface

The elevator ride back down to the lobby was almost unbearable. Juniper stood silently, her fingers gripping the cold metal railing, her reflection staring back at her in the polished surface. The lights flickered faintly as the elevator descended, the hum of the machinery filling the otherwise suffocating silence.

She didn't know what she had expected from Rayne, but it certainly wasn't that. There had been something off about their conversation, an unspoken tension that clung to the room like a thick fog. Every word Rayne had spoken had been deliberate, controlled-like a chess master moving pieces on a board, always thinking two steps ahead. It was clear now that Rayne wasn't just a colleague. She was someone with power, someone who knew how to manipulate and control.

And Juniper? She felt like a pawn.

As the elevator doors opened, she stepped out into the lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floors. The receptionist barely glanced up as she passed, but Juniper felt the woman's eyes following her, assessing. It was unnerving, the way everyone seemed to be watching her, scrutinizing her every move.

She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being tested. But by whom? And for what purpose?

Outside, the cool air hit her face like a splash of water, sharp and refreshing. She took a deep breath, hoping it would clear the fog in her mind, but it didn't. Her thoughts were still racing, still tangled in the confusion of her own reality.

The driver was waiting for her by the car, the door already open. She climbed in without a word, the sound of the door closing behind her feeling final-like the shutting of a door to her old life. It wasn't just the building, or the meeting, or Rayne's cold demeanor. It was the whole situation.

None of it felt right.

She glanced at the time on her phone. It was already late afternoon, the light outside beginning to dim. She had no plans for the evening-no social obligations, no pressing matters-nothing. But she couldn't just go home and pretend everything was fine. Not after everything that had happened today.

As the car moved through the city, the familiar skyline becoming a blur, her mind kept returning to one single thought: Selene Voss.

Who was she really?

Juniper barely had time to adjust to her new life before she realized that she was expected to be someone she didn't understand. She had to pretend-pretend to be someone who had everything together, someone who was confident, powerful, in control. But the reality was that she felt none of those things. She didn't know how to wear Selene's skin, how to hold her poise, how to answer questions with the authority that Selene was known for.

The car came to a stop in front of a building she didn't recognize-a tall, imposing structure made of glass and steel. There was no sign, no indication of what kind of business was housed inside, but there was a sense of purpose in the way the driver moved.

"Ms. Voss," he said, his voice low. "The meeting is here."

Juniper blinked, her thoughts snapping back to the present. "What meeting?"

"The one scheduled for this evening," he replied, his expression unreadable.

Her heart sank. She hadn't been briefed about any meeting, at least not one that involved this particular location. But she couldn't afford to look unprepared, not after everything that had already transpired.

Without another word, she stepped out of the car and followed the driver into the building.

The lobby was stark, almost clinical, with polished floors and bright, white walls. There was no receptionist this time, no welcoming committee. Instead, a tall man in a black suit was waiting for her by the elevator, his face expressionless.

"Ms. Voss," he greeted her with a slight nod. "This way."

Juniper followed him into the elevator, the silence thick between them. The ride was fast, and soon they were stepping out onto the top floor-an open, airy space filled with modern art and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city. The space was minimalistic, with only a few high-backed chairs scattered around, and a large conference table at the center.

At the table sat two people-both middle-aged, dressed in impeccably tailored suits. They didn't look up as she entered, but the sense of authority in the room was palpable. The woman, whose sharp features reminded Juniper of a bird of prey, flicked her eyes up to meet Juniper's, while the man gave her a curt nod.

"Selene," the woman said, her voice clipped. "We've been waiting."

Juniper blinked, her throat tightening. The woman's gaze was calculating, studying her with the kind of intensity that made Juniper's skin crawl. She suddenly felt very small in this room, under the scrutiny of these powerful strangers.

"Of course," Juniper said, her voice smoother than she felt. She sat down at the table, trying to match their composure, but her heart was pounding in her chest.

The woman didn't waste any time. "We have an urgent matter to discuss. A situation has developed that requires immediate action, and you are the person who needs to resolve it."

Juniper's mind raced. What situation? She had no idea what these people were talking about. Was this related to the company's work, to Project Arcturus?

"Go on," she said, trying to sound calm, but the words were almost a breathless exhale.

The man, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "We've received reports of a leak. Information regarding our operations is being shared with outsiders-journalists, competitors... we don't know who yet, but it's a problem. We need you to fix it."

Juniper's stomach dropped. A leak? Was this why everyone had been so on edge today? Was this why Rayne had been so insistent on her not slipping up?

"We've already narrowed down the potential source of the leak," the woman continued. "But we need you to handle this personally, Selene. No more delays."

Juniper nodded, though her mind was spinning. She couldn't even begin to understand the implications of what they were asking. What was she supposed to do about this? How could she fix something that seemed so... massive?

The woman leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Juniper's face. "This isn't just about the leak. It's about loyalty. Your loyalty. Do you understand?"

The words sent a shiver down Juniper's spine. It was the same feeling she had gotten when Rayne had spoken to her-an unsettling awareness that she was being tested. That her very presence here was part of some intricate game she wasn't equipped to play.

"I understand," Juniper said, the words feeling foreign in her mouth.

"Good," the woman replied, standing up and signaling that the meeting was over. "We'll be in touch."

Juniper stood as well, her legs shaky beneath her. As she followed the man back to the elevator, her mind raced. What was really going on? How deep did this conspiracy go? And why was she-the woman who had woken up in someone else's life-expected to fix it?

The elevator doors closed behind her with a soft whoosh, and Juniper exhaled slowly. She didn't know how to fix any of this. She didn't know anything anymore.

But she had no choice but to try.