AllFreeNovel
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I’m sitting in my office, finishing up for the day, but freeze when all the lights turn off. “What the hell?”
I get up and look around, seeing I’m alone here. Doesn’t whoever locks up for the night check the floor before they leave? Geez. I was just about done with my work anyway, but I guess that’s my cue to wrap it up.
After shutting down my computer, I grab my purse from my drawer and head toward the elevators. I pass by Carter’s office and stop in my tracks. I’ve previously checked, but I look around again and see no security cameras. I know there are none hidden because I checked all the computer programs to see if we had a security system and we don’t. It’s possible the building itself has one, but as IT, we should know about it. I’d even mentioned it causally to Jeff one day and he’d looked at me like I had two heads, asking what we’d need security cameras for.
Okay, then...
I casually stroll through the entire floor to see I’m alone in here. Then, I glance at Carter’s office door.
I better not.
Confusion floats through me when I hit the elevator call button and it doesn’t light up. I don’t hear the car moving and heading toward my floor. What the hell?
Fuck. The emergency override. Lisa told me about it when I first started. They lock the elevator from accessing this floor after hours.
I bite my lip and look around. Well, if they want to lock me in here all night, I’ll just take a quick peek at Carter’s computer. Maybe there’s some kind of access code to the elevator so I can get out of here.
That’s what I tell myself, anyway.
The temptation is too great. I try the knob to his office and it’s unlocked. Leaving the lights off, I quietly sit down at his computer and boot it up. I log in as administrator and take a look around. It takes some digging but I locate the secret app development program, and because I’m getting paranoid I’ll get caught in here, I pull an encrypted thumb drive out of my purse and copy the program onto it. I click out of it and then go into the system, deleting my digital footprint, and log out. I even wipe the keyboard off so my fingerprints aren’t there.
Paranoid much, Taryn?
After replacing the thumb drive in my purse, I leave his office and close the door.
Now, how am I going to get out of here? I look around and see a door at the back of the office. I’ve never had the desire or need to open it, but I do tonight.
It’s locked with a deadbolt and after turning it, I sag in relief to see it’s the stairwell. Why isn’t it marked? I look around to see a small sign above my head with a photo of steps on it. Guess I should pay more attention.
I close the door behind me and realize I’m going to have to text Carter and let him know I was forced to leave it unlocked so I could leave. I also want to know who locked me in here and was not smart enough to do a sweep of the floor before they shut down for the day.
Ten flights of stairs, this should be fun. At least it’s down and not up.
I’m only slightly out of breath when I reach the bottom. I pull out my phone, open the text app, and send a message to the boss.
Me:Someone locked me in the office. I couldn’t access the elevator so I took the stairs. Had to leave the door unlocked. Sorry.
Feeling like I did my due diligence for the security of the floor, I put my phone back into my purse and make my way to the parking garage to get in my car. I’m exhausted but also excited to see if I can access the super-secret app.
I’m halfway home when my car’s screen lights up, reading:Text from Carter Lockwood.
I push thereadbutton and roll my eyes at his simple message:Thanks, I’ll take care of it.
“Yes, you will, it’s your problem, not mine,” I grumble.
I hitexitto put the screen back to the audiobook I’m listening to.
***
“Argh!” I cry, pushingthe laptop away from me before I throw it out of the window.
I’ve been at it for close to two hours, trying to get into this program.
I pick up my wine and take a big gulp. “What are you missing, Taryn? Think!”
God, I really need to get a life. It’s Thursday and I should be relaxing with takeout or at happy hour with friends. Instead, I’m glued to my laptop, my eyes hurting since I’ve already stared at a screen all day.
I begrudgingly download a sketchy hacking app and put it to work on the stubborn program. Walking away from the laptop before it dies an untimely death at my hands, I go into my room and pop on the TV. After changing into pajamas, I head to the kitchen for another glass of wine. I glance at the laptop to see the program furiously running through code, trying to breach its security.
