I couldn't sleep the whole night. My mind was building a shield around me to protect me against the enemies I might meet inside Hiro's company. Nonetheless, I found that moment a turning point in everything that involved Hiro and my current situation. I got up, washed, and wore a light peach, slightly flared shirtdress.He knocked on my door at half past seven AM, then we went down together to his car. He behaved strangely normal, which was absolutely odd for him, complementing my dress, or asking me if I slept well. I tried replying naturally, but somehow I became stiff every time he got closer to me. He was acting like a gentleman, opening every door, and letting me go first. He smiled all the way like it was the most natural way he behaved on the daily basis. For me, replying to his smile was one of the hardest things I had ever done.He opened the front door of his black Porsche and helped me get in, then he sat behind the wheel, and we drove away. He kept glancing

“Could… could you repeat what have you said just now?” I hoped to hear some clarification, or correction of Hiro's previous words.“You once asked me, if there was anything you can do for me… Well, I found you an opportunity,” he smirked.I still had no idea what was Hiro thinking, but I already saw millions of flashing warning signs saying, “Danger ahead!” and I truly felt I should pay attention to those this time. I couldn't tell what did he want me to do exactly, but there was one thing that my writer's brain already assumed…“Are you going to use me as a bait?!” I prayed that he would deny it.“Oh, don't like it when you say it so harshly… but yes,” he smiled wickedly.I felt I had to sit down before I collapse I walked few steps forward and already felt that my knees were weak, I fell on a sofa. Hiro sat right beside me and stroked my head.“I

When I went back from TK I made myself a huge mug of strong coffee and started to memorize as many people and their data as possible. Obviously, I knew this wouldn't be ease. I had to come up with a system that would help me remember. After some thinking I figured that I should use one thing that I was certain of, and that was writer's creativity. I decided to stick to associations, so I could match some facts about those people… in the stupider way the better.“Ginger-hair Elliot Walton, purchasing department… He reminds me of a squirrel gathering nuts… I would call him Mr. Squirrel. Then we have… Harvey Brown, Nolan Fortin's deputy, sniper… He looks unpleasant… sneaky… a sneaky-sniper… I will call him Mr. Sneaky-Lizard!” I used my imagination to the fullest.Soon I created my very own imaginary zoo… I had pointy, short haired engineer - Ms. Hedgehog, 6.6 feet tall Mr. Giraffe from IT, and a bi

The more Melisa taught me the more I felt how pathetic I was before. I realized how many times I was being manipulated by others. They all implanted so many anxieties in me that I was happy with the minimum of interest and comfort they gave me later. Sending mixed signals, the game of push and pull… I knew how that works, because I was a constant victim of those tricks!The things that Hiro did with me were no different… my only hope was that he didn't do all of them on purpose, and that maybe some part of his words weren't fake. Now, I wasn't sure of anything, but it all had one good point – My affection for Hiro was not blind anymore…“Remember, Ana that we all manipulate others… Children use their cry to get a candy. Low level employees praise their bosses to get the higher position. The more you know about the mechanism of manipulation the easier is defend yourself against it,” Melisa declared.She was right&hell

Marcus suddenly got up and smirked at me in strangely disturbing way. I froze, but quickly noticed that fortunately, he didn't come near me. He decided to come to Hiro instead, and then took him away to talk. As soon as Hiro walked out the room few people came to “welcome me” in TK.“Nice to meet you, Miss Anastasia,” some brown-haired woman pulled out her hand to greet me carrying a disgustingly fake smile.I remembered that her name was Natasha Elber, a level 3 deputy manager  from a purchasing department. I also remembered she was coming from a wealthy family. She got the position mainly because her father was one of the early company's investors… that would explain her arrogance.“Nice to meet you, Miss…?” I pretended that I didn't know her name.“Natasha,” she replied, suggesting to call her by name.I guessed that she decided to act “friendly” towards me, but her i