Electric Blue

The glass walls of the forty-third floor offered no protection from the storm gathering inside Elena's chest. She'd suspected it for months—the way Marcus's eyes darted to his phone during strategy meetings, the encrypted files on his personal drive, the late nights he claimed were for the Seoul project but the Seoul team knew nothing about.

A corporate spy. In her department. Her protégé.

The rain slashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows as she confronted him in his office at 8 PM. Marcus didn't deny it. He just looked tired, defeated, like someone who'd been holding his breath underwater for too long.

"They have photos, Elena. Of Sarah. From before." His voice cracked. "They said they'd release them unless I gave them the merger plans."

Elena felt something crack open inside her—fury, pity, understanding. She'd been where he was. Three years ago, her own secrets held hostage by a different set of blackmailers. That's why they'd hired her. The firm collected damaged people, made them loyal through shared shame.

Lightning fractured the sky beyond the glass, illuminating Marcus's hollowed face in stark relief. In that flash, she saw not a traitor but a drowning man.

"I know what they have on you," she said quietly. "I read your file when you joined. The gambling debt. The sister's medical bills."

Marcus's head snapped up. The water in his eyes reflected the jagged light outside.

"Why didn't you—"

"Report you? Everyone here has something. That's the point." Elena walked to the window, watching the city blur beneath the deluge. "I'm not turning you in, Marcus. But I'm not covering for you either. You want to survive this, you'll give me the contact. Tonight."

"You'll go to prison for obstruction."

She turned, her expression unreadable. "I've been in prison since I was twenty-two. This is just a nicer cell."

Behind them, lightning struck the city's power grid. The floor went dark, emergency lights bathing them in red. In that crimson glow, Marcus finally understood—the firm wasn't his enemy or his savior. It was just another kind of ocean, and they were all just learning not to drown.