Chapter 189
Chapter 189
Victoria Kane stood at her office window, watching rain streant down the glass in crooked rivers. The sky hung heavy and dark over Manhattan, matching her mood. While Camille and Alexander continued their extended honeymoon in Italy, basking in Mediterranean sun and newlywed joy, Victoria faced a concerning situation alone.
Behind her, Jason Chen, head of Kane Industries security, waited silently. His reflection in the window looked as grim as she felt. On her desk lay an open folder, the reason for this unscheduled meeting, the reason for the sudden tightness in her chest.
“When did this start?” Victoria asked, not turning from the window.
“First breach was detected nine days ago,” Jason replied. “Initially appeared random. Pattern only became clear yesterday when we ran a full system audit.”
Victoria traced a raindrop’s path down the glass with her finger. “And you’re certain about the focus?”
“Yes. The searches were methodical. Starting with general corporate records from fifteen years ago, then narrowing to specific archived files, then to particular board members and executive decisions from that period.”
Victoria closed her eyes briefly. Fifteen years. Ancient history in the business world. But someone was digging through old corporate records with deliberate precision.
“Any indication who’s behind it?” she asked, voice sharp with concern.
“Not yet. The access came through multiple points using legitimate employee credentials. Whoever it is knows our security protocols extremely well.”
Victoria turned from the window, crossing to her desk with measured steps that betrayed none of her inner turmoil. Cancer had weakened her body but not her mind. Never her mind.
“Increase monitoring on all archived records,” she instructed, closing the folder with a decisive snap. “Set alerts for any access to materials from that period. And compile a list of anyone who might have interest in those old files.”
“That could be a long list,” Jason pointed out. “Competitors, business historians, financial analysts, former employees…”
“Start with the most obvious. We need to understand the intent behind these searches.”
Jason nodded, gathering the folder. “And if we identify the source of the breach?”
Victoria met his gaze directly. “Then we approach them respectfully to understand their interest.”
After Jason left, Victoria sank into her chair, allowing herself a rare moment of reflection. Her hand trembled slightly as she opened her desk drawer and removed a small silver pill case. The medication inside wasn’t for cancer–it was for moments like this, when stress threatened to overwhelm her carefully maintained composure.
Fifteen years was a long time in business. Kane Industries had grown exponentially since then, expanding into new markets, acquiring companies, establishing itself as a major player. What could someone possibly want with records from that era?
Her phone buzzed. Camille’s name flashed on the screen, the timing almost uncanny.
“Victoria? Just checking in! The Amalfi Coast is incredible. Alexander found this tiny restaurant in Ravello that sits right on the cliff edge. You’d love it.”
Victoria’s throat tightened at the sound of her adopted daughter’s voice, so filled with casual happiness, so unaware of the matters requiring attention back home.
“It sounds wonderful, dear. You’re still extending the trip another week?”
“Yes, if that’s okay? Alexander surprised me with reservations in Capri. I’ve never seen him so relaxed.”
Victoria closed her eyes, picturing Camille’s face glowing with honeymoon joy. Far away from New York. Far away from
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corporate concerns.
“Of course it’s okay. The company is running smoothly. Nothing here requires your attention.”
Nothing except someone suddenly becoming interested in fifteen year–old corporate records for reasons she couldn’t fathom.
“How are the treatments going?” Camille asked, concern evident despite the poor connection.
“Remarkably well. The doctors are very pleased.” This, at least, wasn’t a lie, “Don’t worry about me. Enjoy your time with Alexander.”
After ending the call, Victoria moved to the window again. The rain had intensified, beating against the glass like an accusation she couldn’t identify.
What had happened fifteen years ago that someone would find worth investigating now? Kane Industries had always operated above board, maintained proper documentation, followed all regulations. But the targeted nature of this breach suggested someone was looking for something specific.
Victoria pressed her forehead against the cool glass. The uncertainty was almost worse than knowing what they wanted. At least then she could prepare an appropriate response.
*****
Two floors below Victoria’s office, Jason Chen sat at his computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. The security breach had been sophisticated but not untraceable. Each digital footprint led to another, forming a path if you knew how to read the signs.
On his screen, employee access logs scrolled past. Timestamps. IP addresses. Duration of system connection. Seemingly random until patterns emerged like constellations in the night sky.
A knock at his door broke his concentration.
“Progress report?” Martin Greene, Victoria’s personal assistant, stood in the doorway, his usually impeccable appearance slightly rumpled. The mysterious breach had clearly unsettled him.
“Nothing concrete yet,” Jason replied, gesturing at his screen. “The access came through multiple points, bouncing through different servers. Professional–level digital obfuscation.”
Martin frowned. “Any theories about who’s behind it?”
“Nothing we can narrow down. Could be a researcher, a competitor, a financial analyst looking for historical patterns… The searches themselves were precise but don’t reveal the motivation.
Martin stepped fully into the office, closing the door behind him. His voice dropped. “Victoria seems… concerned.”
“It’s understandable,” Jason replied. “No one likes having old business matters suddenly scrutinized without context or explanation.”
“Especially when we don’t know what they’re looking for,” Martin added.
Jason’s fingers paused on the keyboard. “That’s what makes this concerning. The searches were too targeted to be random, but we can’t identify the objective.”
“How much longer until you can identify the source?”
“Hard to say. The digital trail keeps going cold. Whoever is behind this knows what they’re doing.”
After Martin left, Jason returned to his digital hunting. Victoria had handpicked him for his technical skills as much as his loyalty to the company. He understood the importance of protecting Kane Industries from unknown threats, especially when
the nature of the threat remained unclear.
In Victoria’s office, Martin Greene had returned with an update on the security investigation.
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“Nothing conclusive yet,” he reported, standing before Victoria’s desk. “Jason says the digital trail is sophisticated, designed to mask the source.”
Victoria nodded, expression thoughtful. “And the list of people with possible interest in our archived records?”
“It’s extensive. Former employees, competitors, business historians, financial analysts who track corporate patterns, regulatory agencies…” Martin paused. “We have no way to narrow it down without more information about what they’re specifically seeking.”
Victoria rose from her chair, moving back to the window. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the city gleaming under watery sunlight.
“What concerns me isn’t the access itself,” she said quietly. “It’s the unknown motivation. Without understanding what they want, we can’t assess the potential implications.”
Martin had been with Victoria long enough to recognize her analytical approach to problems. She rarely worried about threats she could identify and address directly. It was the unknowns that kept her awake at night.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked.
Victoria turned to face him, her expression composed but alert. “Prepare a comprehensive review of our operations from fifteen years ago. All major decisions, partnerships, expansions, personnel changes. If someone is digging through that period, I want to understand what they might find.”
That’s a considerable amount of information to compile.”
“Then prioritize anything that might be considered sensitive or controversial, even if it was handled properly at the time.”
Martin nodded. Victoria’s thoroughness was one of her strengths as a leader. She preferred to anticipate potential issues rather than react to them after they emerged.
“I’ll have it ready by tomorrow,” he promised.
“Thank you, Martin.” Victoria returned to her desk. “And ask Jason to continue his investigation. I’d like to know who’s suddenly interested in fifteen–year–old corporate history, and more importantly, why.”
After Martin left, Victoria opened a drawer and removed a stress ball, squeezing it rhythmically as she thought. The unknown nature of this breach was more unsettling than any specific threat would have been. At least with a known adversary, she could prepare appropriate defenses.
Her phone buzzed with another text from Camille, sharing a photo of a spectacular Italian sunset. She smiled at the image, grateful that her adopted daughter was far from New York, enjoying pure happiness with Alexander. Whatever corporate mystery was unfolding could wait until their return.
For now, Victoria would quietly investigate the security breach, prepare comprehensive files from that era, and try to anticipate what unknown party might want with Kane Industries‘ past. The uncertainty was frustrating, but she had built her career on turning challenges into opportunities.
She just needed to understand what the challenge actually was,
