Chapter 11: Chapter 12: The Game Tightens
The office was alive with a low hum of activity, the morning sun filtering through the wide glass windows, casting sharp geometric patterns across the floor. Elliot sat at his desk, fingers drumming lightly on the edge of his keyboard. His eyes scanned the rows of cubicles, locking onto Aaron Blake, who was leaning against the edge of Bianca's desk, flashing his signature smug grin.
It had been three days since Elliot's confrontation with Aaron at the coffee machine. Three days of tense silences, lingering stares, and calculated avoidance. But Aaron wasn't backing down—he was doubling his efforts, circling Bianca like a shark sensing blood in the water.
"Aaron's on edge, Elliot," the Rizz God System murmured, its smooth voice slipping into his ear. "He knows you're onto him, but he doesn't know how much. That uncertainty is eating him alive. Use it."
Elliot's stomach tightened. He knew the next few days would be critical. One wrong move, and Aaron could unravel everything he had worked for. But one right move… and the tables would turn permanently.
Bianca glanced over Aaron's shoulder and caught Elliot's gaze. Her brow furrowed slightly before she dismissed Aaron with a quick nod and walked towards her office, her heels clicking sharply against the tile. Aaron shot a glance back at Elliot before slinking off in the opposite direction.
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Bianca's Office
Bianca was pacing when Elliot stepped into her office. Sunlight framed her silhouette, highlighting the sharp lines of her blazer and the faint frustration etched into her face.
"Close the door," she said without turning around.
Elliot did as instructed, the faint click of the latch amplifying the silence in the room.
"I assume you've noticed Aaron's… behavior lately," Bianca said, her voice tight.
"It's hard not to," Elliot replied.
She stopped pacing and turned to face him, her green eyes sharp and assessing. "There's something going on with him. Something more than just office politics. And I think you know something about it."
Elliot hesitated. The system buzzed softly, a faint reminder in his ear. "Careful, Elliot. She trusts you, but suspicion is a fragile thing. Tell her enough to keep her on your side, but not enough to unravel everything."
"I've been… watching him," Elliot admitted. "He's been acting erratic, leaving the office at odd hours, meeting with people who don't look like clients. There's something shady going on, Bianca."
Her brow furrowed. "Do you have proof?"
"Not yet," Elliot said carefully. "But I'm working on it."
Bianca crossed her arms, her jaw tightening as she processed his words. Finally, she sighed and leaned against her desk.
"I trust you, Elliot. But I need results. If Aaron is jeopardizing this team—or this company—I need to know exactly how and why."
"You'll have answers soon," Elliot said firmly.
She studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright, Graves. Don't let me down."
As Elliot turned to leave, Bianca's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Be careful, Elliot. Aaron isn't stupid, and he doesn't play fair."
Elliot nodded and stepped out of her office, his pulse steady but his mind racing.
"You've bought yourself time, Elliot. But time is a luxury you can't waste."
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The Investigation Deepens
The next day, Elliot positioned himself near the break room, where he knew Aaron would pass by on his way to his afternoon "errand." Right on schedule, Aaron slipped on his coat and headed for the elevators.
Elliot followed, keeping a careful distance as he weaved through the lunchtime crowd. Aaron led him back to the Silver Key, the same private bar from before. This time, however, Elliot was prepared. He waited across the street, leaning casually against a lamppost as he pulled out his phone.
"We need leverage, Elliot," the system instructed. "Proof. A recording, a photo—something irrefutable."
Elliot hesitated. He wasn't a spy or a detective; he was an office worker who had stumbled into a world he barely understood. But the system wasn't wrong. If he wanted to expose Aaron, he needed evidence.
With a deep breath, Elliot crossed the street and entered the bar.
The dim lighting was the same, the air thick with smoke and whiskey. Aaron was in the same booth as before, but this time he was alone, speaking heatedly into his phone. Elliot slipped into a nearby booth, keeping his head down but his ears sharp.
"You don't understand," Aaron hissed into the phone. "If this deal doesn't go through, everything falls apart. I need more time—just a week, maybe two."
There was a long pause, and then Aaron slammed his hand on the table, causing a glass to rattle.
"Fine. I'll handle it. Just… don't pull the funding yet."
Aaron hung up and buried his face in his hands, his shoulders heaving with frustration. For the first time, Elliot saw something he hadn't seen before: vulnerability. Aaron Blake—the arrogant, untouchable office shark—was scared.
Elliot's phone buzzed softly in his pocket.
"New Objective Added: Follow the Money Trail."
He slipped out of the bar unnoticed, his mind racing with possibilities.
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Back at the Office
Elliot spent the rest of the day combing through company financial records. He didn't have full access, but the system subtly guided him through backdoor routes, uncovering breadcrumbs that painted an increasingly suspicious picture.
Multiple payments marked as "consulting fees" had been funneled into shell companies over the past six months. The timing aligned perfectly with Aaron's erratic behavior.
"He's siphoning money, Elliot. He's desperate, and desperate men make mistakes."
Elliot's pulse quickened. He had something—not enough to destroy Aaron completely, but enough to confront him.
But before he could plan his next move, a notification popped up on his screen.
"Urgent Meeting: Team Debrief. Conference Room B."
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The Confrontation
The conference room was packed with the core team—Bianca, Aaron, Richard, and a few other department heads. Aaron stood near the front, a smirk tugging at his lips as if he already knew something no one else did.
Bianca sat near the head of the table, her sharp eyes flicking between Aaron and Elliot.
"Alright, team," Richard began. "We've received some troubling information about irregularities in the department's spending. Aaron, would you care to explain these discrepancies?"
Aaron's smirk vanished instantly, replaced by a carefully neutral expression. "I'm sure it's just an accounting error, Richard. These things happen."
Elliot clenched his fists under the table. He could feel the system coiling like a spring inside him.
"Now's your chance, Elliot. Call him out. Push him to the edge."
Elliot leaned forward slightly. "Actually, Richard, I've been looking into those discrepancies myself."
The room went silent. All eyes turned to Elliot.
Aaron's gaze snapped to him, his eyes sharp as knives.
"I've noticed a pattern. Payments funneled into shell companies under vague consulting labels. Payments that Aaron authorized personally."
Bianca's head turned sharply toward Aaron, her green eyes blazing.
"Is this true, Aaron?" she asked coldly.
Aaron's jaw clenched, his face paling slightly. "This is ridiculous. Graves doesn't know what he's talking about."
"Then you won't mind if we audit those accounts, will you?" Bianca said, her voice like ice.
The silence in the room was deafening. Aaron said nothing, his eyes locked onto Elliot with pure hatred.
Richard cleared his throat. "Bianca, proceed with the audit. Aaron, until this is resolved, you're suspended from financial decisions effective immediately."
Aaron stormed out of the conference room without another word, the door slamming behind him.
Bianca turned to Elliot, her eyes softening slightly. "Well done, Elliot. You might have just saved us all a lot of trouble."
Mission Complete: Expose Aaron's Weakness.
Reward Unlocked: +75 Confidence Points, New Skill Unlock: Tactical Insight (Advanced).
Current Level: 5 (Progress: 240/500).
"The game isn't over, Elliot," the system said softly. "But you've taken a significant piece off the board."
Elliot exhaled, a weight lifting from his chest. But somewhere deep in his gut, he knew Aaron wasn't finished—not yet.
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To Be Continued...