Until You (Off-Limits)

I’m overwhelmed in all the best ways by the time I’m led to what is about to become my very own desk. The six screens that have been set up at my desk almost bring tears to my eyes. This… this is what I’ve always imagined. I can barely believe this is real.

“Your department has been dubbed The Elites,” Sam tells me. Until I met her, I was convinced that every single person who works for Human Resources is useless, but she proved me wrong.

“In reality, it’s called the Developmental Operations Department. No one knows what you guys actually do, to be honest.”

She chuckles and I can’t help but smile. “Let me introduce you to your manager,” she says, nodding at the guy that’s walking up to us. I try my hardest to stay calm, but I’m failing.

“Hi,” he says, holding out his hand for me. “I’m Riley.”

“I know,” I blurt out. My cheeks heat rapidly, and I’m mortified. But Riley merely smiles, some of the ice that was previously present in his eyes melting. I clear my throat awkwardly and shake the hand he’s still holding out for me. “I’m Aria,” I manage.

I can’t believe I’m shaking Riley Paulson’s hand. I’ve admired his work for a while now. He developed a social media app that has become a household name. The algorithms behind it are stupidly innovative. The way he’s managed to keep people on the platform, and the way he monetized it… it’s crazy. When Grayson hired him, it ended up becoming front-page news, primarily because no one has been able to figure out why a guy that rich would want to work for someone else.

“I wasn’t aware we’d be hiring anyone new until Grayson informed me this morning. Here’s the thing, though. I can’t find anything about you. No notable accomplishments, not even an impressive illegal digital footprint. Every one of us here was hired because of something we did that no one else could… but you? Tell me why you’re here.”

I panic. I didn’t think this far ahead. I thought I’d just prove myself through my work, that I’d just work hard and keep my head down. I didn’t think anyone would ask me outright what makes me think I deserve to be here.

“Questioning my decisions, Riley? When did I grant you the authority to do that?”

I turn to find Gray leaning against the doorframe of what appears to be his office. I didn’t think Gray and I would even be on the same floor, but it looks like we are. So much for keeping my distance from him at work.

Riley looks at Gray, a silent exchange occurring between the two of them. When he looks back at me, his expression is unreadable. “Let me introduce you to the rest of the team,” he says, before turning and walking away. I rush to follow him, and when he stops by the desk nearest to mine, I almost crash into him. I don’t remember the last time I embarrassed myself as thoroughly as today.

My eyes widen when I recognize yet another person I idolize. “Elliot Evans,” he says, rising to his feet to shake my hand. This time I manage to keep from blurting out that I know exactly who he is. But the amused look in his eyes tells me I’m not doing a great job at hiding my adoration. Elliot is one of the best system hackers that I know of, and I can’t make sense of what this team even is. The developer of a famous social media platform and now a system hacker?

I follow Riley as he moves to the next desk, and this time I manage to hide my excitement a bit better, even though I’ve been cyber stalking the tall blonde standing in front of me for years now. “Laura,” she says. I nod, praying my cheeks aren’t flaming the way I think they are.

“Laura is our machine learning engineer,” Riley tells me, moving along before I even have a chance to shake her hand. He’s gone before I manage to say anything to her, and I’m at a loss. Is the introduction done?

“Follow him,” Laura says, winking at me.

I’m flustered as I do as she says. This team… these are some of the smartest minds. The stuff they could do together, it’s unreal. What was Gray thinking, having me join them?

Riley leans against my desk, and I hesitate before taking my seat. The way he stares tells me he isn’t happy with my presence, and I can’t blame him. I don’t deserve to be here.

“Grayson has never done this before, so I’ll choose to trust him for now. If I find out the only reason you’re here is because you’re fucking the boss, I’ll fire you. Grayson won’t be able to stop me, unless he’s willing to let me walk away.”

I glare at him, disappointment washing over me. I’ve looked up to Riley Paulson for years, but he’s… a dick. “If you speak to me that way again, Grayson won’t have to fire you,” I tell him. “HR will do it for him.”

Riley’s eyes widen, and then he laughs, startling me. “You might just survive,” he tells me as he leans over to grab my mouse.

“Here,” he says, opening a document. “Finish this script. I didn’t get to interview you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t test you. Grayson might have given you a way in, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get to stay.”

I nod in understanding and turn to look at my screen. My heart sinks when I realize the magnitude of the task. It will take me all day. “Good luck,” he tells me as he walks away.

I see Elliot and Laura exchange glances, and I’m already feeling left out. I don’t belong here. These people worked their ass off to become part of this team. They proved themselves, and they have notorious reputations. I’m a nobody compared to them.

Insecurity almost renders me unable to work, but as it always does, coding takes my mind off everything. In a world I can’t make sense of, the one thing I have control over is everything binary. I work on autopilot, pausing only to stretch my fingers every once in a while.

I don’t stop even when my colleagues leave for lunch. I can’t afford to take a break now. Not when they’re blatantly testing me. The code Riley asked me to finish is a mess, and I bet he’s hoping I won’t be able to do it, or that I’ll ask him for help.

The office quietens, and I lean back in my seat, glancing around the empty space. I can spot Grayson hard at work through his open door, but the office is empty otherwise. I can’t believe I made it here. Riley is right. Unless I prove myself, there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to stay. But then again, all I needed was a chance.

I bite down on my lip and grab my phone, hesitating before deciding to text Ash. I’m not even sure why I’m reaching out to him, but somehow, I miss him. Today is tougher than I imagined, and Ash is bound to make me smile somehow.

Nyx: Hey, how’s your day going? I’m having a bit of a rough day and I just thought of you randomly.

Ash: I see my pick-up lines worked. You’re falling for me already, aren’t you? Do I have you addicted to me yet?

I laugh, the sound breaking the silence in the empty office.

Nyx: Maybe. Maybe I’m feeling a little down because I didn’t get my dose of Ash.

Ash: Hey Nyx, is your middle name Google? Because you’re everything I’ve been looking for.

I giggle. I can’t help it. His pick-up lines keep getting worse and I love them.

Ash: I made you laugh, didn’t I? I’m sorry your day is shitty, babe. I hope it gets better.

Nyx: I’ll admit it. You did make me laugh. Thank you, Ash. I hope your day is amazing.

Ash: It is now.

I put my phone away, filled with renewed motivation. I barely realize what time it is when Riley walks up to me again. “Let’s see what you accomplished,” he says. The rest of the team rises in unison, their faces filled with amusement, and I hate that it hurts. I shouldn’t expect them to welcome me so easily, yet having them so blatantly attempt to push me out on my first day hurts.

I rise to my feet and let Riley take my seat while the rest of the team surrounds us. “Go ahead,” I tell him. There are many things I’m bad at, things I’m insecure about, but this isn’t one of them.

He runs the script and then scrolls through the code, up and down as though he’s triple-checking that what he’s seeing is real. “You finished it?” he asks, his disbelief apparent.

“Well, yes. I’m still working on removing some inefficiencies and random loops, though. I don’t know who coded this, but it’s a bit of a mess.”

Laura bursts out laughing and lifts her palm. “Don’t leave me hanging,” she says, and I high five her awkwardly, somewhat confused. “Riley coded it,” she says. “And he’s spent a week trying to finish this, but he was unable to.”

I blush self-consciously when Elliot nods in approval. Riley looks up at me, suspicion distorting his face. “Who are you?” he asks.

I smile, a small burst of pride coursing through me. “The type of person who leaves no traces,” I tell him, reaching for my handbag.

I didn’t even realize that Grayson was watching our entire exchange until I hear him chuckle from behind me. I turn to find him leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.

“Good girl,” he says, his eyes radiating pride. “Come on,” he adds, pushing off the wall. “I’ll give you a ride.”

I nod and follow him out, leaving my team staring at my screen. Laura and Elliot are admiring my work, while Riley is still staring in disbelief.