And just like that, it was daylight.
The automatic glass doors of LewisTech slid open with a soft hiss, welcoming Esther into a world unlike anything she had ever known. The lobby gleamed, floor-to-ceiling glass panels, polished marble floors, and a massive LED screen cycling through futuristic graphics of the company's ongoing innovations. Her chest rose with anticipation as her heels clicked beside Thomas, who walked proudly beside her.
"Don't worry," Thomas said, glancing at her. "Everyone's nervous on their first day. Just keep breathing."
"I'm breathing just fine," Esther smiled, though her eyes never stopped scanning the expansive hallways and workers bustling about. Not a day in her life did she thought she would have the opportunity to enter the known LewisTech corporation but there she was.
As they reached the main corridor leading to the executive wing, her steps slowed. Her eyes caught a familiar silhouette at the far end of the corridor, just a flash of long dark hair, swaying hips, and the distinct air of someone she had known all her life.
Esther blinked.
No. It couldn't be.
"Sarah?" she whispered under her breath.
The woman turned ever so slightly. But before Esther could fully process the features, the figure ducked hastily into a side office, almost like she was hiding.
Thomas noticed.
He saw the very moment Sarah stiffened, then swiftly slipped into the nearest office, the assistant project room that was usually empty this early. His steps didn't falter, but inside he sighed. Typical Sarah. Always dancing between truths and secrets like it was a sport.
Esther shook her head, laughing nervously to herself. "That's… weird. For a second I thought I saw my sister."
Thomas smiled politely, though his lips barely moved. "Small world, huh?"
"She doesn't even work here though," Esther added, her voice uncertain. "At least… I don't think she does." Sarah never made measure of her working place but she definitely did claimed not be associated with the Lewis earlier.
"Well, a place like LewisTech sees a lot of faces," Thomas offered casually. "Could be anyone. Come on, the boss doesn't like waiting."
They continued down the hall, but a part of Esther's mind lingered behind, stuck on the glimpse of someone she wasn't supposed to see here.
Meanwhile, inside the office…
Sarah leaned against the closed door, pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart thundered, louder than it had in years. Of all people to walk through these doors, why did it have to be her sister?
Her breath was still trying to steady itself as she leaned against the cool wooden door. She had dodged Esther, barely. What were the odds? Her younger sister walking into LewisTech on this day, of all days?
But mostly what was she doing here?
Her mind raced with excuses, explanations, cover-ups. She was adjusting her blouse when she suddenly felt a shift in the room.
A chair creaked.
Her body stiffened.
She wasn't alone.
Turning sharply, her eyes fell on John, seated comfortably on the edge of a desk like he belonged there. One leg crossed over the other, arms folded, a sly smile playing on his lips.
She froze.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded, heart skipping.
John lifted a brow, chuckling lowly. "I could ask you the same question, sweetheart. Thought this office was vacant?"
"I just needed to catch my breath," Sarah replied, recovering fast, her posture turning defensive. "What's your excuse?"
John slid off the desk, his steps slow and deliberate as he approached her. His presence filled the small space like a storm cloud, arrogant and uninvited.
Sarah took a small step back, but held her ground.
"You're always so fiery," he murmured, now only inches from her. "That's what I like about you."
"I'm not in the mood, John," she snapped. "You got what you wanted last time, but.."
He didn't let her finish. In a heartbeat, his hand wrapped around her waist and he yanked her forward, crashing his lips against hers in a rough, possessive kiss.
She gasped and pushed back, landing a sharp slap across his cheek.
Smack!
The sound echoed off the walls.
John's face turned, a red mark blooming across his skin, but instead of fury, he only laughed, dark and shameless.
"You still hit like a spoiled princess," he said, licking the corner of his mouth. "I like that too."
"You're disgusting," Sarah hissed, wiping her lips with the back of her hand.
"Meet me at Foday's Grill during lunch," he said, stepping back as if nothing had happened. "You and I need to have a real talk. Or else… well, you know how quickly truths travel in this company."
Her fists curled. "You threatening me?"
"I'm offering you a lifeline," he replied coolly. "See you at noon."
Just as Sarah was about to fire back at John, the door swung open with a loud bang.
In stepped Hawa, poised in a crisp lavender blouse and high-waisted navy trousers, the picture of elegance. Her almond-shaped eyes scanned the room and immediately narrowed at the sight before her: Sarah standing rigidly beside John, her lips slightly parted, one palm clenched at her side.
"John?" Her voice sliced through the tension, cool and questioning. "What are you doing here?"
John turned around with practiced ease, flashing the grin that had charmed his way out of trouble more times than he could count. "Ah, sweetheart! Just got caught up chatting with Sarah here. You know, office talk, a bit intense, I guess."
Sarah blinked, trying to realign her posture, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her. Hawa's eyes lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary.
"Didn't know the two of you worked so closely," Hawa said, her tone too polite to be innocent. Knowing the kind of man her fiancé was, she had better be on edge that be led down.
"We don't," Sarah snapped before she could help herself. John chuckled lightly and stepped in.
"She's right, babe. We just bumped into each other. I was actually waiting on George, he said to be here soon and I just happened to meet Mis Williams here" he lied smoothly, stepping toward Hawa and slipping his arm around her waist.
Still, Hawa didn't look fully convinced. Her gaze flicked back to Sarah, who was now straightening her skirt and gripping a file like her life depended on it.
"You okay?" she asked pointedly.
Sarah forced a smile. "Absolutely. Just…busy day."
"Mmm," Hawa hummed, clearly not buying the whole thing, but letting it go, for now. "Well, we're having lunch together with my parents today, don't forget ?" If anything she would have called of the whole engagement and wedding in months time, but somehow in an unexplainable situation her adopted father won't let her do so. He had arranged her into a relationship with John, she couldn't say no nor yes just sit quiet as it occurred.
"How could I forget?" John said, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek before ushering her out.
Before leaving, he looked back at Sarah, just long enough to mouth:
"Lunch. Or else."
And just like that, the door clicked shut.
And in a minute, Esther and Thomas were standing in Daniel's office.
Cool and pristine, the room reflected its owner composed, calculating, and efficient. It was early, but already sunlight filtered through the tall glass panels, casting sharp reflections across the gleaming floors.
Daniel stood at his desk, fingers resting on a neatly arranged folder, his eyes lifting to meet Esther's as they entered.
"Miss Cole," he greeted, his voice calm but firm. "Please, have a seat."
Esther offered a polite nod and sat down, clutching her handbag a little tighter than she intended. Despite the warmth of his voice, there was something about Daniel's presence that made it hard to breathe easy.
Thomas stood by the door, giving them space but not entirely retreating.
Daniel opened the folder and slid the contents toward her, neatly printed documents held together by a thin black clip.
"This outlines your role in the Neuro-Speech Development Project. Your official title will be Consultant of Emotional Progress and Behavioral Mapping. You'll work closely with the Neuro team, providing insights tied to our primary subject."
Esther's eyes lowered to the paper, already absorbing the words. The formal language was heavy, but she quickly grasped the key points, input sessions, observation periods, regular feedback reviews. Most importantly: confidentiality.
"You're expected to keep the project's existence and progress under strict discretion," Daniel added, voice now a degree more serious. "Only select personnel are aware of this department. Everything shared with you will remain internal, no notes, no discussions outside this building."
Esther nodded slowly, flipping to the next page. She'd thought long and hard about this last night, even called her sister, Zianab. Her older sister had encouraged her to take the offer, especially with how much it aligned with her studies, and the trust Daniel was placing in her didn't go unnoticed either.
"I understand," Esther finally said. "And I agree."
Daniel inclined his head once. "You'll be expected to attend biweekly reviews with the tech leads, and I'll check in personally on your assessments. You're not here to simply observe, Miss Cole. Your presence will shape the project's direction."
She signed where indicated, her fingers no longer trembling.
As she handed the file back, Daniel took it with a slight nod, then gestured toward Thomas.
"He'll take you to the restricted Neuro-Speech subdivision for a tour. You'll meet the development leads there and receive your access credentials."
Esther rose, her nerves now mixed with a quiet sense of responsibility, and curiosity.
But just before she turned to leave, Daniel added,
"Your insight is the one thing this project has been missing. Let's see how far we can go with it."
She blinked, surprised, but oddly encouraged.
Then Thomas opened the door, and she stepped forward, the future of something monumental now echoing in her steps.
The soft hum of the car's engine was the only sound in the air as Thomas drove through the quiet stretch leading to the Neuro-Speech subdivision. Esther sat beside him, hands folded neatly in her lap, eyes quietly scanning the growing outline of a modern, glass-paneled facility nestled between a belt of trees and hills. Unlike the main LewisTech tower, this building exuded focus and silence. It was designed for depth, not flash.
They parked, and Thomas led the way.
"This building isn't on any public tour list," he said casually, tapping his ID to the scanner. "Only a handful of staff even know it exists."
Esther raised a curious brow but said nothing. She'd already signed a thick confidentiality agreement just hours earlier in Daniel's office, which now made more sense.
Inside, the facility opened into a quiet, clean-lined corridor with soft lighting and frosted glass walls. People moved with quiet efficiency, and the energy was concentrated, almost reverent.
Soon, they reached a door labeled Neuro-Speech Core Lab. Thomas pushed it open gently.
"Ibrahim, Alie, this is Esther Cole," he introduced as they entered.
The two men inside turned from their work.
Ibrahim, tall with sharp eyes behind rimless glasses, offered a brief but respectful nod. "You're the behavioral consultant Mr. Lewis mentioned?"
Esther nodded, extending her hand. "I am. It's a pleasure."
"Welcome," Ibrahim said. "You're just in time. We were about to run a new simulation."
Alie, shorter and stockier, grinned and motioned them over to a central desk filled with holographic displays and neural waveform graphs.
Esther's gaze settled on a sleek, headband-like device connected to a computer.
"This," Ibrahim began, "is the Neuro-Speech band. It reads subtle neural signals, intentions, vocal thoughts that never reach the throat, and converts them into text or artificial voice."
"It was originally designed for people with severe speech disabilities," Alie added, tapping on the display. "But we're now fine-tuning it to detect even fragmented or trauma-blocked signals. That's where your input comes in."
Esther's eyes widened. "You mean… it can read the intention to speak even if the person can't vocalize?"
"Exactly," Ibrahim replied. "It's not mind-reading. We're decoding speech-related neural pathways, like when someone thinks of speaking, even if they can't physically produce sound."
Thomas watched her take it all in with genuine intrigue. She wasn't just hearing, she was absorbing, questioning, forming thoughts. The awe on her face was quiet but deep, and for a moment, he saw something he hadn't in a long time at this facility: hope.
It amazed him how different she was from her sister Sarah.
Where Sarah walked with polished poise and whispered ambition under her breath, Esther had a grounding calm, almost unaware of her own grace. And yet, Thomas mused, both were daughters of the same modest household.
How could two people born of the same roof walk such different roads?
"You'll be working closely with me," Ibrahim continued, unaware of Thomas's drifting thoughts. "Your task is to observe patient simulations, guide our behavioral interpretations, and recommend communication strategies. Particularly for children."
"Like Betty?" Esther asked softly.
Ibrahim nodded. "Yes. Her case is what inspired this extension of the project. We'll start with previously recorded sessions before you're introduced to live trials."
Esther glanced down at the Neuro-Speech device again, her fingers brushing the edge of the display gently. Her voice came quiet but determined.
"I'm ready."
Thomas, still standing off to the side, exhaled through his nose and straightened. She really was different. And Daniel, whether he knew it yet or not, had made a wise choice.
Back at LewisTech headquarters, the air in the marketing department was simmering with subtle tension. Harriet stood out, not just for the form-fitting, modest dress she wore, but for the sharp defiance in her eyes. Though the outfit wasn't fancy or expensive like Sarah had suggested, it was enough to draw whispers… and Harriet heard every one of them.
But she wasn't here for admiration. She was here for her seat at the table.
"I signed a contract to work," she said firmly, standing across from Moses, the department head's office. "And that's exactly what I intend to do."
Moses barely looked up from his screen. His fingers tapped lazily on the keyboard, pretending she wasn't there. His silence screamed louder than words, but Harriet held her ground.
"Listen," he said finally, voice laced with disdain, "I'm doing you a favor. You, of all people, should know how you got this job, so don't stand there acting all dignified and humble."
"I'm not claiming anything," Harriet responded calmly, though a spark lit in her eyes. "I just want to work. That's what I came here for."
He leaned back, folding his arms. "Do you even know how to turn on the computer on your desk?"
"I don't. That's true," Harriet admitted without shame. "But I can learn, if you stop judging me before I even get a chance."
A loaded silence followed. Moses's hands returned to the keyboard, typing as if the conversation was over.
"I don't have a task for you. Do as you please," he said coldly, not sparing her another glance. "Now kindly leave my office."
Harriet's jaw clenched. She turned without another word and marched straight to the elevator. If he thought that was the end of it, he clearly didn't know who she was.
Seventeen floors up, in the HR department, she didn't bother waiting for permission before stepping into Hawa's office.
"I have a complaint."
Hawa looked up slowly, brows arching. "A complaint? On your second day? That's not a great start."
Harriet didn't flinch. "My department head refuses to assign me any work."
Now Hawa sat straighter, interest piqued. She hadn't wanted to recruit Harriet, had made that much clear, but hearing this?
"That's not what I expected," she admitted.
"I'm not here to cruise through. I want to earn this. Sitting idle wastes company resources, and I'm sure, as HR Manager, you're aware of that."
Hawa gave a dry chuckle, impressed despite herself. "You've got some nerve. But fine, if you're serious, let's get you that work."
A minute later, they were back on the 16th floor, standing at the door of Moses's office.
"I've got a complaint about you," Hawa said bluntly, entering without knocking. Harriet waited outside.
Moses barely lifted his gaze. "Let me guess."
"Why haven't you assigned her anything?"
"I don't think she's ready."
"She won't ever be ready if you don't give her a chance," Hawa cut in sharply. "Look, I get it, she may have come in through a side door. But she's in now. That makes her your employee, and she's entitled to fair treatment and responsibility."
Moses exhaled heavily but said nothing.
"I expect better, Moses. Don't make me come back here again."
With that, she turned on her heel and left. As she passed Harriet, she offered a brief smile and a nod. "You've got your chance. Don't waste it."
For the first time since she entered LewisTech, Harriet felt something she hadn't in a long time, hope.