I was glad I reached the client an hour early, as I was setting up to demonstrate my company's software. My team had been working on this for 2 years, and as program manager I do the demos as needed. My machine booted up and I signed in. The screen went black. Subsequent restarts had the same impact.
I called my co-worker Jerry to run his laptop over to do the presentation. The company's marketing rep and Jerry showed up 5 minutes before the presentation. Jerry's computer worked perfectly, and the presentation was over in an hour. The client was happy, and Jerry and I headed back to the office.
Even though it was late, I wanted to check my laptop. I placed it in the docking station and booted it up. It worked perfectly. Exhausted after doing an energetic demonstration, I decided to check the logs tomorrow.
I was sipping my Venti Latte when I used my key card to enter the building.
I heard a voice "Ms. Dumhal? The CTO would like to see you in his office, now."
I look up to see a big guy in an expensive suit.
"I am sorry I'm not sure who you are." I respond.
"I am Aedan Laoch, Director of Security." He tells me.
Director of security, what could this be? If the CTO was happy about my presentation, he would not send security. Aedan leads me to the elevator and hits the button for the top floor.
"May I ask what this is about?" I ask when the elevator starts moving.
"You will find out in the meeting." He states flatly.
I am getting nervous, a meeting with the Chief Technology Officer and the Director of Security? I have no idea what could be going on.
We get off the elevator and Aedan nods at the receptionist. She looks at me with curiosity.
He leads me to a luxurious large office. All I notice is the CTO's black hair and brown piercing eyes, which seem to be pinning me in place.
Aedan tells me to sit on one of the leather couches. I choose the one furthest away from those eyes. They never leave me, no I feel pinned to my seat.
"Ms. Dumhal, according to our records your computer downloaded all of our proprietary files to the company you presented to yesterday. How do you explain this?" Says Mr. Diabhal
I am shocked. My laptop wouldn't even boot, how could this be?
"It couldn't have sir, as soon as I logged on the screen went black" I tell him.
"You know as well as I, that when it went black it was running a script that copied everything over." Mr. Diabhal told me.
I did not know this, what is going on?
"Sir I assure you, I did not run a script. My machine stopped working. It started again last night when I docked it. I was planning to check the event logs this morning, to try and figure out what happened." I said
"No need for that Mr. Dumhal, we have already done that and the logs show the script was run. You were the only person logged on, so it could only have been you." He replied
I don't know what to say. How could this be?
"Give her the file for review, Aedan." Mr. Diabhal said.
Aedan brought me over a file. I see the first page is event logs, that do indeed show a script being run from my computer.
"Honestly, Sir, I did not run this script. Someone must have put it on my computer." I say, defending myself.
"I may have believed that, except the rest of the file includes a dummy company email address requested by you from IT. This email has been in communication with several of our competitors offering to sell our proprietary software. There are records indicating that you will receive a cash payment after delivering part of the software." Mr. Diabhal thumbed through papers as he is telling me this.
I thumb through the documents on my folder, and it seems to contain the same information. I can feel myself going pale.
"Sir, this was not me. I swear it. I would never sell out the company. I have worked here since college, and I love it here." I say.
"Yes it is puzzling. Until this you were on the fast track to management. I don't understand why you would throw away your career; and risk jail time." He said.
This must be a dream, this just can't be real. Who would set me up like this?
"If you look at the last page, it includes your bank account. It shows a substantial deposit the day before your first drop of code." He tells me.
I look at the last page, I am shocked to see $50,000 was deposited earlier this week. I feel myself go even paler. How could this be? Who would be setting me up?
"Then this morning when Aedan searched you, he found this flash drive." He holds up a black flash drive. "It has the final pieces of the software you sold our competitors."
My mind is reeling, this is just not possible. Then it occurs to me that Aedan never searched me. It starts to sink in then.
"One of you is framing me for this. Why?" I ask.
"We have no idea what you are talking about." Says Mr. Diabhal, as he actually winks at me.
"Cuff her Aedan. Take her down the private elevator to my car so at least she is spared the humiliation of being taken out in cuffs."
I barely notice as he puts the handcuffs on. I am numb. I feel completely distant from myself. The next thing I know I am in the back seat of a town car. Aedan puts a seatbelt on me and gets in the driver's seat. Mr. Diabhal comes down and gets in the back next to me.
Great. The CTO is taking me to the police himself. I huddle in my seat, edging as close to the door I can. Away from Mr. Diabhal.
I am too miserable to think very much. Why would they set my up like this? Tears start rolling down my face. I hope he does not notice. I try and make anger take over so I can at least defend myself. I can't. I feel so little hope this would work out. Was one of them selling to the competition and framing me?
The car stops, and I realize we are at a private residence. Actually, a private estate with a huge house. Aedan drives the car to a big garage and opens one of the garage doors. The garage is huge. There are 4 cars in it with spaces for more.
Aedan leads me out of the car and up a stairway. He opens the door at the top and we enter a spacious kitchen. I smell food. He makes me wait until Mr. Diabhal comes in and sits at a table. I notice the table is set for two.
"You will obey me and cooperate if Aedan takes off the cuffs. If you don't, then we go straight to the authorities." Mr. Daibhal tells me.
Aedan removes the cuffs and leads me to a seat across from Mr. Daibhal. Aedan disappears.
"What is going on?" I ask.
"Sit Maeve." He orders, "Relax and drink your wine for a few minutes."
He pours two glasses of wine, one for him and one for me. He watches me intently as we drink our wine. I drink mine down in one big sip. I know
I should try and keep a clear head, but I need wine right now. We repeat this a couple times, until I start to feel relaxed, and a little tipsy.
He uncovers our plates and tells me to eat. I push my food around my plate, not eating a lot. He eats everything on my plate. He pushes his chair back and looks at me.
"You are a very attractive woman; single, living alone with a cat. I want you as my mistress. My whore. Here is my proposal: you are promoted to my personal assistant. Big promotion for you. You will work - most likely less hours - on my pet projects. Your main job is pleasing me sexually, and anyone I tell you to." Mr. Daibhal,
"This is non-negotiable either this or we prosecute you."
I am stunned. Mistress? Whore? Who does he think I am?
"No way! I'm not a sex toy." I say indignantly.
"I believe you will come around. Shall we talk about how you can spend a good portion of your life in prison? Or do as I propose." He tells me.
My mind races, trying to work out all the possibilities. Surely, the truth will come out. He pushes the file towards me.
