Hacker Vs. Hacker

Chapter 18

I tsked in annoyance.

I called James.

"Pen, 'sup?"

"Hey, did you bring your flash drives?"

"Yep, why?"

"I need you to insert that one, ASAP."

"How the hell would we do that? We're just guards here."

"Malapit ba kayo sa front desk?"

"Oo."

"Then that's the answer of your question."

"Front desk? Paano namen gagawin 'yon? Ang sungit-sungit nung babae dun."

"Goddamnit, use your charm. Better yet, use your head!" halos pasigaw n autos ko.

"Oy, ba't ang sungit mo? Heto, na gagawan na ng paraan."

Hindi na ako sumagot. Pinatay ko na lang yung tawag.

Sorry, guys. I exhaled deeply.

Habang hinihintay ko na mag-notify yung flash drive kapag na-insert na, binalikan ko yung conversation namin nung hacker nung nandito ako sa office ko.

And for nth time, susubukan ko ulit i-trace yung IP Address niya. Hindi ka talaga marunong madala, Penny! Tssk. Well, I'm just hoping for some digital footprints.

I boringly typed and typed until I got something useful. For real?! Baka pakana na naman 'to ni Paul. I should be very careful. Parang hindi kasi kapani-paniwala na na-trace ko yung IP address gamit yung email na ginagamit niya noong magka-chat kami.

Using my knowledge, I tried to convert it to an actual address. I found out na IP address pala 'to ng isang phone. Phone, huh? And what I saw next made me freeze in my seat. Holy shit. It led me to the LifeStrong Company's address. I blinked many times to process what I saw.

Heto na talaga yun, eh. Yung one last time confirmation na gusto. Hindi ko namalayang tumulo pala luha. What the hell? Ba't ang emotional ko ngayon?

Putangina ka, Paul!

I don't know what came into me, but I got my phone and called him. It only rang once before he answered.

"Hey," sagot niya sa kabilang linya.

"Hi," gusto siyang sigawan, "Where are you?"

I was tracing his phone to get his location. Tingnan ko kung magsisinungaling siya.

"Office, why?"

"Just asking," I smiled sadly.

I looked at my monitor and saw his location. He's right, nasa LifeStrong Company siya. As fast as I could, I traced his phone's IP address to see if it's a match with the hacker's.

"Are you okay? You sound tired," he sound like he's concerned. Fvck you.

Tired? Yeah, tired of your bullshit. "I'm fine. Just skipped breakfast," I faked a laugh.

We were still exchanging bullshit while I busily typed to match his IP ad and the hacker's and another truth slapped me. It matched. It fvcking match.

Huminga ako ng malalim at mariing pumikit para kontrolin ang damdamin ko. Parang gusto ko na kasing umiyak at sumigaw.

"uhm, I have to deal with something urgent. Call you later?"

"Sure, love. Bye."

Love? To hell with that word.

Pinatay ko ang tawag at padabog na nilapag ang phone ko sa table ko. How could I be so stupid? Bakit ako nagpauto?! Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagbuhos ng luha ko.

Nakasubso ang mukha ko sa palad ko nang tumunog ang computer ko. I composed myself before looking at it.

It was Ian's Flash drive. Hmm, mas nauna pa talaga siyang naka-insert. I just hope may makuha akong magagamit ko.

Kahit ang bigat-bigat ng damdamin ko, hindi ko na pinagpaliban pa ang pagtingin kung anong meron mang magagamit ko. It could be transactions, business meetings, scheduled activities--- anything.

Damn. All folders are password encrypted. I groaned in frustration.

Napatingala ako para kalmahin ang sarili ko. You are a strong and independent woman, Pen. You won't let that man do anything else that will destroy you. You destroy him. Make him taste his own medicine.

Huminga ako ng malalim at bumalik sa trabaho. But before that I sent James and Hadji a message saying Ian already did it.

Hi, there! This will be a year-end update. 😅 Hope you enjoy! 😘

Ps- abangan ang nalalapit na pagtatapos ng kwento ni Paul at Penny. 😁😅

Xoxo,

DuchessCee 🖤