Previously, the firewall Sandra had designed was so secure that even Earl’s attempts to breach it from the inside proved futile. That meant that unless Sandra herself permitted it, no one could penetrate the company’s defenses.
To everyone’s surprise, alarms suddenly blared. “Our system has been infiltrated! They’re one step away from accessing it!”
At the sound of the alarm, every head in the technical department instinctively turned to Sandra. She frowned. She was confident in the strength of her firewall.
At that moment the company was in the middle of an executive meeting. The secretary who burst in to report the breach was sternly rebuked by Debra. Nearly in tears, the secretary warned, “Mrs. Cooper, if the intruder breaches our system, our company secrets will be compromised.”
Debra glanced around at the senior executives. “Sandra has always assured us the firewall would hold.”
“Earl once tried to hack our secrets using company access codes—all in vain.”
“I have faith in her abilities.”
The core issue on the table was the garment department. The celebrity collaboration had been suppressed by the Cooper Group, and two problems remained unresolved. One involved Mason, whose resistance to persuasion made him difficult to handle; if he exposed the truth, the Cooper Group would face far graver consequences. The other concerned the prominent celebrity Jessica Smith, who was motivated entirely by money. The Coopers were reluctant to fund her demands, which left the dilemma unsolved.
Suggestions offered during the meeting fell on deaf ears—nobody wanted to be the scapegoat.
The timing of the secretary’s interruption was serendipitous, shifting attention away from the garment department’s problems and toward the firewall breach. Someone quipped, “If our firewall is as infallible as Mrs. Cooper claims, who could possibly mount such an attack?”
“Even Earl couldn’t do it. It seems implausible anyone else could succeed.”
“Are you implying Sandra is the culprit?”
The secretary spoke up, “Sandra is currently in the technical department.” If Sandra were the saboteur, her presence at work now would certainly be suspicious.
A scoff of disdain rippled through the room. “Despite Sandra’s humble origins, she has tremendous mental fortitude.”
“Indeed—hidden beneath a sheep’s disguise, who could discern the wolf within?”
“She did this, then sat back to watch our reactions for her amusement?”
“Mrs. Cooper, your daughter-in-law is something else!”
Debra sighed lightly. “I hadn’t anticipated such a complication. I’ll go to the technical department.”
Management had long harbored reservations about Sandra’s sudden appointment. The silence enforced by Earl’s incident would not hold now that they had an opportunity to challenge her.
In the technical department, Sandra nonchalantly unwrapped a lollipop while choosing a playlist on her computer. Colleagues approached her repeatedly, but she sat with her eyes closed, undisturbed by the commotion.
“She’s so confident in her system, isn’t she?” someone murmured.
“I have a suspicion about this whole situation. Could it be her doing?”
“That seems unlikely. What would she gain?”
“Our system has tracking features, doesn’t it?”
“So we just wait?”
“Back then, the camera activated during Earl’s attempted hack, but now there’s nothing.”
“Look—someone’s approaching the door.”
The timing of the secretary’s interruption was serendipitous, shifting attention away from the garment department’s problems and toward the firewall breach. Someone quipped, “If our firewall is as infallible as Mrs. Cooper claims, who could possibly mount such an attack?”
“Even Earl couldn’t do it. It seems implausible anyone else could succeed.”
“Are you implying Sandra is the culprit?”
The secretary spoke up, “Sandra is currently in the technical department.” If Sandra were the saboteur, her presence at work now would certainly be suspicious.
A scoff of disdain rippled through the room. “Despite Sandra’s humble origins, she has tremendous mental fortitude.”
“Indeed—hidden beneath a sheep’s disguise, who could discern the wolf within?”
“She did this, then sat back to watch our reactions for her amusement?”
“Mrs. Cooper, your daughter-in-law is something else!”
Debra sighed lightly. “I hadn’t anticipated such a complication. I’ll go to the technical department.”
Management had long harbored reservations about Sandra’s sudden appointment. The silence enforced by Earl’s incident would not hold now that they had an opportunity to challenge her.
In the technical department, Sandra nonchalantly unwrapped a lollipop while choosing a playlist on her computer. Colleagues approached her repeatedly, but she sat with her eyes closed, undisturbed by the commotion.
“She’s so confident in her system, isn’t she?” someone murmured.
“I have a suspicion about this whole situation. Could it be her doing?”
“That seems unlikely. What would she gain?”
“Our system has tracking features, doesn’t it?”
“So we just wait?”
“Back then, the camera activated during Earl’s attempted hack, but now there’s nothing.”
“Look—someone’s approaching the door.”
Debra entered, impeccably dressed in off-white professional attire. Nude stockings and black high heels completed her look—the epitome of precision. Flanked by executives, each wore an expression taut with displeasure. Wesley and Joey, along with other onlookers, soon gathered outside.
Joey, trailing behind the crowd, voiced his concern, “Nothing is absolute. What if the attacker’s prowess eclipses that of the young madam?”
Wesley replied with quiet certainty, “That won’t be the case.”
“Really? You’re that confident in her?” Joey pressed.
Wesley said, “If there had been any cause for concern, she wouldn’t be so relaxed.” Joey peered inside, astonished by Sandra’s laid-back demeanor. He marveled at her extraordinary composure.
“Sandra,” Debra began, “you’ve boasted about the impregnability of your firewall. Now, as the intruder encroaches on the final barrier, how can you remain so detached?”
Sandra’s answer was terse. “Without internal collusion, breaching the last defense is impossible.”
Debra scoffed skeptically. “And why does that tracking function now fail us?”
Sandra twirled her lollipop and glanced up. “It’s not that the camera is inactive. I’ve used a code to obscure the perpetrator’s face.”
Realization dawned on Debra. “You know the person attempting to hack into our system?”
“Yes, but not well,” Sandra offered.
The executives behind Debra chimed in. “Have you leaked company secrets to your friends?”
“If our company suffers losses due to such negligence, you will bear full responsibility for compensation!” another warned.
“That’s the least of your concerns,” someone else snapped. “This is a matter that could land you in prison!”
Sandra looked genuinely baffled. “In prison?”
Debra nodded. “Indeed. Last time Earl was lucky enough to avoid prison, but this time we won’t tolerate it.”
“Even if you are the young madam of the Coopers, it won’t be acceptable.”
“If you want to protect your friend, then you will share the same guilt as your friend.”
Sandra still couldn’t believe it. “Is it really that serious?” she asked.
Debra sighed. “Turn on the camera and let us see who that person is.”
Sandra gave a thumbs up and said, “I didn’t expect you to genuinely care for me. I misunderstood you before, Debra.”
Debra put on a motherly expression. “Just reveal that person’s face to us, Sandra.”
.
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