Episode 2: A Taste of Shadows
Cillian’s first day at the consulting firm in Manhattan was nothing like the glossy promises he’d read in their job offer. The office was cramped, with buzzing fluorescent lights and rows of outdated computers. His manager, a wiry man named Ethan, didn’t bother with pleasantries.
“Cillian, right? Good. We’ve got you on the Johnson account. Data migration. They’re behind schedule, so you’ll need to put in some late hours.” Ethan shoved a folder into his hands and turned back to his desk without waiting for a reply.
Cillian nodded silently. He had expected this—long hours, endless grunt work, and little appreciation. He buried himself in the project, trying to prove his worth. But as the weeks passed, he noticed something odd.
While he slogged away at his tasks, Ethan spent his time in whispered conversations with certain clients and outside visitors who didn’t seem like they were there for IT work. Cillian’s desk was near the server room, and one evening, he overheard a conversation between Ethan and a man in a sharp suit.
“This data scrub you need,” Ethan said, lowering his voice, “it’s going to cost extra. You understand what we’re covering up here?”
The man nodded, sliding an envelope across the desk. “Just make sure it disappears.”
Cillian’s ears perked up. Data scrub? Covering up? This wasn’t part of the typical IT consulting services he’d read about. Something was going on beneath the surface, and Cillian couldn’t ignore it.
Later that evening, as Cillian sat in the dimly lit apartment, his roommates argued over who would pay for beer. He barely heard them, his mind replaying what he’d overheard. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the consulting firm was involved in something illegal—something bigger than just IT contracts.
The next day, he stayed late at the office, claiming he needed extra time to finish his work. When the last employee left, he slipped into the server room and started poking around. He quickly discovered files that didn’t belong—encrypted folders with names like “BlackBook” and “ClientX.” His heart raced as he copied them onto a floppy disk.
As he was leaving, Ethan’s voice cut through the silence.
“What are you still doing here, Cillian?” Ethan stood in the doorway, his eyes sharp.
Cillian spun around, forcing a nervous smile. “Just finishing up some logs. Wanted to make a good impression, you know?”
Ethan studied him for a moment before nodding. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Back at the apartment, Cillian booted up his ancient laptop and opened the files he had copied. His hands trembled as the contents became clear—financial transactions, encrypted communications, and references to “cleaning data” for wealthy clients. It wasn’t just shady; it was outright criminal. The firm was laundering money, falsifying records, and covering up scandals for high-profile corporations.
Cillian leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He knew he should report this. It was the right thing to do. But as he stared at the files, another thought crept in.
This was leverage.
The next morning, Cillian didn’t confront Ethan or anyone else at the firm. Instead, he kept his head down and observed. He began to understand the dynamics at play—the hidden deals, the subtle power struggles, the way Ethan wielded control over clients and employees alike.
One evening, Ethan called him into his office.
“You’ve been doing good work, Cillian,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I need someone I can trust to handle… sensitive projects. You interested?”
Cillian hesitated, pretending to be unsure. “What kind of projects?”
Ethan smirked. “The kind that come with bonuses.”
Cillian nodded slowly. “I’m listening.”
As weeks turned into months, Cillian began to involve himself in Ethan’s “special” projects. He learned how to scrub data, cover up scandals, and manipulate systems for the firm’s wealthy clients. But he didn’t just follow orders. He watched, listened, and learned.
Every deal, every secret he uncovered, he filed away in his growing mental archive. Ethan thought he had found a loyal lackey, but Cillian had a different plan.
He wasn’t just going to be a cog in this machine. He was going to take it over.
One evening, as he stood on the balcony of his apartment, looking out at the city lights, Cillian felt a strange sense of satisfaction. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t just surviving—he was positioning himself for something greater.
He had left Dublin with nothing but a suitcase and a rosary. Now, he had power, however small, and he knew exactly how to grow it.
“This city doesn’t know what’s coming,” he muttered to himself.
And he smiled.
End of Episode 2
Next Episode: Cillian makes his first move to assert control, but a mistake puts him on the radar of someone dangerous.
