“Nobody pays attention to children,” she said. “Especially poor children. They talk around us because they think we don’t understand. Let me walk around with Fiona. Say it’s a foundation mentorship day.”
Olivia looked up.
“That could work.”
Victor objected.
“She is twelve.”
“She has already noticed more than trained adults,” Olivia said.
Marco studied Kiara.
“You will never be alone. You will not approach anyone suspicious. You observe. You report. The moment it becomes unsafe, it ends.”
Kiara nodded.
She meant it at the time.
Fiona carried a clipboard, Kiara wore an Alian Foundation visitor badge, and together they toured the company.
Marketing first.
People smiled politely and returned to work.
Kiara wandered among the desks, pretending to admire posters and promotional materials. Near a corner station, a woman spoke urgently into a phone.
“I can’t talk now. Yes, I know the seriousness. No, he doesn’t suspect yet.”
The woman noticed Kiara and ended the call.
Kiara smiled innocently.
“Did you make this poster?”
The woman relaxed.
“No, dear. Graphic design.”
Kiara memorized the nameplate.
Anna Olins. Corporate Communications Manager.
Finance came next.
The whole department felt wrong.
Too many whispers. Too many conversations ending when Fiona approached. Luca was not there.
“Where is Mr. Carmen?” Kiara asked an assistant sweetly.
“In an external meeting,” the woman said too fast. “He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
At lunch, they found Pietro sitting alone in the executive restaurant, hunched over a tablet, dark circles under his eyes.
He looked nervous, brilliant, exhausted.
Kiara asked casual questions while Fiona pretended to read from the mentorship schedule.
“Finance seems tense today,” Kiara said.
Pietro gave a small, tired smile.
“Finance is always tense when something expensive breaks.”
“I heard Mr. Luca is outside the office.”
Pietro looked up.
“That’s funny. I saw him in the underground security lab an hour ago.”
Fiona and Kiara exchanged one look.
Then the thin man from the limousine appeared at the table.
Kiara recognized him instantly.
Her heart punched against her ribs.
“Pietro,” he said coldly, “we need to review the security protocols.”
Pietro stiffened.
“Alan, these are Fiona and Kiara.”
Alan’s gaze slid over Kiara.
For a second, she thought he recognized her.
Then he smiled without warmth.
“Delighted.”
When he left, Pietro leaned closer.
“Maybe you should end the tour early.”
Fiona called Marco immediately.
His answer was absolute.
“Return to the executive floor now. Do not go near the basement.”