Chapter 8 - The Stolen Pages
How did Celina obtain confidential Halloran material?
Not by hacking.
Not by breaking into an office.
The truth was embarrassingly mundane.
A junior contractor named Paul Danner worked briefly on document indexing for Halloran.
Two years later, he joined a private reputation firm.
Celina hired that firm.
During research, Danner recognized her name.
He remembered C-17.
He should have said nothing.
Instead, he hinted.
Then he searched an old personal backup he had improperly retained.
Violation.
Professional misconduct.
Possibly more.
There were fragments.
Not complete reports.
Enough for Celina to learn that Sofia had once paid professionals to evaluate her.
Instead of asking:
Why was I being evaluated?
Celina built another meaning.
Sofia noticed me.
Sofia selected me.
Sofia knew I belonged.
That sentence appeared in one of her later messages.
May you like
I stared at it for a long time.
Narcissism can turn suspicion into endorsement if endorsement is what the person needs.
