Admit

I stopped asking questions. I felt he was suspicious so I had to go through with this.

"There's something that happened when we still worked at the office" I started. "I never told you and it's weird but I'd rather you'd know… But please never tell anyone else."

I paused a second to figure out by which end I could start all this.

"Our accounting app had that not-very-secure thing where it kept our login data in the cloud. Paulo only noticed - and told me - when he got his laptop stolen and somehow he was able to login with face ID without typing his password, even though he'd never added biometric data on his computer. He figured it'd just come from the face ID data from his phone, which he'd also used to connect to the platform sometimes. So as long as you knew your login, you could use any type of identification on any new device.”

I stayed silent for a few seconds, trying to control my fear of what was to come. I had to get to the point but I gave myself some more time.

“When Coleen was reminding us the nights out, I remember that one time, the only time Walter left his phone to prove he could fight his OCD.”

My hands were shaking on the steering wheel. The GPS announced the arrival. I parked. The engine kept running. Even though I knew Gabriel wasn't looking towards me, I somehow felt his presence pierce through me. I cut the engine. From the corner of my eye, I saw him turning towards me.

"I know" he said. "I figured it out fifteen minutes ago. I don't care about the company. But still, you created that whole accounting mess. You were responsible for all of it."

Every inch of every muscle in my body was tight was as tight as it would ever be. I tried thinking of any solution, and nothing was coming up. How in fucking hell could I turn this over? That's what it had taken to make me realize that - aside from family and a couple of old friends - Gabriel was the very last person whose esteem I needed.

The door opened. He got out. I came out too, not even knowing why or what I would say. The stupidest thoughts went through me. Being able to prove it. To disprove it. None of it mattered.

"You won't say anything, right?" I shouted.

Shame +1

Empowerment +1