His innocent wife is a dangerous hacker.
Chapter 298 ISA
CHAPTER 298: CHAPTER 298 ISA
Leo then asked her to follow him, leading the way out of the office to her new workspace.
"Do you prefer working alone or with people? I had two offices prepared for you," Leo said as he walked ahead, his voice steady and unhurried, carrying the kind of authority that made people naturally follow his lead. He glanced back briefly, making sure Bella was keeping up with his pace. "One is with the other hackers, and the other is your private office."
"I actually prefer both," Bella replied thoughtfully, her voice calm but her eyes darting with curiosity. "I’d love to connect with other hackers, learn from them and work together... but I would also like to have my own private space. Somewhere quiet to focus when I need it." She spoke naturally as she walked behind him, her footsteps echoing lightly against the polished floor.
Leo gave a small nod, as though her answer pleased him. Without saying more, he led her down the hallway and pushed open a heavy door. Bella stepped in after him, her eyes widening slightly.
The hacker space was dark and atmospheric, lit by the glow of dozens of large monitors casting a bluish hue over the room. Rows of desks lined the area, each with multiple screens and equipment that hummed softly. The air smelled faintly of coffee and metal, and the low murmur of conversation stopped almost instantly the moment Leo walked in.
All eyes turned to him. His presence alone was enough to shift the entire atmosphere. The lazy chatter stilled, postures straightened, and even the tapping of keys slowed. Every head seemed to tilt toward him like flowers turning toward the sun.
Leo’s gaze swept the room before settling back on Bella. "Everyone, meet Isaac," he said evenly, his tone carrying weight. "He is joining us from today."
Bella gave them a small smile, polite but reserved, dipping her head slightly. "Hello," she said softly, her voice carrying a calm confidence that immediately drew attention.
Excitement rippled through the room, whispered voices spreading like sparks. They had all heard rumors of her skills. Some were skeptical, others eager, but very few knew the truth that Isaac was none other than the famous hacker Bellatrix_019
.
Leo pointed toward an empty desk near the center, next to a man with neat glasses perched on his nose. "Here is your place."
Bella walked forward, and Leo noticed the faint glint of a wedding ring on the man’s hand as he typed. Married. A small smirk tugged at Leo’s lips. He had chosen this spot deliberately. He had made sure she was seated next to someone safe, a man already committed, while the single young guys had been placed far from her desk.
Without lingering, he turned and gestured for her to follow again. He led her into another corridor with sleek glass doors lining the hallway. Jeffery’s office was the first one. He looked up from his desk when he noticed them, gave an energetic wave, then quickly returned to his work. His usual playful energy seemed dimmed when he was focused—his fingers flew across the keyboard with surprising seriousness.
Leo walked to the very end of the hallway, stopping before the last office, which stood opposite his own private second office. He opened the door smoothly.
"This is your office," he said, stepping aside so she could enter.
Bella’s eyes immediately caught the detail on the nameplate. Only three bold letters had been engraved: ISA.
Her brows knit together. "Why only ISA? My name is Isaac," she said with a troubled expression, glancing at him questioningly.
Leo’s face remained expressionless, his gray eyes unreadable. "We have a low budget, so only three letters," he replied smoothly.
The excuse sounded far too convenient, and Bella narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She wanted to call him out, but his steady gaze left little room for protest. With a faint huff, she stepped inside.
The office was stunning. It felt cinematic and moody, almost like a space out of a film. The wide desk gleamed under soft lighting, a comfortable executive chair positioned behind it. Multiple large monitors stretched across the wall, glowing faintly in standby mode. A plush couch sat in one corner, a small resting space complete with cushions and a coffee table. To the side was a door leading into a private washroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a view of the city skyline, the light breaking across the glass in silver-blue shards.
Bella’s lips parted slightly, her eyes bright with admiration. "This is beautiful," she murmured, unable to hide her awe. "It’s... perfect."
"I’m glad you like it," Leo said, his tone softening almost imperceptibly. "I arranged this office personally for you. You can begin working here from today."
Bella nodded slowly, her heart giving a small, reluctant flutter at the thought that he had designed the office with her in mind. She lowered herself into the chair, letting her hands run briefly over the polished armrests.
Leo, instead of leaving, pulled another chair close and sat beside her. Bella glanced sideways at him, his profile sharp against the glow of the monitors.
"So what’s my work?" she asked, turning her attention back to him.
Leo did not answer right away. Instead, he reached into the desk drawer and pulled out a thick file he had prepared beforehand. He placed it gently in front of her.
Bella picked it up, flipping through the pages. Her sharp eyes scanned the codes, case studies, and security notes with quick precision. "Alright," she said finally, nodding. "I’ll start from here."
Leo inclined his head, satisfied, though he still did not move. Bella frowned faintly, expecting him to leave. Four minutes passed in silence, his gaze heavy on her, until finally she turned to him with a questioning look.
"You’re not leaving?" she asked.
"Can I see how you work?" he asked simply. His voice was calm, but there was a quiet intensity beneath it, a kind of fascination he could not mask. His gray eyes, darkened by the dim light of the office, were fixed on her with an expression she rarely saw from him—open, genuine curiosity.
Bella hesitated, taken aback by his request. Her heart skipped, caught between fluster and pride. "Why would you want to watch me work?" she asked cautiously.
"Because I want to," Leo replied without hesitation.
For a moment, Bella could only stare at him. The sincerity in his gaze unsettled her more than any threat or order he had ever given. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to turn back to the file, trying to mask the flutter in her chest.
She did not realize that Leo, sitting beside her in silence, was memorizing every tiny movement of her hands, the way her lashes lowered when she read, the faint curve of her lips when she concentrated. To him, this was not work. This was something far more dangerous.