Chapter 3

Morning dawned slowly over Paris, enveloping the city in golden light. Marc, as usual, woke up before Julie, savoring the first moments of the day. He loved this morning routine, this feeling of normalcy which comforted him. After making two cups of coffee, he kissed Julie tenderly on the forehead before leaving for his daily run.

Running along the Seine was a sacred ritual for Marc. The majestic bridges and bustling quays offered him a sense of peace. Today, however, his thoughts were troubled by recent events. The anonymous message he had received the previous week still haunted him. He knew he had to be on guard, but he also didn't want to worry Julie more.

Back home, after a quick shower, Marc shared a quiet breakfast with Julie. "You slept well ?" he asked, trying to mask his own confusion.

"Yes and you ?" she replied, her blue eyes searching his face with underlying worry.

"Like a dormouse," he lied with a smile.

They separated shortly after, each going about their daily activities. Marc headed to his office, a small computer security company where he had worked for a few months. It was an ideal job for him: discreet, stable, and allowing him to use his skills without attracting attention.

Arriving at the office, Marc greeted his colleagues with a nod. Paul, his colleague and new friend, was already seated at his desk, typing furiously on his keyboard. Paul was a man in his thirties, of average height, with messy brown hair and piercing eyes. They hit it off quickly, sharing lively discussions about technology and cybersecurity.

"Hi, Paul," Marc said as he sat down at his desk.

"Hey, Marc. Ready for a new day of challenges?" Paul replied with a smile.

"Absolutely. What are you planning here?" Marc asked, glancing at Paul's screen.

"I'm working on a new encryption system. I think we could improve our current approach," Paul explained enthusiastically.

Marc nodded, impressed. "That sounds interesting. Show me what you did."

The morning passed quickly, with the two men working closely together on various projects. Paul was not only knowledgeable, but also curious by nature. This curiosity, however, was beginning to worry Marc.

"Tell me, Marc," Paul said during a coffee break, "you never talk much about your past. Where exactly are you from?"

Marc felt a hint of distrust, but he responded calmly. "Oh, nothing too interesting. I traveled a lot before moving here. I like the stability now."

Paul raised an eyebrow. "Really? You seem to have some pretty specific skills. Looks like you had a fascinating life before coming here."

Marc smiled, trying to divert the conversation. "You could say that. And what brought you into this field?"

Paul seemed to hesitate for a moment before answering. "I've always been passionate about technology. I like understanding how things work and how to protect them. Plus, Paris is an incredible city to work in."

They continued to talk, but Marc couldn't help but notice Paul's insistence on his past. The more the day progressed, the more he felt that Paul was looking for something, clues perhaps.

That evening, when Marc returned home, he found Julie in the living room, absorbed in one of her artistic projects. The room was filled with unfinished canvases, brushes and tubes of paint. Julie, her hair tied in a loose bun, turned to him with a smile.

"Hi, Marc. How was your day?" she asked, standing up to kiss him.

"Good, thank you. And you? Are your plans progressing?" he replied, enjoying the warmth of her welcome.

"Yes, things are going well. But you seem preoccupied. Is something wrong?" she asked, searching his face.

Marc sighed, plopping down on the couch. "It's Paul. He's starting to ask questions about my past. It's worrying me."

Julie sat down next to him, taking his hand in hers. "Marc, you know you can tell me anything. If something is bothering you, we can talk about it."

He nodded, grateful for her support. "I know, Julie. I just have to be careful. I don't want our lives to be turned upside down because of my past."

Julie looked at him with infinite tenderness. "Marc, we need to trust each other. If you have any doubts about Paul, maybe you should try to find out more about him. But above all, remember that I am here for you."

They spent the evening together, discussing their concerns and hopes for the future. Julie was a reassuring presence, an anchor in the whirlwind of Marc's life. But he knew he had to be careful. Paul's behavior was troubling, and Marc couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The next day, Marc returned to the office with new determination. He had to find out what Paul was really looking for. As he worked, he observed his colleague more closely, trying to detect telltale signs.

"Paul," he said during a lunch break, "how would you like to have a drink after work? We could talk a little more about these encryption ideas."

Paul seemed surprised but accepted enthusiastically. "Of course, Marc. That would be nice."

That evening, they met in a small, quiet bar near the office. Mark chose this location intentionally, a place where he could observe Paul's reactions without distraction. They ordered beers and sat at a table in the corner.

"So, Paul, tell me a little about yourself. What attracted you to cybersecurity?" Marc asked, trying to put Paul at ease.

Paul seemed to think for a moment before answering. "Well, like I told you, I've always been fascinated by technology. But there's also a more personal aspect. My brother was the victim of computer fraud a few years ago. That got me 'driven us to want to understand how to protect people."

Marc nodded, feigning interest. "It's understandable. IT security is crucial these days."

They continued to chat, Paul proving to be an interesting and passionate interlocutor. But Marc couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. Whenever he talked about details about his past, even superficial ones, Paul seemed particularly attentive.

"You know, Marc," Paul said suddenly, "I've always wondered why someone with your skills would choose to work here, at a small company. You could have had much greater opportunities elsewhere."

Marc smiled slightly, trying to remain calm. "As I said, I appreciate stability. And Paris is a magnificent city. I found what I was looking for here."

Paul nodded, but Marc could see in his eyes that the answer didn't entirely satisfy him. He had to remain careful.

Back home, Marc found Julie reading on the sofa. She looked up as he entered, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Hi, Marc. So, how did things go with Paul?" she asked.

"Interesting," Marc replied, sitting down next to her. "But I'm still suspicious. He's too curious."

Julie put down her book, taking Marc's hand in hers. "Marc, it's important to follow your instincts. If you sense something is wrong, do what you need to do to protect yourself."

Marc nodded, grateful for her support. "Thank you, Julie. Your trust means a lot to me."

They spent the evening together, discussing their concerns and hopes for the future. Julie was a reassuring presence, an anchor in the whirlwind of Marc's life. But he knew he had to be careful. Paul's behavior was troubling, and Marc couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The next day, Marc returned to the office with new determination. He had to find out what Paul was really looking for. As he worked, he observed his colleague more closely, trying to detect telltale signs.

In the following days, Marc continued to monitor Paul discreetly. He used his cybersecurity skills to dig into Paul's background, looking for clues to his true intentions. What he discovered only deepened his doubts. Paul had

Connections with dubious individuals, people related to criminal activities.

One evening, when they dined together, Marc shared his discoveries with Julie. "I think Paul is not what he claims to be," he said, his serious tone. "He has links with unavailable people."

Julie frown, worried. "What do you plan to do?"

"I have to stay vigilant and try to learn more. But above all, I have to protect our life here. I can't let the past catch us."

Julie hugs her hand, her eyes brilliant of determination. "We will face this together, Marc. We must remain united and strong."

Marc felt a wave of relief and gratitude. With Julie by her side, he felt capable of facing any challenge. But he knew that the road would be difficult and that he had to be ready to do anything to protect their future.

The following days were tense, Marc continuing to monitor Paul while trying to maintain an appearance of normality at work. The tension was palpable, each interaction with Paul being a delicate dance of distrust and politeness.

One morning, while Marc was working on a project, Paul approached his office, a friendly smile on his lips. "Hi, Marc. I thought about our conversation the other evening. There is something I wanted to ask you."

Marc stretched slightly, preparing for any eventuality. "Yes, Paul? What is it?"

"You really seem to have a lot of experience. I have a friend who works in a big computer security company and they are looking for consultants. Would you like to meet them?"

Marc smiles internally. It may be an attempt to test or trap it. "Thank you, Paul. It's flattering, but as I said, I appreciate stability here. Maybe later."

Paul shrugged, apparently nonchalant shoulders. "Okay, but don't hesitate to tell me if you change your mind."

Marc nodded, while retaining his suspicions. He knew that the situation was far from resolved and that he had to remain on guard. With Julie by his side and his own determination, he was ready to face the challenges ahead.