Over the next few weeks, Jaden kept running into Zara. Neon City was big, but their circles were small—coders, artists, and night owls who thrived in the underground scene. She'd show up at hackathons, dropping by to support friends or promote her gigs. Jaden stayed cool, keeping their interactions short and sharp. But he couldn't ignore how she carried herself—no ego, just confidence. She didn't fish for compliments or play the damsel. It was refreshing.One night, at a low-key bar, Zara slid into the booth across from him. "You're everywhere, lone wolf," she said, stealing a fry from Theo's plate."Says the one with a million followers," Jaden shot back."Followers don't mean shit if they're just simping for likes," she said. "I'd rather have one real connection than a thousand stans."Jaden leaned forward, intrigued. "Then why the whole influencer thing? You're selling a brand, same as anyone."Zara's eyes narrowed, but she didn't flinch. "It's a tool. I make music, I share it, I eat. But I don't live for the clout. You think I'm fake?""I think everyone's got an angle," Jaden said. "Question is, what's yours?"She grinned, like she enjoyed the sparring. "Maybe I'm just trying to make something real in a world full of posers. You tell me, coder. What's your angle?"Jaden didn't answer right away. He wasn't used to being called out like that. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like someone was seeing through his walls—and he wasn't sure he hated it.
got a cryptic message on X: Need a coder who doesn't simp. Got a job. You in? The sender was anonymous, but the IP traced back to a server Zara had mentioned during a late-night chat about tech.Curious, Jaden agreed to meet at a dingy cybercafé. Zara was there, alone, no entourage. "You're not as slick as you think," she said, sliding him a burner phone. "I need someone to crack a system. Nothing illegal, just… complicated."She explained: a rival DJ, Kai, was sabotaging her gigs by hacking her bookings and spreading fake drama on X. She needed proof to expose him without getting her hands dirty. "I can't trust anyone else," she said. "Most people would simp for the clout or snitch for the cash. You're different."Jaden weighed his options. Helping her could pull him into her world, and he'd sworn to stay independent. But the challenge was tempting, and he hated bullies like Kai. "I'm not doing this for you," he said. "I'm doing it because Kai sounds like a tool."Zara smirked. "Whatever helps you sleep, lone wolf."The job was tricky. Kai's system was layered with encryption, but Jaden was in his element. He spent nights digging through code, tracing Kai's digital fingerprints. Zara was there sometimes, bringing coffee and throwing out ideas. They worked well together—her intuition, his logic. But Jaden kept his distance, reminding himself: This is business, not a vibe.When they finally cracked it, the evidence was damning: screenshots of Kai's fake accounts, logs of his hacks, even a burner email where he bragged about "taking Zara down." Jaden handed her the data. "Your move."Zara posted it all on X, no commentary, just the raw truth. The platform exploded. Kai's career tanked overnight, and Zara's stock rose. But she didn't gloat. Instead, she sent Jaden a single message: Thanks for not being a simp.