In a quiet apartment, a girl woke with a soft yawn, stretching as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. She wandered toward the balcony, drawn by the light of a new morning.

Her name was Nazifa—a girl full of dreams, quiet determination, and hope.

The sun shone brightly, promising a beautiful day ahead. She lingered in its warmth for a moment, letting it settle into her skin, knowing how much she needed it. Eventually, she turned away, stepping back inside to begin her routine. A warm shower helped her wake fully, and soon after, she dressed for college.

A cup of green tea and a light breakfast set the tone for her morning. Once finished, she gathered her belongings, picked up her car keys, and stepped out—ready to face the day.

Her apartment wasn’t large—designed for two—but it suited her perfectly. Perched on the tenth floor, it offered a view she had come to cherish. She took the elevator down to the garage and slid into her car—a sleek black Nissan GT-R R35. Black had always been her color of choice, an obsession she never questioned.

The engine roared to life, echoing through the garage like gunfire.

Cars had always been her passion. Even as a child, she had been drawn to engines and racing games. Growing up with older brothers had shaped her in ways she never fully noticed back then. While other girls played with dolls, Nazifa spent her time playing Need for Speed or running through the courtyard with her brothers, playing cricket under the golden afternoon sun.

Those days remained etched in her memory—simple, loud, and unforgettable.

She arrived at college and parked in the designated area before heading toward her department. Pausing at the classroom door, she peeked inside. The professor hadn’t arrived yet.

Right on time.

She walked to her seat and spotted her best friend, Mayra, already waiting. Mayra waved energetically, and Nazifa smiled, returning the gesture as she approached.

Before she could sit, Mayra pulled her into a crushing hug that nearly knocked the air out of her lungs. Then came a playful slap on her arm.

“Why didn’t you read my message this morning, bitch?” Mayra demanded.

Nazifa gasped dramatically. “Hawww, cursing this early? That doesn’t suit you, darling. My phone was on silent—I didn’t see it. Sorry,” she said, holding her ear in mock apology.

Mayra leaned closer, lowering her voice. “What about that project you’re working on? Is it finished, my Black Fairy?”

Panic flickered through Nazifa. She quickly pressed a finger against Mayra’s lips. “Shhh. Someone might hear you. And yes—it’s done. Payment included.”

Nazifa was a third-year CSE student at MIT College.

But that wasn’t the whole story.

Behind the quiet life of a student, she lived another life entirely—one no one knew about, except Mayra.

Nazifa was a professional hacker in the black market.

She had started a year and a half ago, determined to use her skills for something more than just academics. Clients approached her with tasks—sometimes hacking into devices, sometimes building high-level security systems and firewalls. She was careful, always analyzing the nature of each job before accepting it. She refused to involve herself in anything outright illegal.

Still, some requests blurred the line.

People often came to her asking to hack into their partner’s devices, desperate to confirm suspicions of betrayal. More often than not, those suspicions proved true.

It wasn’t ideal work—but it paid.

And she needed the money.

Living in New York as an international student was expensive. Her family back in Bangladesh was comfortable, but not wealthy enough to support this lifestyle entirely. At twenty-four, many girls in her country were already married, some with children. But Nazifa had been given something rare—freedom.

Her father had trusted her enough to let her pursue her education abroad, to build her own path.

She wouldn’t waste that chance.

She wouldn’t disappoint him.

They had given her wings—and she intended to fly.

Her thoughts drifted to a project from a few months ago—a massive one. A client named Ivanov had hired her to build a firewall. The deal had been enormous—nearly three hundred million dollars.

That project alone had bought her car.

She had been tempted to dig deeper into who they were. The curiosity had been overwhelming.

But she resisted.

Curiosity kills the cat.

After class, Nazifa and Mayra headed to the canteen. While sitting there, Nazifa called her mother back in Bangladesh.

Her mother sounded warm as always. “When are you coming home?”

Nazifa smiled faintly. “Mom, I have classes. Maybe during summer vacation—I’ll think about it.”

Her mother sighed, then added casually, “Your grandmother is looking for a boy for your marriage.”

Nazifa rolled her eyes. “For your kind information, Mom, I’m not getting married now. I’m practically still a child.”

Her mother laughed. “Child? At your age, I already had three children.”

“Mom, stop it or I’m cutting the call.”

In the background, her father’s voice cut in warmly. “Why are you bothering my princess? She will marry when destiny brings her the right man.”

Nazifa smiled softly but muttered under her breath, “No one will. There’s no one for me.”

She spoke with her father a little longer before ending the call and returning to her classes.

By evening, she finally returned home, exhaustion weighing on her shoulders. A shower and a short nap revived her enough to function again.

Later, she sat in front of her computer, snacking as she checked her emails.

One message caught her attention.

It was from her biggest client.

Curious, she opened it.

There was a new task—but it came with a condition. They wanted her to meet their boss in person before proceeding.

Her expression hardened.

That was not something she was willing to do.

Work like hers thrived on anonymity. Exposure meant risk—danger she wasn’t willing to invite into her life.

Without hesitation, she declined the offer politely.

Afterward, she made dinner and settled in to watch her favorite show, Bachelor Point. No matter how many times she watched it, it always made her laugh.

Once finished, she cleaned up and headed back to her room.

A notification blinked on her screen.

Another email.

From the same client.

She opened it slowly.

This time, the offer had changed.

Six hundred million dollars.

Her fingers paused over the keyboard.

The number alone was enough to shake anyone.

Curiosity stirred again—but so did caution.

That much money… for retrieving information?

It didn’t feel right.

Her instincts screamed at her to walk away.

So she did.

Without overthinking, Nazifa closed the email and rejected the offer.

Some opportunities weren’t worth the risk.