Keeps it a secret from the firm and freelances (8)
I believe the answer is:
conceals
'freelances' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'keeps it a secret from the firm and' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'it' could be 'e' ('e' can mean 'electronic' which is similar to 'IT') and 'e' is located in the answer.
'a' is within the answer.
'firm' could be 'co' (a firm is a company) and 'co' is found within the answer.
'and' could be 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and') and 'n' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for conceals that I've seen before include "Hides, keeps secret" , "Hides, places out of sight" .)