ater - Sin

was glass, ste

team reviewed projections and supply chain data from the latest Aetheris e

ing wa

f her senior engineers had been approached by an unnamed "external partner." It wasn't

as playin

as bold enough to

beside her, "you're goi

eparate tablet-no digital trail, encrypted

nano-cell-the energy core behind Aetheris's AI grid. The same file

copied. Tw

al?" Emma a

an anonymous node... but it bounced t

red at t

that file. She was one of them.

ood ra

oached just

"Full diagnostic. I want everything swept. Phones.

"Do you think

idn't

she didn

t

ng - Donov

fice overlooked the southern end of Manhattan like a throne room

ed precise

black suit, she stepped into his world like she owned it-and for a moment, Frank look

" he said,

I asked you," Emma said, cold

kled. "Straight to the po

k. Someone accessed our c

u have your

ou de

mma, I'd have it gift-wrapped and hand-delivere

pped c

I'd never betray you behin

h buyout offers? Why are my engineers being approached by shell

ieve in losing. And if I can't get throu

enched

back you-personally and professionally. You and I

replied. "You've broken

"You say that lik

ropped to someth

en he looks at you, does it

oment,

red once-but she d

ook back,"

rned t

Emma's a

he ceiling like constellations a

d was s

If it was him, he'd made sure the trail would lead

k the thought away. William was open. Tr

ust want to

ten years ago-the one who fell in love with a partner who stole

her had died a

power. Now, s

eyes-but slee

e war had a