r hand, resting on Liam's

istake that would have gotten her fired. Ava had fixed the larger problem without ever mentio

used that secret like a key, unlocking a doo

ention finally shifting from Ava to the tr

weak smile. "I just... I have a sudden he

immediately, all his focus now on her.

Chloe and guided her away, leavin

ng but a cold sense of purpose. Th

and the frantic journalists. She ignored their shouted questions and

aned against the wall, her body heavy with a fatigue that went b

ation; it was her command center. Laptops were open on the coffee table, a tablet

ding on the West Coast. A breakdown in the supply chain was causing massive food shortages in lo

prediction, of optimization.

ions to a logistics conglomerate, who then used it to squeeze their suppliers and

this

the core code for her logistics and supply chain module. It was eleg

ing it into a powerful, open-source application. It was a tool that any small business, any food bank, any loc

rofound ability of her mind to create order out o

ut cold coffee and determination, the code compiled.

ad engineer, a man of quiet loyalty who had been devastated when their old company

sage wa

it on the public servers listed. Use the enclosed ghost protocols. No one can

hit

tion appeared in her inbox

. A wave of dizziness washed over her. The screen blurred. She slumped for

t, her body finally demanding payment for

he woman Liam had mentioned. The brilliant founder of the original c

ah said, her voice a sad echo. "But you gave t

pered in the dream

-