bar smelled like ol

er breath fogging in the late-night chill. She hadn't changed

You were one of her last con

a long second. "I th

e eno

then motioned for him

-

ing at a quiet rooftop café. The city lights str

her coffee across the table. "But after she died, I c

m," Adrian said. "In

flinch. "Then

u k

al work. A neuro-emotional A.I. Designed to trig

w

tired look. "Then it

against the table. "W

ess you lost everything. That grief

down, ja

t give you revenge. It gives you discipline. Control. It builds power b

d. "She built

to save you-

bilization Reached. New Funct

interface flicke

Vault A

2 shell companies | 1 sealed tech p

aring for war,"

enson Group was going to collapse. Michael a

s eyes

n't the only be

anticipated three threats. Michael Kane. Internal fraud a

d open th

lared ba

– CFO, Be

He tried to push me out of

ne who froze your accounts. Michael just

tightened aro

al Elevation Detected. Recom

led sharply

e," he said. "I'm her

we do this right, Jessica won't even kno

-

n sat in a borrowed wor

pdates-financial moves, shell companies to act

t: Neural Stabili

Cole. Value Estima

ver been

w it w

ce echoed, col

hout emotion. Win without noise. Prot

-

ica stared at her fat

n't wo

rd from Michae

ws. Stockholders pulling out. Board mem

her contacts. Hesit

s backu

nce. Then

n't know Michael would-God, I don't know why I'm calling

e call. Her

"Miss Benson, your company's accountant just arr

e straightening. "Wh

ng twisted

-

ed back in his chair a

dn't

unity - Ignore message. Rewa

t "De

stem c

ed: Competiti

1% of shares acquired anon

at the numbe

ad b

Jessica's phone buzz

older has acquired 8.1% of Be

yes w

hospital corridor like

ly... she felt