near the river, quiet enough for secret

s untouched coffee. The system voice in his head was silent f

orbell

ed back, her expression unreadable......she s

dn't

't offer

across from him, pulled out a fo

ownership records. Upd

n eyebrow. "You

eat too long. "From someone who clearly

id no

s. The sudden fund movements. The anonymous board seat request. I'

ed his

I'm not here to sell you ou

tection - Tasha Reid at 63%. Trus

ally spoke

orked with y

ade hi

, worn card. It was an old ID badge from a tech

of fire. And beside her name: Co-

otype," Adrian said quietly. "One of them was

the t

fell bet

oved outside. And Adrian's mi

two things: her own signed NDA, dated ele

partnershi

fty?" Adr

atever this is. The silent takeover. The legacy system. The long game. I

her hands. No r

t s

his mothe

e increases success probability

der once. "What d

feeds. I'll handle internal rot-Jeremy, Micha

dded once

sfied. "Then let's make

-

ng at her laptop, trying to

was sprea

een p

ed nearly a quarter of Benson Gr

ry record, calle

th

wo

was go

id, "Handle it." No explanati

st felt

condition h

any was

s spir

k at t

n," she

nvitation. Investor roundtable. Tomorrow night. It's confirmed th

frowne

name was just added

as sh

-

his apartment balcony, wat

dentity w

four he now controlled

he was alive

ht about

e screamed at him, standing besid

me. The system had slowly blunted the edge of

Investor Dinner. Reward: Emotional Suppression Lev

aled s

s what i

nt

tra

ate

i

stered

time to w

-

im the guest list

rcling. If you show up, even quietly, it'll shake the

imply te

be

-

Jessica sat in her car

perfect. But her

elt s

was paper-and someone was li

ep breath and

-

r. Low lighting with expensive

tables, exchanging quiet b

smile as she mo

she f

om, a figure

ean-shaven. Expre

art st

ri

w. Colder. Like life had burned away

wine bar, followed her gaze

him?" Jessi

"Doesn't matter.

el's jaw tightene

-

d nothing

pping, acknowledged no one, and m

yone not

at was

t on the guest list, not offic

e was

tightened aroun

er, "If he tries anyt

idn't bel

anym

-

ssion Success - Emotion

"Insight Scan

stments. Multiple shell accounts. Macau

s eyes

everythin

-

m , Jessica ch

ria

ut didn't t

s. All of it

looked back

asked what

ice trembling. "Are yo

for a lo

y. "You're doing th

n he wa