buzzing activity of the film set. The interior was a sanctuary of quiet mini

ve her mother a small, knowing smile. Tristan, however, was in his element. A custom-built lapto

voice as calm and collected as ever. She handed Chloe

nd smoothed a stray strand of hair from her daughter's forehead.

ode, incomprehensible to the average person, cascaded down the screen.

ounced with the confidence of a seasoned cybersecurity expert. "

at the head of a long, polished boardroom table. He was listening to his CFO drone on about quarterly

oking nervous, followed by a man who was practically sweating

d his sweaty palms together. "Griffin, my boy! So sorry to interrupt, but I have a new

held up a hand, silencing hi

en alone. Griffin leaned forward, the polished surface

" he said, his voice dangerously low, "let's talk

in's intense gaze. "Chloe? Haven't heard from that ungrateful girl in f

this man, this pathetic, greedy leech, was one of his last, tenuous links to

rawled a number. He tore it out and slid it across the table. "This is for your trouble

e, sycophantic grin. "Of course, of course! Anything fo

f his nose. The faint hope he'd allowed himself to feel

presentation resuming on the mas

the screen

s. The emergency lights, a dim, eerie red, kicked on a

monitor, every tablet in the building simultaneously fla

huge, black letters began to puls

I.

akers. The company's entire internal network, a fortress of multi-millio

into the boardroom. "Mr. Donovan! We're under attack! A complete sys

violently against the floor. His face was a mask of cold,

with a final, triumphant tap. "Boom!" he shouted, throwin

"Penny, look! Their 'impenetrable' firewall

ressive, Tristan. Now, remember to wipe the logs and route

rce pride in her chest. The pride was immediately follow

on the screen. This wasn't a ransomware attack. This wasn't cor

the table, the impact rattli

promised retribution. "I don't care what it costs or what it t

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