Chapter 13 - The Ghost of Loyalty PastThe next morning, the rain lashed heavily against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the executive suite. The grey sky matched the grim reality settling over us. Daniel wasn't just a former employee; he held security clearances that gave him access to every single biometric lock, server room, and private residence owned by Sterling Enterprises—including my home.
"If Daniel is backing Apex Defense with Martin's stolen funds, he isn't just an opportunist," Clara said, pacing across the plush rug with a tablet in her hand. "He's planning a hostile physical takeover. He knows every blind spot in our security grid."
"Not every blind spot," I corrected, a cold edge creeping into my voice. "Because when I redesigned the grid after the crash, I left one deliberate vulnerability open. A honeypot."
Clara stopped pacing and looked at me sharply. "You anticipated this?"
"I anticipated that money doesn't just disappear," I said, standing up and buttoning my suit jacket. "It talks. And Daniel was always a man who listened closely to the highest bidder."
Before Clara could respond, the emergency klaxon on the executive floor suddenly blared. Red warning lights pulsed along the hallways. The main computer monitors flickered violently, displaying a single overriding error code: SYSTEM OVERRIDE - EXTERNAL ACCESS DETECTED AT SECTOR 4.
"They're here," Clara whispered, her face pale but completely resolute.
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"Stay behind the reinforced steel door, Clara," I commanded, pulling a heavy master-key card from my drawer.
"Not a chance, Arthur," she replied, picking up a heavy brass paperweight with a fierce glint in her eye. "I'm done watching from the sidelines."
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