The green flag dropped and Michael floored the accelerator, feeling the Porsche surge forward with raw power. For the first few seconds, he stayed even with Claire's Ferrari, matching her acceleration through the initial straightaway.Then she pulled ahead.It wasn't a dramatic gap—maybe half a car length—but it was decisive. Claire took the racing line through the first turn with precision that made Michael's driving look amateur by comparison. She hit the apex perfectly, carried more speed through the exit, and extended her lead down the back straight.Michael pushed harder, using every technique he'd learned over years of track days. His enhanced reflexes helped him brake later and accelerate sooner, but Claire was simply better. Not because of superior equipment or luck, but because of pure skill developed through countless hours of practice.By the end of the first lap, she was ahead by nearly three seconds. In racing terms, that was an eternity.Michael tried different approache

The Crawford family dining room hadn't hosted a dinner like this in years. Richard sat at the head of the table, still pale from his recent cardiac episode but determined to project strength. Eric and Katherine flanked one side, while Michael sat alone on the other, the seating arrangement making the family divisions physically obvious."I thought we should celebrate," Richard announced, raising his wine glass with deliberate ceremony. "Michael's Project New Day has received preliminary approval from the Department of Energy. Federal recognition of our renewable energy initiative."Michael's enhanced intuition immediately picked up the complex emotional currents around the table. Richard's pride was genuine, but mixed with concern about something he wasn't sharing. Eric's congratulatory smile masked fury and calculation. Katherine's supportive expression hid deep anxiety about something specific."Congratulations, brother," Eric said, his voice perfectly calibrated for family harmony.

Michael's phone buzzed with an urgent text as he was leaving the Crawford board meeting. The message was from Kylie, and the fear in her words made his blood run cold: "I think someone's following me. Same car for three days. Help?"He immediately called her, his enhanced intuition picking up genuine anxiety in her voice even before she spoke."Kylie, where are you right now?""The university library," she replied, trying to sound calm but failing. "There's a man in a dark suit who's been sitting across from me for two hours, pretending to read but watching everything I do."Michael's jaw tightened. Eric's investigation had clearly expanded beyond targeting Michael directly to include family members who might provide leverage."Stay exactly where you are," he instructed. "I'm twenty minutes away."As he drove toward the university, Michael called Olivia on his secure line. "I need a team at the university library immediately. Kylie's being surveilled, and it's not friendly.""Corporat