2025-04-17 19:25:04CHAPTER 8: Three’s a Threat
The TV screen lit up the cracked walls of the studio apartment.
Rowan Stormont was on every channel, confident, sharp, dressed like power itself, answering press questions at Stormont Corp’s quarterly investor meeting.
Peter’s eye twitched.
He sat on a torn couch, surrounded by takeout boxes and unpaid bills, clutching a half-empty beer bottle in one hand. The other was clenched into a fist.
Rowan’s voice rang out from the screen:
“Stormont Corp is entering a new era. One defined by clarity, accountability, and strength.”
Peter stood suddenly and hurled the bottle.
It smashed into the TV screen.
Crack.
Rowan’s smirking face split down the middle.
“Arrogant bastard,” Peter hissed. “I made you.”
He kicked the corner of the couch.
“You were nothing. You owed me.”
He grabbed his phone, dialing a number from memory.
“Mr Cooper,” he said when the line picked up. “You still want leverage on your ex-son- in-law?”
*********
The air in the executive hallway shifted like a change in weather.
And then
BAM.
The glass doors burst open with a crash that echoed through the floor.
Raven Stormont walked in like a hurricane in heels.
Employees scattered.
“Where is he?” she barked.
Rowan stepped out of his office, calm as ever, black shirt rolled at the sleeves, a coffee mug in hand.
“I was hoping for a good morning, but this works too.”
“You bypassed my authority,” she snapped.
“You have none here. At Least not yet”
“I should’ve known you'd go behind my back to replace the R&D team without even looping me in”
“Because they were incompetent and corrupt. I don't owe you a memo to clean our house.”
They stood toe-to-toe in the middle of the hallway. The tension was magnetic.
“You’re not running this alone, Rowan,” Raven said, voice low. “You’re not the only Stormont.”
Rowan sipped his coffee. “And you’re not the only drama queen here sister.”
A few employees stifled chuckles.
‘System Alert – Twin System Conflict Detected. Risk of Instability: HIGH’
Both of them saw it, Raven pupils wavered a little. And Rowan adjusted his stance.
Just then, the elevator chimed.
A third presence stepped out cool, composed, and unexpected.
Aria Stormont.
Tall, blonde, slender, and dressed in an icy-white pantsuit, she approached them with slow, calculated grace.
“Is this how we act now?” she asked. “Screaming matches in glass hallways?”
Raven turned sharply. “Who are you?”
“I’m Aria, Your cousin”
Raven rolled her eyes. “ Ok, Why are you here?”
“Because someone needs to remind you both that this isn’t about ego. It’s about the legacy. Your Legacy.”
She smiled faintly.
“You don’t even work here. So how does it concern you what we do?”. Raven fired.
“It concerns me, because we are family. And family always looks out for each other”. Aria answered calmly.
Rowan’s eyes narrowed as he watched her.
His system should’ve picked up on something, emotional intent, heart rate, anything.
But it didn’t. Just like her Father.
‘System Alert: Subject Aria Stormont – Reading Unavailable. Status: Encrypted.’
He glanced at Raven and by the flicker in her eyes, she was seeing the same thing.
“Do you trust her?” Rowan muttered under his breath to Raven.
“I trust me,” Raven said aloud, not even glancing at him. “And that’s enough.”
Then she stormed off toward her office.
Aria turned to Rowan, still smiling. “Don’t take it personally. She’s... naturally combative. How do I know this?. My mother told me. It's nice to finally meet you though.”
Rowan didn’t respond. He was too busy watching her closely.
Too calm.
Too unreadable.
Too Suspicious.
******
LATER THAT DAY
Rowan sat with Valeria Dane under a shaded umbrella, enjoying a moment of rare peace. The wind was crisp, the view of Manhattan stunning, and for once, no one was yelling.
“Do you ever turn your system off?Conrad told me about it” she asked, sipping iced espresso.
“Doesn’t come with an off switch,” he replied.
“Shame. You look like you need a break.”
Rowan chuckled. “You think I’m that easy to read?”
Valeria tilted her head, studying him. “No. But I think your mask slips more when you’re trying to hide behind sarcasm.”
He stared at her for a beat.
“No one talks to me like that anymore.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.”
“Well it's part of my job to make sure your digital security is secure. So if you don't mind, i'll drop by your place tonight, so that we discuss it thoroughly”
“It's fine by me” Rowan answered
Their eyes lingered.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
*****
LATER THAT SAME DAY
‘SYSTEM CHALLENGE 01
‘New Task: Simultaneous Sibling Sync Test – Joint Hack Simulation’
Rowan and Raven were dropped into a split-core virtual arena.
‘Objective: Breach two mirrored firewalls simultaneously, under pressure, using shared memory patterns.’
Raven cursed under her breath. “I don’t share anything.”
“Welcome to my life,” Rowan shot back.
They both worked in sync for a few seconds until Raven deliberately redirected energy to her side, forcing Rowan’s half to overload.
‘Task Failed.
System Warning: Dual Degradation Triggered. Cooldown Required: 36 hours.’
Rowan glared at her. “ What the hell? I know you did that on purpose.”
“Maybe if you stopped babysitting and started leading, we’d win.”
“I’m not trying to lead with you,” he said.
Raven snorted. “There’s your first mistake.”
Meanwhile, in the Cooper law firm, Mr Cooper slammed his fist on the table.
“You had one job, Aurora.”
“She doesn’t want him. You can’t force the girl.”. Mrs Cooper said.
“She doesn’t need to want him. She doesn't have a choice. She needs to own him.”
He paced the room. “Rowan’s image is too damn clean. We need scandal. Something personal. Emotional.”
Aurora hesitated. “What do we do then?”
Mr Cooper paused. “I think I know exactly what to do.”
*******
Rowan entered the kitchen late, expecting silence.
Instead, he found Valeria dressed down in sweatpants and a hoodie sipping tea by the marble counter.
“I thought you left.”
She turned. “I was finishing up firewall layers on the Stormont server. I can't leave yet. And i think i won't be able to sleep tonight either”
He walked closer. “Me neither, I cant sleep.”
She handed him a mug of tea without asking.
He took it. Their fingers brushed.
Valeria gave a small laugh. “You always look like you’re one breath away from a breakdown.”
“And you always look like you’ve already survived one.”
Their eyes met again.
It shouldn’t have happened.
But it did.
He leaned in.
She didn’t stop him.
And in that quiet moment, lips met, lips slow at first, then deeper.
‘System Alert: Relationship Data Detected – New Emotional Pattern Forming’
Neither of them saw the figure watching from the hallway shadows.
Eyes narrowed.
Expression unreadable.
The person turned and walked away silently dialing a number on the burner phone.
“Plan B,” The person whispered.
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CHAPTER 8: Three’s a ThreatThe TV screen lit up the cracked walls of the studio apartment.Rowan Stormont was on every channel, confident, sharp, dressed like power itself, answering press questions at Stormont Corp’s quarterly investor meeting.Peter’s eye twitched.He sat on a torn couch, surrounded by takeout boxes and unpaid bills, clutching a half-empty beer bottle in one hand. The other was clenched into a fist.Rowan’s voice rang out from the screen:“Stormont Corp is entering a new era. One defined by clarity, accountability, and strength.”Peter stood suddenly and hurled the bottle.It smashed into the TV screen.Crack.Rowan’s smirking face split down the middle.“Arrogant bastard,” Peter hissed. “I made you.”He kicked the corner of the couch.“You were nothing. You owed me.”He grabbed his phone, dialing a number from memory.“Mr Cooper,” he said when the line picked up. “You still want leverage on your ex-son- in-law?”*********The air in the executive hallway shifted l
