Reincarnated With the Ultimate Son-in-law System

Chapter 24

"Perhaps we could discuss this somewhere less public," Michael suggested, noting several curious glances directed their way. A Crawford and a Thornton in friendly conversation was unusual enough to attract attention.

Claire nodded. "There's a café across the street. Less corporate surveillance."

Twenty minutes later, they sat across from each other in a quiet corner booth, coffee cups steaming between them. The café's ambient noise provided a comfortable privacy shield.

"You still haven't answered my question," Claire said, stirring her latte. "Why would you help me?"

Michael considered his response carefully. "Wells' ambush journalism tactics are predatory. I've seen what his 'profiles' do to people. No one deserves that kind of public exposure."

Claire studied him, clearly weighing his sincerity. "Most people in your position would consider my discomfort an advantage. The Thornton heiress humiliated on camera would certainly benefit Crawford Enterprises."

"I'm not most people," Michael replied. Then, making a calculated decision to establish connection: "And I understand pressure. The weight of family expectations isn't exclusive to Thornton Enterprises."

Something in his tone must have registered with her. Claire's professional mask slipped slightly, revealing genuine vulnerability.

"I've struggled with anxiety since my mother died," she admitted quietly. "Three years of therapy, meditation, medication and all so I can function in the corporate spotlight. My father expects the perfect business heir, unaffected by trivial matters like panic attacks."

Michael nodded. "While my father expects unquestioning family loyalty and flawless strategic thinking from the Crawford heir. Different expectations, similar weight."

"The golden handcuffs of dynasty," Claire remarked with unexpected candor. "We're allowed to be anything we want, as long as it's exactly what they've planned."

"The ultimate privilege and the ultimate constraint," Michael agreed.

For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, two heirs to rival empires finding unexpected common ground.

"Wells would have destroyed me today," Claire finally said. "He's built his reputation exploiting people like me. He somehow knows when I'm most vulnerable."

"He studies his targets carefully," Michael confirmed. "Your scheduled participation in the afternoon panel made you an obvious opportunity."

Claire's eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem well-informed about his methods."

"I make it my business to understand predators in our ecosystem," Michael replied. "Especially those targeting potential allies."

"Allies?" Claire echoed, surprise evident in her voice. "The Thorntons and Crawfords have been rivals since before we were born."

"Perhaps that's precisely why change is overdue," Michael suggested. "Old rivalries limiting new possibilities."

As their conversation continued, Michael found himself genuinely engaged. In his previous timeline, he'd never interacted meaningfully with Claire Thornton. Now he recognized a strategic mind constrained by anxiety but capable of remarkable insights when comfortable.

They exchanged contact information as they parted, a bridge established between competing dynasties that would have been unthinkable weeks earlier.

"This doesn't mean Thornton Enterprises will stop competing with Crawford," Claire clarified as they stood to leave.

"I wouldn't expect it to," Michael replied. "Competition drives innovation. But perhaps we can compete without being enemies."

He stretched his arm and she paused for a bit.. before grabbing it.

The following morning, the executive floor of Crawford Enterprises vibrated with tension. Michael arrived to find hushed conversations breaking off abruptly as he passed, executives suddenly finding interest in their devices or documents.

Sandra Williams, his recently promoted financial systems director, intercepted him before he reached his office.

"You'll want to hear this before you go in," she said quietly, guiding him to a side conference room. Once the door closed behind them, she continued: "Your father confronted Eric early this morning. Apparently someone sent him footage of Eric in a... compromising situation."

Michael maintained a neutral expression. "Compromising?"

"With a woman," Sandra confirmed. "Not his wife. The argument was... spectacular. Half the executive floor heard it through the supposedly soundproof walls."

"Interesting timing," Michael commented. "Just as we're implementing the new financial controls."

Sandra nodded. "The gossip machine is running wild. Eric's stock with the board is plummeting several members who previously aligned with him are now carefully distancing themselves."

"And Katherine?" Michael asked.

"Hasn't arrived yet," Sandra replied. "But her calendar shows a spa appointment conveniently scheduled during the confrontation."

"Keep me updated on any significant developments," Michael instructed. "Especially any unusual financial transactions Eric might attempt during the chaos."

As he navigated the executive floor, Michael observed the subtle shifts in allegiance playing out in real time. Board members who had previously clustered around Eric now made visible efforts to engage with Michael, senior executives suddenly remembered projects requiring his input, and administrative staff offered assistance with renewed enthusiasm.

The System had been right? exposing Eric and Katherine's relationship had fundamentally altered the power dynamics within Crawford Enterprises. While the public gossip focused only on Eric's supposed affair with an unnamed woman, the internal damage to his credibility was substantial.

From his office, Michael could see Eric isolated in the conference room across the atrium, frantically making calls and sending messages. His brother's body language betrayed his desperation.. the confident posture replaced by hunched shoulders and agitated movements.

"Perfect," Michael thought. "Distracted and defensive.. exactly when I need him focused elsewhere."

Later that afternoon, Michael arrived at the secured Buzzer Technology facility for their scheduled production meeting.

As he walked into the facility,

“I remember when Katherine got to know about buzzer tech, if we go live, she’ll surely believe that it’s secretly owned by the company,” Michael said to himself.

“What to do,” Michael uttered.

The manufacturing timetable had accelerated significantly, with the Taiwanese facilities already retooled for initial production runs.

"The first batch of prototype units exceeded expectations," Megan reported, displaying performance metrics on the main screen. "Neural response time is 37% faster than our target specifications, and battery efficiency is showing 42% longer operational time than projected."

"Olivia's authentication protocols have withstood every simulated attack scenario," Rebecca added. "Even using advanced quantum computing models to test vulnerabilities."

Michael studied the production timeline with satisfaction. "So we're confirmed for the initial release of three models?"

"MePhone standard, Pro, and Pro Max," Megan confirmed. "Each with increasing levels of neural interface sensitivity and processing power."

"More deeper monitoring function will be available in the Pro models only," Rebecca clarified. "The standard MePhone has the hardware capabilities, but we're restricting the feature to premium users until we've refined the detection algorithms."

"Smart strategy," Michael agreed. "Any production concerns?"

"None with manufacturing," Olivia replied. "Though we should discuss security protocols for the launch event. Once we go public, Crawford Pharmaceuticals will immediately recognize the similarities to their stolen research."

"By then it will be too late," Michael assured her. "The patents are already filed under secure holding companies, and our documentation will clearly predate anything they've developed."

As the team reviewed marketing materials and distribution strategies, Michael felt a sense of accomplishment that had been absent in his previous life. They were building something revolutionary—not just a smartphone but a device that could fundamentally change how humans interacted with technology.

"Four weeks until launch," Michael confirmed, looking around at his team. "We'll begin with limited distribution through selected retailers, followed by international expansion in the second quarter."

The meeting concluded with an atmosphere of excited anticipation. As Michael was reviewing final production specifications with the engineering team, a notification alert sounded simultaneously from everyone's devices.

The room fell silent as each person checked their screen to find the same message:

"Launch cancelled indefinitely."

The message contained Crawford Pharmaceuticals' distinctive encryption signature—the same one that had been used to corrupt Rebecca's research.

Megan looked up, alarm evident in her expression. "How is this possible? They shouldn't even know about MePhone, let alone have access to our communication system."

"It's not possible," Olivia stated flatly, already analyzing the message architecture. "Our systems are completely isolated from external networks."

"Unless the breach is internal," Rebecca suggested quietly, the implication hanging heavy in the air.

All eyes turned to Michael as the team awaited his response. The message was clear—Crawford Pharmaceuticals had found them, and someone had granted them access to Buzzer Technology's most secure network.