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Chapter 38
The emergency alert blared from Michael's phone at 3:47 AM, jolting him awake. The screen displayed multiple news notifications, all reporting the same breaking story: a catastrophic failure had struck Polar Grid's main distribution network, plunging the city into darkness.Michael sat up in bed, the familiar weight of the moment settling on him. This was it—exactly as he remembered from his previous life. The cascade failure had begun.Beside him, Katherine stirred. "What's happening?" she murmured sleepily."Citywide power outage," Michael replied, already reaching for his laptop. "Polar Grid's system has failed."Katherine groaned, pulling the covers higher. "Call the building manager. That's what generators are for.""It's not just our building," Michael explained, opening his laptop to access the trading system through a secure connection. "It's the entire city. This is major.""Wonderful," Katherine muttered, burying her face in the pillow. "Wake me whe
Chapter 37
Michael woke with a start, momentarily disoriented in the sparsely furnished apartment. Sunlight streamed through thin curtains, casting long afternoon shadows across the bare floor. He checked his watch—he'd slept for nearly six hours, unusual for him but understandable after the tension of executing the Polar Grid trade.The trading monitors still displayed his positions, the numbers glowing steadily. No catastrophic drops yet, but subtle downward movement in Polar Grid stock had already begun. Just as he remembered from his previous life, the warning signs were appearing—minor service disruptions in the northern district, a small fire at a substation, isolated power fluctuations reported across the city.Precursors to the cascade failure that would soon bring the entire grid down.Michael rose and moved to the apartment's small kitchenette, brewing a cup of instant coffee. This place was deliberately austere—nothing that would connect it to Michael Crawford's usual lifestyle. The f
Chapter 36
Sunrise painted Sophia's laboratory building in soft orange light as Michael arrived.Sophia stood at a workbench, examining a piece of fabric through a specialized microscope. She didn't look up as Michael entered."Right on time," she said, making a notation in her tablet. "Coffee's by the window."Michael poured himself a cup from the expensive machine Sophia kept for late research nights. "You've been here all night, haven't you?""Since 3 AM," she confirmed, finally looking up. Dark circles under her eyes confirmed her dedication, though her focus remained sharp. "I had an idea about the thermal regulation system that couldn't wait.""And?" Michael asked, sipping the surprisingly good coffee.Sophia smiled, genuine excitement breaking through her professional demeanor. "It works. Better than the blueprint suggested, actually. The adaptive material responds to body temperature changes within 1.7 seconds—almost real-time adjustment."She gestured to a mannequin in the corner wearin
Chapter 35
Michael's private phone buzzed as he reviewed security protocols for Buzzer Tech's upcoming firmware update. The number displayed wasn't one he immediately recognized, but few people had access to this particular line. He stepped away from his desk and answered."Michael Crawford.""It's Sophia." Her voice carried its usual confident tone. "We need to meet. About the fashion brand idea."Michael paused, surprised by the sudden reference to the blueprint he'd shown her weeks ago. In the chaos of recent events—Sandra's poisoning, Eric's boardroom schemes, Richard's birthday—he'd nearly forgotten about the fashion concept."Interesting timing," he said, moving to the window of his office. "Any particular reason for the sudden interest?""Let's just say inspiration struck," Sophia replied. "I've been working with some of the adaptive materials we discussed, and the results are... promising. But this isn't a conversation for phone lines."Michael understood her caution. After the security
Chapter 34
The tension between the brothers could be felt now, the pretense of casual family reminiscence abandoned. Katherine moved subtly away from Michael, positioning herself among neutral family members."Perhaps we should move on to the cake," Richard suggested, clearly recognizing the escalating situation. "Henderson?"As the butler directed attention toward the dining room where an elaborate cake awaited, Michael felt Katherine's hand on his arm again, her grip now urgent rather than performative."We need to leave," she whispered fiercely. "This is becoming embarrassing.""Because Eric's ambush didn't go as planned?" Michael replied quietly."Because you're creating a scene at your father's birthday," Katherine hissed. "This petty bickering is beneath the Crawford name."Michael studied his wife, noting how quickly she'd pivoted from supporting Eric's public attack to expressing concern about family dignity once the tide turned. Her instinct for self-preservation was remarkable."You're
Chapter 33
The gift presentation had concluded, but the evening's entertainment was far from over. As family members returned to mingling with drinks in hand, Michael noticed Eric moving purposefully through the crowd. His brother's expression carried the satisfied look of someone whose trap was about to spring."Quite a modest offering from the COO," Cousin William remarked as he passed Michael, not quite hiding his smirk. "Though I suppose recent... corporate complications might necessitate budgeting."Similar comments followed as Michael made his way toward the bar. Subtle jabs, barely disguised as conversation. Eric had clearly been working the family network all evening, sowing seeds of doubt about Michael's standing."Whiskey, neat," Michael requested from the bartender. As he waited, Aunt Patricia approached, her expensive perfume announcing her arrival before she spoke."Michael, darling," she said, air-kissing near his cheek. "Such a... thoughtful little gift you brought. Very crafty."
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