2025-01-17 11:09:34
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TRIGGERS AND TRUTH
“I… I flew in from Beijing this morning,” he began, recounting his day, the words coming out disjointed at first, then gaining a forced coherence. “My private jet landed at Westwood Executive Airfield. My security team met me on the tarmac. From there, we drove directly to… to the orphanage. The ‘Hope Springs’ orphanage. I made a generous donation. It was… it was deeply moving.” He paused, a flicker of that earlier, calm demeanor was returning as he recalled the charitable act.“After that, we proceeded directly to the Arceneaux family business headquarters,” he continued, his voice tightening slightly as he mentioned the name. “I had a scheduled business meeting. With… with Vincent Arceneaux himself. For some ‘Project Cognivault’ presentation.” He finished, looking at Jayden, expecting some understanding, some recognition of his unassailable security.Jayden’s gaze immediately shifted to Stella, who was still sitting beside him. Stella, who had been observing the entire exchange w
A BREACHED FORTRESS
Jayden looked at her, then at Mr. Chen, who was now visibly unsettled. The confident man from just moments ago was now a question wrapped in silk.He turned toward Chen.“Mr. Chen, may I see your phone?”Mr Chen blinked. “My phone?”Jayden nodded. “Yes." Luminar—his synaptic echo—suggested he checked Mr Chen's mobile logs. "If there has been any backdoor activity or unseen transaction alerts, it might show up there before anywhere else.”Chen hesitated for half a second—then reached into his inner jacket and pulled out a sleek black device. His phone. It was the kind that was not sold in stores. It was custom, encrypted, and no doubt built with proprietary security software.“I trust you,” he said, handing it over.Jayden took the device gently, the weight of it was solid in his hand. He pressed the side, and the screen came alive with a silent flicker. The display was dark, sleek, and designed for efficiency, not flash. He immediately bypassed the main screen, his fingers moving
VAULT BREACH
Jayden kept watching the screen. No one moved. No one breathed.Beep.DECLINED: INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.The screen flashed red again. The message was clear.Stella’s face turned pale. She slowly looked up, her eyes were wide.“I… I’m sorry, Mr. Chen,” she said, her voice was trembling. “It’s still not working. It says… insufficient funds.”A heavy silence fell over the room.Mr. Chen leaned back in his chair, blinking slowly. For the first time, the calmness in his face cracked just a little. It was not fear—but confusion.“That’s… impossible,” he muttered.Jayden stood still, watching closely. “Are you sure this is the correct card?”Chen nodded quickly. “Yes. This is my primary black account. I’ve used it all over the world.”Stella glanced at the device again, biting her lip. “It might be a connection error. Maybe the bank’s systems are down?”Chen shook his head, clearly troubled. “No. That card is directly linked to the Zenith Vault. It’s one of the most secure vault accounts in the
DECLINED
He answered, his voice was smooth but alert. “Hello Mrs Stella, to what do I owe the pleasure?”“Jayden! Thank god you picked up,” Stella’s voice burst through, it was vibrant and electric, practically humming with excitement. “Listen, I know you’re slammed, but you need to come upstairs, to my office. Right now.”Jayden blinked. “Upstairs? Stella, what’s going on?”“I know it sounds sudden, but something incredible just happened,” she said, her voice was trembling with barely-contained energy. “We have a potential investor here. Someone huge. He arrived in this morning just to meet with us. And he’s specifically asked for you.”Jayden’s tone shifted. “For me? What’s he seen?”“He’s reviewed everything—full North Azarian deck, market strategy, early phase projections. And Jayden…” she paused, her voice dropping into reverent awe. “He’s blown away. Completely. He says he wants in. And he’s not talking small money. This could be monumental.”Jayden stood slowly, muscles tightening bene
ECHOES BETWEEN IDENTITIES
The warm breeze carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine as Christopher Richmond, still in his silk robe, gazed at his beautiful swimming pool. The half-empty bottle of deep red wine sat beside him, it was a silent testament to the evening's triumphs. The call with Jayden—or rather, Marvin—had been satisfying, a symphony of strategic demolition. Yet, a subtle unease now gnawed at him, it was a question that refused to be silenced.“But tell me, Jayden,” Mr Christopher said, his voice was dropping slightly, a more serious tone entering his words. He turned his attention from his swimming pool, his eyes were now fixed on the dark, reflective surface of the wine in his glass. “With all these intricate plans, all these meticulous deceptions, all these… adjustments to reality… do you ever worry that someday you will be found out? That one day, someone will see through the layers, uncover the truth? That the very fabric of the reality you’ve woven might unravel, exposing you?”He lo
A TOAST TO CONTROLLED CHAOS
The sun dipped low over Neovalle, painting the sky in fiery streaks of orange and purple. A gentle breeze, warm and soft, rustled through the palm trees that lined Christopher Richmond’s sprawling estate. The air smelled faintly of chlorine from the large, shimmering swimming pool, its surface reflecting the last rays of daylight like a giant, liquid mirror. Soft, ambient music, barely a whisper, drifted from hidden speakers, creating a peaceful, almost dreamlike atmosphere.By the edge of the pool, on a plush, cushioned lounge chair, sat Christopher Richmond. He was no longer in his sharp business suit as usual. Instead, he wore a luxurious, dark silk robe, with a fabric that was gleaming softly in the fading light. A half-empty bottle of expensive, deep red wine stood on a small, glass-topped table beside him, its crystal stopper catching the light. In his hand, he held a sleek, modern phone to his ear, his eyes, usually so keen and calculating, now held a rare, relaxed conten
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