He almost smiled.
“Pretend we believe the former CTO did it.”
“Continue isolation.”
“Tell the board we’re preparing restart.”
“Then don’t restart.”
“And watch who moves.”
Alexandra considered.
“Bait.”
“Yes.”
“Risk?”
“High.”
“Can we protect systems?”
“If I’m inside.”
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“Alexandra.”
“You’re not going back tonight.”
“We need—”
“You slept seven hours after staying awake forty.”
“Your daughter is here.”
“We have people.”
“But—”
“No.”
Daniel stared.
His daughter lifted one headphone.
“Dad.”
He looked.
“She said no.”
Alexandra covered a smile.
Daniel sighed.
“Everyone in this apartment is against me.”
His daughter returned to drawing.
Alexandra lowered her voice.
“I’ll go back.”
“You don’t know the architecture.”
“You’ll guide me.”
He laughed.
“Terrifying.”
Alexandra leaned across the table.
“Trust me.”
Daniel looked into her eyes.
The joke disappeared.
“Do you trust me?”
He asked.
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly.
Both noticed.
Daniel’s voice softened.
“You barely know me.”
“I knew enough this morning to almost ruin your career.”
“That’s not encouraging.”
“I’m improving.”
He smiled.
She smiled back.
Then his daughter looked up again.
“Are you two flirting?”
Silence.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Alexandra laughed.
“No.”
His daughter looked unconvinced.
Daniel said:
“Homework.”
She pointed toward her finished page.
“Done.”
“Bed.”
“It’s seven thirty.”
“Early bed.”
“You’re abusing power.”
Alexandra laughed harder.
Daniel pointed down the hall.
The child disappeared reluctantly.
When her door closed, the apartment became quiet.
Alexandra stood.
Daniel followed.
She gathered the folder.
He said:
“Be careful.”
“Always.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re not.”
She looked up.
“What makes you say that?”
“You became CEO this morning and personally walked into an active incident before understanding it.”
“You’re criticizing my leadership in my kitchen.”
“My kitchen.”
“Right.”
They were close again.
Too close.
Alexandra’s voice softened.
“You’re not afraid of me.”
Daniel smiled.
“Should I be?”
“Most executives are.”
“I’m not an executive.”
“That might be why I like you.”
The sentence escaped before she could stop it.
Daniel’s expression changed.
Alexandra felt heat rise beneath her collar.
Neither moved.
Then Daniel whispered: