CH- 32
CH- 32
Lucas’s POV
I was restless, my mind spinning with everything that had happened over the past week.
The drive to Nathan’s hideout felt like it took forever, even though I forced myself to go slow, blending into the evening traffic.
I couldn’t afford to draw attention—not now, not when the cops were still sniffing around.
They’d dropped by the office a couple of times already, asking questions and poking their noses where they didn’t belong.
But nothing major had come out of those visits yet.
The real trouble wasn’t the police—it was our skyrocketing demand and the strange glitch I’d noticed in our software earlier today.
That was what had me gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. Something about it felt… off. Like someone was picking at the seams of everything we’d built.
To make sure I wasn’t being followed, I drove in circles for a while before finally heading straight toward Nathan’s place.
While on the road, I dialed home using the kiddie phone I’d designed myself—a simple device that only allowed calls from me to my daughters.
It gave me peace of mind knowing they couldn’t accidentally call anyone else.
“Daddy!” Maya’s sweet voice came through the line, brightening the heavy weight pressing down on me.
“I’m fine, baby,” I said softly, hating how distant I sounded. “How are you?”
She didn’t waste time getting to the point. “Will you be home for dinner?” Her tone was hopeful, almost pleading.
“Yes, sweetheart, but I might be a little late. I’ll make it, though. I promise. I have to go now—I’m driving. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”
“I love you too, Daddy.” She hung up, leaving me with an ache in my chest. My wife was furious with me for disappearing so much lately, and the guilt of neglecting them gnawed at me. Still, this was bigger than us. This was survival—for Nathan, for the company, and maybe even for my family if things went south.
Satisfied that no one was tailing me, I hit the gas and sped off.
\-----------------
When I arrived, Nathan was practically waiting behind the door, his eyes wide with fear and worry. Doctor Friggard stood beside him, looking equally anxious.
“You scared us half to death, Lucas. What’s going on?” Doctor Friggard asked as I stepped inside.
I glanced around the room—they were packed and ready to bolt at the slightest sign of danger. Smart move. Trouble was exactly what I brought with me. I sank into a chair, letting out a long breath before diving in.
“Something’s happening at the company,” I began, locking eyes with Nathan. “Two hours ago, before I called you, I noticed something weird with our software. When I checked, I saw that our code was being decrypted.”
Nathan froze, his face pale. Even without his memories, he understood the gravity of what I was saying. “How is that even possible? Didn’t you build a thousand firewalls to protect it?”
“Exactly,” I said, relieved I didn’t have to explain the basics. “Which is why this shouldn’t be possible unless someone had access to our server code.”
“Oh my God,” Nathan muttered, sinking into a chair. His legs seemed to give out under him. “An inside job. One of us betrayed us.”
“Yes,” I confirmed grimly. “Whoever did this must be a top-tier coder—someone leagues above anyone in our office. And trust me, there’s only a handful of people in the world capable of pulling this off.”
Doctor Friggard shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know much about tech, but are you saying someone stole the server code and sold it to the highest bidder?”
“Precisely,” I replied. “And if I’m right, there’s only one name that comes to mind. Andre Iguodala.”
Nathan frowned, clearly drawing a blank. “Were we enemies?”
I sighed, sinking deeper into my seat. “More or less. You two have always been rivals. Remember when he tried to sabotage your product launch? Why didn’t I think of him sooner?”
Doctor Friggard raised a hand, trying to rein us in. “Calm down, boys. Let’s not jump to conclusions. Are you absolutely sure about what you’re saying, Lucas?”
“This is the world we live in, Doc,” I shot back. “We know every player and what they’re capable of. Andre planned this. I’m certain of it. He planted that dead girl in Nathan’s room to bring him down, and now he’s trying to take over the company.”
“And finish what he started,” Nathan added darkly.
Doctor Friggard looked lost. “I don’t understand. How does decrypting the code help him do that?”
“It gives him full access to every single piece of data and information the company holds,” I explained. “You only decrypt a system like ours if you’re planning to sell the company—or dismantle it entirely.”
Nathan stood abruptly, pacing the room. “So what do we do? We could try to find out who accessed the server, but that’ll take time we don’t have. Or we could track down the sixth server from the launch…”
“But none of that solves the immediate problem,” I cut in. “Even if we figure out who betrayed us, the decryption won’t stop. At the rate they’re working, it’ll be complete in four days—maybe less.”
“Well, then what do we do?” Nathan snapped, frustration boiling over. “What’s your brilliant plan?”
I hesitated, knowing he wouldn’t like what I was about to suggest. “There’s one option, but it’s risky—and if you had your memories, you’d hate it.”
He glared at me. “Well, I don’t remember anything right now, so spit it out.”
“We hire her—the person doing the decryption.”
“What makes you think money will work?” Nathan demanded. “If she’s working for Andre Iguodala, she’s probably swimming in cash already.”
“Not necessarily,” I countered. “If it’s who I suspect, she’s in it purely for the money. No loyalty, no alliances. To her, people are just currency. Offer her enough, and she’ll switch sides faster than you can blink.”
“She?” Nathan raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering across his face.
“Yes, she,” I emphasized. “But I need to get moving. We’ve got a company to save.”