Right then, Lara’s phone buzzed with a message. Seizing the pause in the moment, she announced, “Sana, Wendy just texted. The alliance partners have unanimously picked Conrad for the venue. They also want you to handle the itinerary.”

  Sana beamed, a flash of excitement crossing her features. “Perfect! Kas, with control over the event, we can brainstorm how to draw Cloche out.”

  Seven stiffened. He had spent the whole night wrestling with the implications of their plan, particularly the risks it posed to Sana, Lara, and his sister. He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his gut. Gathering his resolve, he spoke up, “Kasra, the plan we discussed yesterday… it’s been gnawing at me. Cloche already had a run-in with Lara. Do you think he’ll show up in person? If anything, this might make him even more unpredictable. I’m worried it’ll push him to plot another attack.”

  Silence settled, each processing the gravity of his words. Then, Seven’s expression shifted, as if piecing together a puzzle. His brow smoothed as his thoughts aligned. Seeking consensus, he posed the question to no one in particular, “I have an idea: what if I become the bait?”

  Kasra’s brow arched, his intrigue laced with a hint of skepticism. “Go on.”

  Seven leaned forward, calculating. “Who has access to all of Sana’s active project files?”

  Though the question was directed at Kasra, it was Sana who answered. “Sweets, those directly involved in a particular project have access, though it’s restricted based on their roles and responsibilities. Why?”

  Seven gave a slow nod. “Here’s my proposal: I join Data Dynamics, take over your projects, and become the bait. This will avert any potential danger to Lara and Kate. If Wendy’s the mole, she’ll inform Cloche, and I’ll be the only thing in his line of sight.”

  The room held its breath as Kasra stared at Seven, his thoughts churning. “How could you possibly be in two places simultaneously?”

  Seven explained, “I’d only be in the office part-time. Esme can cover for me when I’m not here. Lara could manage my schedule and fill it with decoy meetings for when I’m ‘out of the office.’ Three weeks until the ceremony is enough time to make Cloche shift his target to me.”

  He paused, then added, “This is the best strategy. Come to think of it, if Lara fumbles during the ceremony, it would reflect poorly on Sana, potentially tarnishing her professional reputation. Since she's tasked with the planning, we can inform the alliance partners that Sana put me in charge of the ceremony. I’ve got the technical expertise—it’s a no-brainer.”

  Kasra’s lips pressed into a thin line as he weighed Seven’s proposition. It had its constraints, but the logic was sound. “This could work,” he said slowly. “And it’s safer than what we considered before.”

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Sadra, who had been quiet, finally chimed in, his voice carrying the weight of his years of experience. “Seven, it’s brilliant, but you’re stepping up to take on the risk yourself.”

  Seven gave Sadra a respectful nod. “Uncle Sadra, this approach protects Sana, Lara, and Kate. It’s the right one.”

  Kasra was convinced, though a trace of doubt lingered. “If this is a go, we should make it foolproof. Since you’ll be gone for several hours each workday, I suggest Lara stay with Sana in your absence. Esme only needs to focus on James. That way, you’d have more time flexibility. I’ll lend one of my PAs to assist you. He’s been with me for about six years now; he’s sharp and discreet.”

  “Perfect.”

  Kasra leaned forward, focus sharp. “Alright, we’ll release an announcement on the company’s website, naming you the new VP. You’ll use Sana’s office to engage Wendy.”

  As Kasra’s directive fell, Seven suddenly found himself in a quandary: “Kasra, I’m still in the military; I can’t show my face or use my real identity. Can I make a fictitious one?”

  Kasra’s lips quirked in a knowing smile. “I thought you might say that. How soon can you draft the fake profile? We don’t have to put a picture of you in our press release. Can we post it on Monday?”

  The tension in Seven’s core eased. “No sweat. I’ll get it done ASAP.”

  From across the room, Katherine raised her hand and asked, “Kasra, since I no longer need to stand in for Lara, do I still need to shadow her and live here?”

  Kasra’s eyes darted to Kimi and Ami, who were watching him expectantly. In that moment, he knew what he had to say. “I think it’s best if you stay, Kate. Sana will be out of commission for around two months, and there might be times when Lara needs to appear publicly as Sana. Also, you’re the lead detective; it’d be practical to have you based here.”

  Katherine’s earlier wariness melted. “Alright, I’ll keep shadowing Lara.”

  ……

  Throughout their exchange, Harper sat dazed, her brows drawn together in confusion. Sensing that the atmosphere had lightened, she decided to seek clarity. “Sana, weren’t you… in an accident? What’s going on?”

  Before Sana could respond, Kian beat her to it. “Harper, Sana was ambushed coming back from the airport several nights ago. She didn’t have an accident; she was shot. Twice. We kept a lid on it to avoid causing unnecessary panic and attention.”

  Harper’s face drained of color. “But… Sana’s just a geek! There are tons of geeks out there. Why would anyone want to hurt her?”

  Kian’s expression darkened. “Some despicable vermin is after something she’s been working on.”

  Harper’s confusion twisted into fury. “How could that scumbag even know what she’s doing?”

  Kian gave her a sidelong glance as he clarified, “High-profile projects are announced when awarded, and one of Sana’s projects must’ve caught their eye.”

  Then, he shifted the conversation. “Harper, when do you think Esme and the boys can move in? Mom has already started the search for a nanny; Esme will need help since Seven is going undercover.”

  Harper’s resolve hardened as she felt the weight of the situation on her shoulders. “I’ve done some sourcing online today. Esme and the boys could move in earlier if I scale down the scope of work for the children’s room.”

  Processing her words, Kasra interjected, “Could you have something workable by early next week? Worst case, we’ll delay Seven’s assignment until you’re ready.”

  Harper’s eyes sparkled, determination set in her jaw. “If I can work overtime this weekend, I might have the boys’ room ready by Sunday evening. But contractors charge extra for weekend work. Hope that’s okay.”

  Kian agreed without hesitation. “Cost is no issue. Do you have a standby crew? If not, I can arrange for Prime’s crew to assist.”

  “I’ll know by tonight if my team’s available,” Harper informed, mentally running through her contacts. “If not, I’ll need help from Prime’s standby crew.”

  Kian smirked. “Okay, just let me know.”