After dinner, Kasra leaned back in his chair, his gaze settling on his sister. “Sana,” he began, his demeanor all business, “just now, Wendy offered to help with your ongoing projects. Any thoughts on that?”

  Sana’s brow furrowed, the words hanging between them like an ominous echo. “She’s never taken the initiative before, not even when I was buried neck-deep in the renovations. It’s… odd.”

  The room seemed to hold its breath until the sharp buzz of Katherine’s phone broke the tension. She glanced at the screen, read the message, and swiftly informed the room.

  “Good news! A judge just approved the wiretap order. We’ll begin monitoring Wendy May’s devices immediately. Since Sana’s next public appearance is on November 10, it gives us three weeks to plan our next move.”

  Kasra blinked as a thought struck him. “Three weeks... is a long time for Sana to be absent from work. Should Lara go into Data Dynamics disguised as her? Then again, it would be strange for Sana to show up without her PA. So, Kate should go in as Lara.”

  Seven turned to Kasra, his arms resting on his thighs. “Kate should shadow Lara for a bit, get her mannerisms down first.”

  Katherine smirked. “I was just thinking the same thing. I’ll need time to get into character.”

  Seven hummed thoughtfully, tapping his fingers in a rhythm. “Why not delay their return to Data Dynamics? That would give Kate more time to pick up Lara’s behavior. We could always say Sana has long Covid; it’s a pretty legit excuse for her absence.”

  James, who had been quietly listening, joined the conversation. “Chief, even if Kate can mimic Lara’s behavior, they don’t look exactly alike. She’ll need a disguise to pull it off.”

  Kasra inclined his head. “Good points. Let’s go in only when they’re ready.”

  Seven glanced at Lara, a mix of curiosity and concern in his query. “Lara, are you proficient in Sana’s work?”

  Lara chuckled, shaking her head. “No chance. My undergrad was in phys ed, though I also earned an MBA while protecting Sana. Honestly, even picking up what I need for this event would be a stretch.”

  Kasra’s expression darkened, his brow furrowing as he mulled over their options. “If we’re going to make this work, we need you both to be prepared by then.” His gaze shifted back to his sister, his tone probing. “Sana, what can you tell us about the event?”

  Sana’s shoulders slumped. “Nothing yet. I’ll have more details by next week.”

  With the topic shelved for now, Kasra turned to Kayan. “Any leads on Cloche?”

  Kayan’s lips thinned into a grim line. “So far, everything checks out. He moved here six months back, deposited $1.5 billion into a bank account, and set up shop. He’s got an apartment in Reston and an office nearby. He formed Cloche Enterprises, bought over and rebranded an established import/export business, acquired a casino set to reopen next January, and started a tech company staffed with ex-employees from Kaléido Corp and Data Dynamics.”

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  Katherine leaned forward, her detective instincts kicking in. “Is there any connection between Data Dynamics and Kaléido Corp?”

  Before Kayan could answer, Kasra explained, “Kaléido Corp is our direct competitor in some sectors, but their overall valuation is much larger. They’re involved in industries we’re not, like healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceuticals.”

  Kayan chimed in, “The ambush and hiring of these former employees suggests he’s after our core technology. It’s just hard to pinpoint what exactly.”

  Kasra’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have a profile on the members of his startup?”

  “I’m working on it. I’ll send what I have to the group chat once it’s ready.”

  “What about Wendy May?” Kasra asked next.

  Kayan shook his head. “I’ve checked her bank account; nothing suspicious so far. I’ll expand the search to her family.”

  Satisfied for now, Kasra moved on to another pressing matter. “Kian, Seven and I toured The Cliffs this morning. We found a few iss—”

  Before her brother could finish, Sana cut in, her voice soft but firm. “Kian, why not get Harper Lange to help you? Harper knows The Cliffs inside and out. I’ll hook you guys up on WhatsApp later.”

  Kian beamed, appreciating the assistance. “Alright, Princess.”

  Then, he turned to Seven, the logistics on his mind. “Seven, can you provide a timeline on James and Sana’s discharge?”

  Seven didn’t miss a beat. “Sana is clear for discharge, but since her hospital bed hasn’t arrived, we’ll stay here until then.” He looked at James, his timbre softening slightly. “As for James, he can be discharged after his first stem cell injection. That gives us a few more days to set up his room.”

  “I should be able to get everything delivered by tomorrow,” Kian assured. He paused, staring intently at Seven. “By the way, where would you be sleeping? What sort of bed do you need?”

  Seven blinked. He’d clearly forgotten about himself. “I’m fine with anything. A cot or AeroBed will do. I can sleep anywhere as long as it’s within range of the call bracelets.”

  Sana straightened, and she threw in her two cents. “Seven, since I’ll be in a hospital bed, why not take my bed? It’s more convenient, like how it is right now.”

  The suggestion hit Seven like a sudden gust of wind, the shell of his ears turning red. He hesitated, then looked to Sana’s parents. “Uncle Sadra, Aunt Ami, what do you think?”

  Sadra and Ami exchanged glances, visibly pleased that Seven took the initiative to seek their opinion. “It’s practical,” Sadra mused. “Especially if she needs help at night.”

  Seven, processing Sadra’s approval, nodded slowly. “Uncle Sadra, how about this: when James moves in, I’ll rotate between the rooms.”

  At Seven’s suggestion, James instantly raised his objection. “No! Princess comes first. You stay with her. I’ll only call if I need you. Besides, Esme will join me soon.”

  Seven mulled over James’s words, his expression thoughtful. “Uncle Sadra, Sana will recover much faster than James. When she reclaims her bed, I can move elsewhere.”

  Sadra hummed in satisfaction. I really like this boy!

  At that moment, an idea crossed Kasra’s mind. “Kate, it just occurred to me: why not stay at The Cliffs with Lara? There’s a spare room next to hers; it’ll help you immerse yourself in her mannerisms.”

  Kimi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, watching as Katherine conveyed her agreement. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’m in.”

  Thrilled that her eldest son had, for once, conjured such a commendable idea, Ami beamed from ear to ear. “Little Kate, how on earth could it trouble us? We’re practically bursting at the seams with smelly boys! Our home could use a dollop of sweet-smelling little girls like you.”

  Katherine giggled, feeling the warmth yet tickled by Ami’s teasing words. “Thank you, Aunt Ami. I’ll head home to pack and head over tonight.”

  Kimi grinned, unable to hide his joy. “I’ll help you. It’ll be fun.”

  Katherine shot him a playful wink. “Just what I need—extra muscle.”

  With most things settled, Kasra squinted at his watch. “It’s been a long day, folks. Let’s let Seven and his patients rest.”

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