Page 291 of Black Reign

My father pushes away from the conference table.

“Do you have any comprehension of what happens if this becomes public?”

“That she was abducted?”

“That the hacker who penetrated systems we sell to governments as effectively unbreachable is sleeping with the Blackwell heir.”

My expression goes flat.

“She isn't sleeping with me.”

He laughs bitterly.

“She is literally in your bed.”

“Sleeping and sleeping with are different concepts.”

“Wonderful. Put that in the shareholder letter.”

I fold my arms.

He continues.

“Do you understand what happens to confidence if clients learn this? Governments will wonder whether every system she touched remains compromised. Competitors will weaponize it. Our stock could lose billions in market value before London closes.”

“You seem primarily concerned about optics.”

“I am concerned about survival.”

“So was she last night.”

His jaw flexes.

“This woman penetrated Blackwell systems.”

“She was looking for information about her father.”

“According to her.”

“According to the timeline.”

He pauses.

I push off the desk.

“She knew Ghost for years before she knew Ghost was Xavier Blackwell.”

“Or so she says.”

“No.”

“You cannot know that.”

“I built NULL.”

He stares.

“I know when she first entered. I know the history. I know the date her father died because she spent seven hours and nineteen minutes connected to me that night without ever telling me his name.”