When They Beg, I Rise!

The meeting room was expressly quiet.

It wasn't just Lemira who was shell-shocked; Orion hadn't expected to see her there either.

Thaddeus cleared his throat purposely, "Well, isn't this a full house? Heard there was a snag with the firewall, so I thought I'd pop in to check."

His initial plan was to stir up some trouble, but he hadn't banked on Lemira being the one to crack the code. That put a wrench in his plans.

The manager stood up, offering a respectful reply, "Indeed, just a moment ago, Ms. Langston here ran some tests on the software. Everything's ticking along nicely now. Anything else you reckon needs looking at?" Thaddeus, feigning interest, grabbed the report and flipped through it without really seeing anything.

After all, the firewall fiasco was nothing but a fabricated flaw, a strategic move to put the Langston Group in the hot seat.

After a cursory glance, Thaddeus turned to Orion, "What's your take on this?"

It all hinged on Orion's verdict now.

shot a surprised look at Lemira, "You sorted this

nodded, "Yeah, it's a piece

was Thaddeus'. So, all

life, she'd spent a good chunk of time pinpointing the crux of the issue, which was why she could fix it in a snap this time around. Orion's tone was laced with casualty, "If it was such

on spot. He hadn't expected Orion to be in the mix,

Lemmy was part of the original project team.

he'd never pegged Lemira as

that talent. How did you end up burying such potential after just one project?" Lucian

Sterling wanted in too, but frankly, she was out of her depth, just slowing things

water, but accidentally choked on a gulp. He had never thought things would turn like that, unable to

caught the

moment, he launched

accommodate a clueless outsider, you hamstrung your own flesh and blood, a truly gifted sister.

grip on his glass faltered. His voice was