The Montgomery Innovations building stood like a glass monolith against the city skyline, its sleek design a testament to Theo’s ambition. Marcus and Theo arrived in the underground parking garage, where a team of private security waited, each man nodding respectfully to Marcus as they opened the door for Theo.

Theo stepped out, adjusting his suit jacket. He glanced at Marcus, who was already scanning the area like a hawk.

“Relax,” Theo said lightly. “We’re surrounded by security. Even you can take a breather.”

Marcus ignored him, his eyes flicking between the entrances and exits. “This much security won’t stop them if they’re determined. Keep moving.”

Theo sighed but didn’t argue. Marcus followed him closely as they stepped into the private elevator, the metal doors closing with a soft hiss.

“Did anyone ever tell you you’re terrible at small talk?” Theo asked, pressing the button for the top floor.

Marcus didn’t look at him. “I’m not here to make friends.”

Theo smirked. “And yet, I feel like we’re bonding.”

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open to reveal the top floor of Montgomery Innovations. Glass walls, modern furniture, and the faint hum of computers filled the expansive space. The boardroom was ahead, where the company’s key decision-makers were already seated.

Rebecca greeted Theo as they entered, her tablet clutched tightly to her chest. “Good morning, Mr. Montgomery. Everyone’s ready for you.”

“Fantastic,” Theo said, his voice smooth and commanding. “Let’s make some magic, shall we?”

Theo took his place at the head of the table, his presence instantly commanding the room. Marcus stood near the back, his arms crossed as his sharp eyes swept over the board members.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Theo began, leaning forward with his trademark confidence, “I know the last few days have been... eventful. But let me assure you, Orion is still on track for its rollout. Despite the noise, this company remains untouchable.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, though a few board members exchanged wary glances.

One of them, a graying man with a sharp suit and an even sharper tone, spoke up. “With all due respect, Mr. Montgomery, the threats we’ve been receiving are far from ‘noise.’ We’ve had employees resign out of fear. Investors are asking questions.”

Theo leaned back, unbothered. “And I’ve provided answers. Orion is secure. These threats are nothing more than scare tactics from people who can’t compete with us. If anything, it proves how valuable this technology is.”

The board member frowned, but before he could respond, Rebecca stepped forward. “If I may,” she said, her voice steady but firm. “Our IT team has been working around the clock, and we’ve identified some potential vulnerabilities in the system. We’re addressing them as we speak, but the threats are sophisticated. We can’t afford to underestimate them.”

Theo nodded, acknowledging her input. “And we won’t. That’s why we’ve hired additional security. Every weakness will be eliminated before the launch.”

Another board member, a woman with dark eyes and an air of skepticism, leaned forward. “You sound confident, Theo. But what happens if these threats turn into something worse? What happens if they go after you?”

Before Theo could respond, Marcus’s voice cut through the room like a knife. “That’s already happened.”

All eyes turned to Marcus, who stepped forward, his imposing presence commanding immediate attention.

“Last night, two armed men breached Mr. Montgomery’s building,” Marcus continued. “They were professionals, likely sent by the same group making these threats. If we hadn’t been prepared, this meeting wouldn’t be happening.”

The board members exchanged nervous glances, their previous skepticism replaced with alarm.

“Why weren’t we informed of this?” the graying man demanded.

“Because I handled it,” Marcus replied coldly. “My job is to protect Mr. Montgomery, and I did exactly that. But you need to understand that this isn’t going away. These people are playing for keeps.”

Theo frowned, uncomfortable with Marcus taking control of the room. “Alright, that’s enough,” he said, his voice firm. “We don’t need to scare everyone. The situation is under control.”

Marcus looked at him, his expression unreadable. “Is it?”

For a moment, the room was silent. Then the dark-eyed woman spoke again. “If this is as serious as you say, maybe we should reconsider the timeline for Orion. A delay would give us time to strengthen security—”

“No delays,” Theo said sharply, cutting her off. “Orion launches as planned. End of discussion.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

As the meeting wound down, Theo’s phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, glancing at the screen. His confident demeanor faltered for a split second, but it was enough for Marcus to notice.

“What is it?” Marcus asked, stepping closer.

Theo hesitated, then turned the phone so Marcus could see. It was a message.

“Nice meeting. Pity it might be your last.”

Attached was a live feed of the boardroom, the angle clearly showing all of them seated around the table.

Marcus’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately scanned the room. “Everyone, stay calm,” he said, his voice low but commanding. “We’re being watched.”

The board members erupted into murmurs of panic, but Marcus silenced them with a sharp look. He turned to Rebecca. “Who has access to the internal camera feeds?”

Rebecca shook her head, her face pale. “Only IT. And those feeds are encrypted—there’s no way someone could access them remotely.”

“Well, someone has,” Marcus said. He grabbed Theo’s phone and typed a quick response into the message thread:

“Who are you? What do you want?”

A reply came almost instantly:

“Shut it down, Theo. Or we’ll shut it down for you.”

Theo exhaled slowly, his earlier confidence replaced with something far more human—fear.

Marcus set the phone down, his expression grim. “We’re leaving. Now.”

Theo opened his mouth to protest, but the look on Marcus’s face stopped him.

“Rebecca,” Marcus barked, “alert your security team. Get everyone out of this building. No one stays behind.”

“Yes, sir,” Rebecca said, hurrying out of the room.

Marcus turned back to Theo. “You wanted to know what paranoia looks like? Welcome to it.”

Theo didn’t argue. For once, he followed Marcus without a word, the reality of the situation sinking in with every step they took.

And somewhere in the shadows, their enemy was watching, waiting, and preparing to strike again.