CHAPTER 76

The building shook again, the tremor rippling through the walls of the Moretti Corps headquarters. Maya gripped the edge of the conference table, her green eyes wide as she glanced at Zane.

“That wasn’t just the substation,” Maya said, her voice tight with worry.

Zane’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. He answered it quickly, his expression darkening as he listened.

“That was the fire department,” Zane said, ending the call. “There’s been another explosion—this one in our main storage facility downtown. They’re targeting critical infrastructure.”

Maya’s stomach dropped. “She’s escalating. This isn’t just about the company anymore. She’s trying to cripple you completely.”

“She’s trying to destroy everything,” Zane said, his silver eyes blazing with determination. “But she won’t win.”

Scrambling for Control

In the IT department, Alex worked frantically alongside the team of technicians, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he tried to outmaneuver the attackers.

“They’re hitting us from three different angles now,” Alex said, his voice tense. “Financial systems, communications, and now logistics. They’re trying to bring the entire company to a standstill.”

“We need to isolate the main servers,” the IT director said, sweat beading on his forehead. “If they breach those, we’re done.”

“Do it,” Zane ordered as he entered the room. “Cut them off from everything except what we absolutely need to keep running.”

Alex nodded, his focus unshakable. “On it.”

Maya Takes Action

Meanwhile, Maya paced the executive floor, her mind racing. She couldn’t just sit back and watch while Helena tore everything apart.

Reese caught up with her, her expression determined. “I know that look. What are you planning?”

“I need to do something,” Maya said. “Helena thrives on fear and chaos. We need to fight her on every front, not just in this building.”

Reese tilted her head. “I might have an idea.”

The two women ducked into an empty office, where Reese opened her laptop. “If we can counter Helena’s narrative in real time, we can turn public opinion against her. People need to see her for what she really is—a desperate manipulator.”

Maya nodded, her resolve hardening. “Let’s do it.”

Helena’s Next Move

At her villa, Helena watched the chaos unfolding at Moretti Corps with a cold smile. Her phone buzzed with an update from one of her operatives.

“They’re scrambling to hold the company together,” the operative said. “But they’re holding. We didn’t expect their IT team to respond this quickly.”

Helena’s smile faded. “Then it’s time to up the ante. Target their external partners—anyone who relies on Moretti Corps for operations. If we can’t break them from the inside, we’ll cut off their support.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the operative said before the line went dead.

Helena poured herself a glass of wine, her expression icy. “Let’s see how long you can hold out, Zane.”

The Pressure Mounts

Back at headquarters, Alex’s phone buzzed with another alert. His expression darkened as he read the message.

“Helena’s going after our partners now,” Alex said. “She’s targeting their supply chains, trying to cut us off from critical resources.”

Zane’s jaw tightened. “Get our legal team on the phone. We need to reassure our partners that we’re handling this.”

Reese entered the room with Maya, her laptop in hand. “We’ve started countering Helena’s narrative online,” Reese said. “But we need more firepower if we’re going to keep up with her attacks.”

“Use everything we have,” Zane said. “The truth is our best weapon.”

A Moment of Clarity

Amid the chaos, Maya pulled Zane aside, her voice firm but gentle. “You can’t do this alone, Zane. Let us help.”

Zane looked at her, his silver eyes softening. “You’re already helping, Maya. I don’t know how I’d get through this without you.”

Maya reached for his hand, her touch grounding. “You’re not just fighting for the company, Zane. You’re fighting for us. For our family.”

Zane nodded, his resolve hardening. “You’re right. And I won’t let Helena take that away from us.”

The Turning Point

As night fell, the team regrouped in the executive conference room, exhaustion etched into their faces. But there was a spark of determination in their eyes that hadn’t been there before.

Alex set down his laptop with a triumphant smile. “We’ve managed to isolate the attacks and secure the main servers. Helena’s hackers are running out of steam.”

Reese chimed in, her grin wide. “And the media’s starting to shift. The footage we released earlier is gaining traction, and people are questioning Helena’s motives.”

Zane looked around the room, his silver eyes filled with pride. “This isn’t over yet, but we’re winning. Helena underestimated us, and that’s her biggest mistake.”

Helena’s Desperation

Across town, Helena’s calm facade began to crack as she received update after update of her plans unraveling.

“They’ve secured the servers,” her assistant reported. “And their media team is countering everything we’ve put out.”

Helena’s grip tightened around her glass, her knuckles white. “Then we escalate again. Target Zane directly. Hit him where it hurts.”

The assistant hesitated. “What do you mean?”

Helena’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. “His family. If we can’t destroy his company, we’ll destroy his life.”

Preparing for the Worst

At the hotel, Zane and Maya sat together on the balcony, the city lights twinkling below them. The day had been a whirlwind of chaos, but for a brief moment, they found solace in each other.

“Helena’s not done,” Maya said softly. “She’ll come after us harder now.”

“I know,” Zane replied, his silver eyes scanning the horizon. “But we’re ready for her. Whatever she throws at us, we’ll face it together.”

Maya leaned her head against his shoulder, drawing strength from his presence. “Together.”

As the night deepened, they knew the battle was far from over. But with each other by their side, they felt ready to face whatever came next.