As Lauretta stepped forward to speak, Emily too was preparing to announce that the machine was working. She was taken aback when Lauretta began speaking before she had a chance. Shock registered on Emily's face as Lauretta addressed the crowd."I would like to apologize on behalf of the World Tank Corporation," Lauretta began, her voice steady and clear. Emily, bewildered by this unexpected turn, watched as everyone in the room turned their attention to Lauretta.Lauretta and Emily hadn't discussed what Lauretta was going to say, so Emily had no idea where this was heading. Lauretta continued, "The thought and the reason for this gathering came from up here," she said, pointing to the spot where she stood. There was a murmur of confusion and curiosity among the gathered employees and board members.Facing the board, Lauretta said, "We are really sorry." The crowd's murmuring grew louder, a mix of confusion and intrigue. Emily, standing close by, reached out and held Lauretta's hand. S
As Alex connected his phone to the projector, the room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the looming screen. With a click, the projector whirred to life, casting a beam of light onto the blank wall. The first video, recorded by Alex himself, began to play.The footage showed Titus, unmistakably captured by Alex's hidden camera, entering Johnson's Brewery after hours. He moved with stealth, glancing around to ensure he was alone before carefully inserting a USB stick into one of the machines. The timestamp revealed it was well after the engineers had left for the day.Gasps rippled through the room as the video played on, showing Titus swiftly navigating the factory floor, his actions deliberate and clandestine. The realization dawned on everyone present that this was the pivotal moment when the malicious software was implanted into the brewery's machinery.Alex paused the first video and let the tension linger in the air. "Now, for the second video," he announced solemnly. The screen tra
Emily parked her car outside Alex's house early that morning and dialed his number. "Alex, good morning," she started, her voice light with a hint of excitement. "Guess where I am."There was silence on the other end of the phone, then a young girl's voice chirped, "Uncle Alex is upstairs."Before Emily could respond, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Alex's voice came through, slightly out of breath, "Emily, please give me the phone."Moments later, he took the phone from the little girl. "Good morning, Emily," he said, trying to sound casual."Oh, good morning, Alex. I was... erm... erm... I am outside your house," Emily replied, her words stumbling slightly as she glanced at the house.Alex peeked through the curtain and saw her standing by her car. "Be right there," he said, ending the call.As Alex stepped out of the house, the little girl followed closely behind him. He walked over to Emily with a warm smile. "Hey, what brings you here so early?" he asked, his eyes spark
Emily stumbled through the dimly lit streets, her vision blurred from the alcohol. She had drunk more than she intended, her frustration and the weight of the day's events driving her to seek solace in the bottom of a glass. Now, with her emotions heightened and her steps unsteady, she found herself outside Alex's home.She pounded on the door, the sound echoing through the quiet night. "Alex! Alex, open up!" she slurred, her voice wavering.Alex, who had been sitting in his living room trying to calm his nerves, sighed deeply. He walked to the door and opened it, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern. "Emily, what are you doing here? It's late, and you're drunk," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.Emily swayed on her feet, her eyes unfocused. "I have... I have something to tell you," she said, her words tumbling over each other."Emily, you're not making any sense. Go home and sleep it off. We can talk tomorrow," Alex said, gently trying to guide her away from the door
Emily woke up with a pounding headache, the sunlight piercing through the partially open window. She groaned, rolling over to see Lauretta already in Emily's room and about, opening the screen of the window in their shared room."Good morning, ma'am," Loretta said, her voice bright and chipper.Emily scrambled to sit up, her head throbbing as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. She winced, clutching her forehead, and then slowly made her way towards the kitchen to get some water. "Good morning, Lauretta," she responded, her voice hoarse.As Emily gulped down the cool water, she felt a bit of relief wash over her. Lauretta watched her with a concerned expression. "Rough night?" she asked gently.Emily sighed, nodding. "You have no idea," she muttered.Loretta then continued, filling Emily in on the events of the previous night. "You were quite the sight, Emily. After you went out, you ended up drinking way too much. Alex had to bring you back to the hotel."Emily's eyes widene
As Emily drove, she quickly tapped Lauretta's number into her phone. The line rang a couple of times before Lauretta picked up. "Hey, Lauretta," Emily said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling up inside her. "Emily? What's going on? It's not like you to call this early," Lauretta replied, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "I need to ask you something important. Do you still have the CCTV footage from the Global Hotel that night?" Emily asked, glancing over at Alex, who was sitting rigidly in the passenger seat, listening intently. There was a brief silence on the other end before Lauretta responded, "Emily, did you already explain to him all about that night? Why are you bringing this up now? How is the CCTV the most important?" Emily hesitated, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I... I think it's more important to get the footage first. We can talk about everything else later." Lauretta sighed heavily. "Yes, I kept a copy, but it's in my
Emily got home to a sleepless and restless evening, pacing up and down her living room. Her mind raced with questions and regrets. "What if he doesn't reach out? What if I pushed him away? I could have been a little calmer, why did I storm out?" She muttered to herself, each question gnawing at her. She drank to drown her anxiety, each glass of wine doing little to soothe her frayed nerves. Eventually, she passed out on the couch, an empty bottle beside her.Meanwhile, at Alex's house, he sat at the dining table, a glass of whiskey in hand. He was lost in thought, replaying the events of the day over and over in his mind. The weight of revealing his secret to Emily pressed down on him, and he felt a mix of regret and anxiety. He didn't notice when Grandma and young Emily entered. It wasn't until Nana coughed that he snapped back to reality."Hello, Nana," Alex said, his voice heavy with weariness.Nana looked at young Emily, who was holding her hand. "Go inside, darling," she said sof
Emily and Alex sat in her hotel room, a heavy silence hanging between them. Alex stood up, pacing slowly as he gathered his thoughts. Finally, he began, his voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and resolve. "Operation Sentinel Resolve. That was the last operation we went on, and it was the day I lost all my team members. It was also the first time I transformed."Emily watched him, her eyes wide with concern and curiosity."It was supposed to be a simple information recovery operation," Alex continued, his voice growing more intense. "But we were sabotaged. My team had to protect me, and that's how I survived. They gave their lives for me."He paused, running a hand through his hair, the weight of his memories pressing down on him. "When I tried to dig for information about what went wrong, they wanted to launch an investigation into me into my true form. My transformation caused quite a havoc after my team was wiped out."Emily's heart ached for him. She stood up, crossing the room to
Assemblyman Miller's office was an embodiment of power and prestige, with dark mahogany walls adorned with military memorabilia and framed accolades, giving the room a sense of history and authority. Behind his imposing oak desk sat Miller, a man of presence and purpose, the soft glow of a desk lamp casting shadows that deepened the lines on his weathered face. Across the room, Assemblyman Hargrove lounged on a sleek leather couch, his demeanor far less relaxed than his posture suggested. The room’s expansive windows overlooked the city, and the plush carpet underfoot absorbed every sound, adding to the room's weighty atmosphere. Hargrove’s face was etched with concern, his brow furrowed as he voiced his doubts. "I know we need the funds and support, but are we really going to show her everything?" Miller leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Everything? No, not yet. Not until we’re sure she’s one of us. I’ve already told the lab to substitute the subjects with
Emily returned to the condo, noting its emptiness. As she entered, she called out to the AI. "Dune, where is Alex?""Alex left at about 1:45 PM," the AI responded. Emily checked the time; it was almost 8 PM. She sighed and headed to her room to change into something more comfortable. She selected a plush velour lounge set in deep burgundy, with a soft, oversized hoodie, and matching joggers, perfect for a relaxing evening.Just then, Alex entered the condo. "Good evening," Emily greeted him warmly as she made her way to the refrigerator. She pulled out a bottle of water and took a refreshing sip."Would you like a cup?" Emily asked, holding up the bottle."Yes, please," Alex replied. She poured him a drink, and they both sipped their water, a tense silence settling between them."So, how was the meeting with the Millers?" Alex broke the silence."It went fine," Emily responded, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "They agreed to let me in on everything. I'll
As they settled into the luxurious VIP suite, Loretta’s phone rang. She answered swiftly, listened intently, and then hung up with a nod. “They’re here,” she said to Emily.Emily nodded, her gaze focused and composed as she prepared for the meeting. Moments later, the door opened, and a group of men in sharp black suits entered first. Their presence was imposing, and while Emily maintained her professional demeanour, a flicker of concern briefly crossed her face. The sight of so many guards hinted at the seriousness of the forthcoming discussions.Following the security team, Assemblyman Hargrove and Assemblyman Miller walked into the room. Miller had a commanding presence. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his late fifties with a military bearing that demanded respect. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly trimmed, and his face was marked by sharp, discerning eyes that seemed to analyze every detail. Miller wore a well-tailored suit, dark grey with a hint of military pre
Emily and Lauretta marched into the Watson Corporation building, their steps calculated and poised. Lauretta walked slightly behind Emily, her demeanor professional and alert."Have they called?" Lauretta asked as they approached the office.Lauretta opened her bag and retrieved her ID card, paving the way for Emily to enter through the automated checkpoints. They proceeded towards the elevator, the air around them charged with purpose.As the elevator doors closed, Emily responded, "No, not yet. But anytime soon. We gave them 24 hours."Just as the elevator doors closed, Emily's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and smiled. "I guess it's them," she said to Lauretta as she picked up the call. "Hello, Assemblyman," Emily greeted, her tone confident."Miss Emily, can we meet and talk?" came the voice from the other end of the line."Oh, yes, please. Please communicate the time and place with my assistant," Emily replied before ending the call. She smiled at Lauretta. "Yes, we did it
Emily got back to her condo and was greeted by Dune, the AI. "Hello, Miss Emily," it said as she sank into her couch for a moment, glancing around with eyes searching."Dune," she called out, "where is Alex?""He is in the wolf lair," the AI responded."Any luck finding out how he morphs?" Emily continued.Dune's voice carried a note of accomplishment. "Yes, Miss Emily. During sleep mode, we've been showing Alex different simulations to analyze his brainwave changes. For example, when exposed to a simulation of a high-stress environment, his beta waves increase dramatically, indicating heightened alertness and cognitive function. Conversely, in simulations involving peaceful, natural settings, his alpha waves become more pronounced, suggesting relaxation and a preparatory state for morphing."These findings have led to a 70% increase in our understanding of the morphing mechanism. Moreover, the data shows a significant correlation between specific stimuli and the brainwave patterns as
Emily, dressed in a sharp, dark boss lady outfit—tailored black blazer with gold accents, sleek black trousers, and stiletto heels—stepped out of her car in front of Assemblyman Miller's office. A massive campaign banner flapped on the building, proclaiming "Re-elect Miller: A Future for All," with his smiling face and patriotic colors dominating the facade. As she approached the entrance, she was greeted by Assemblyman David Hargrove. "Welcome, Miss Emily," he said, stretching out his hand with a practiced politician's smile. Behind him stood Jason Robert, the same man they had seen on the CCTV footage the night Linda went missing. Emily responded with a poised smile and extended her hand in return. "Hello," she said, her eyes briefly flickering to Jason before returning to Hargrove, her grip firm and confident. "Come, please," Hargrove said, leading them to his office. The room was spacious, filled with dark mahogany furniture and shelves lined with books and awards. Large window
Work started the next day as usual, with a series of back-to-back meetings that kept everyone on their toes. Emily moved from one intense discussion to another, orchestrating plans and making crucial decisions. Finally, she managed to sit down for a quick rest in the meeting room before heading for her office, relishing a rare moment of calm. Before Emily could relax, a small knock interrupted them. Aunt Sarah stepped into the room, her presence immediately changing the atmosphere. Emily's face shifted from intense concentration to a warm, practiced smile. “Oh, hello, Aunt,” she greeted, her voice a perfect blend of surprise and pleasure. “Let's go to my office,” she gestured, guiding her aunt to the office opposite the meeting room. Emily moved with purpose, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor, while Lauretta stayed a few paces behind, watching with a mixture of concern and curiosity. As they reached the office, Emily's demeanor was calm, but her eyes carried the wei
As they lingered in the lair, Charles, engrossed in the book about werewolves, couldn't help but ask questions. The dim light cast an eerie glow on the ancient pages he was flipping through. "So, are there others like you?" he asked Alex, his voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of awe. "Uh," Alex said, running his hand through his hair, a habitual gesture when he was uncertain. "Maybe? Yes? I guess. It's not something we share openly. Few people know about us. It's a closely guarded secret." Emily, who had been silently observing, chimed in, "So, do people in Silverwood know?" Alex nodded slowly. "A few know about the protector, as they call us, but they don't know it's my family. They think of it as a legend, a story to keep the peace." "Hmm, okay," Emily responded thoughtfully, her mind racing with the implications. Alex moved closer to Charles, who was still deeply engrossed in the history book. "So, you're not scared of me?" Alex asked, his tone a mix
After Breakfast, Emily led them to her home office and they sat down. "I got the list," Charles began, handing over a folder to Emily. Inside was a detailed list of people who owned Mercedes in the city. Emily passed it to Lauretta, who quickly took a shot of the documents."Dune, kindly check the list of these people and cross-reference their relationships with any military officers," Lauretta instructed.Charles watched, puzzled, as a voice responded, "Scanning the documents." He realized Dune was an AI, impressed by the seamless integration of technology in Emily's operations. As they sat down there, Charles grew increasingly curious about why they weren’t immediately acting on the list.Suddenly, Dune's voice interrupted the silence. "We have three people on the list with connections to the military."Charles was caught off guard. Before he could process the information, Alex spoke up, "Can we have the list?" At that moment, a projector screen rolled down, displaying pictures of t