Chapter 6 - Shadows and Sabotage
The following evening, I took Cassandra out to dinner at a quiet, private restaurant in downtown Denver—our first real date in over three years. My security detail had swept the venue, ensuring complete privacy.
As we sat across from each other near a dimly lit window, the tension of the upcoming board battle began to melt away.
"Luke asked me today if we were going to live in the big house forever," Cassandra said, taking a sip of wine with a gentle smile.
"What did you tell him?" I asked, leaning forward.
"I told him that home isn't a place, Damon. It's where the people who love you are." She looked at me intently. "He's falling in love with you, you know. Both of them are. They've spent their whole lives wondering who their dad was. Now they think you're a superhero."
"I'm far from a hero," I admitted softly. "I made terrible mistakes, Cassandra. I prioritized my pride over listening to you three years ago."
"We both made mistakes," she said, reaching across the table to clasp my hand. "I should have fought harder to reach you. I should have walked right past Julian and demanded to see you face-to-face. I was hurt, so I let my pride build a wall too."
"We're breaking it down now," I said. "Together."
Our quiet moment was shattered when my phone vibrated violently. It was an urgent alert from the security system at Prescott Technologies headquarters.
[21:40 PM] SYSTEM ALERT: Unauthorized data download initiated in Executive Server Room B.
My eyes narrowed. Server Room B contained the original development logs for the neonatal platform—including the proprietary algorithms that proved the non-profit distribution model was commercially viable.
"What is it?" Cassandra asked, seeing my face turn pale.
"Someone is breaking into the corporate server right now," I said, standing up immediately. "They're trying to wipe the data that proves my case to the board."
"Julian," she whispered.
"Marcus is heading there now, but I need to go," I said, calling for the check. "Cassandra, I'm having my security team take you and the kids to a safe house in the mountains until this is over."
"No," she said, standing up with determination. "I'm coming with you."
"Cassandra, it's not safe—"
"I spent three years watching from the sidelines while people decided our fate, Damon," she snapped fiercely. "I am not hiding in a mountain cabin while you face those vultures alone. We are in this together."
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I looked into her determined green eyes and realized there was no point in arguing. The fiery, independent woman I loved was back.
"Alright," I said, taking her hand. "Let's go."
