kept returning to Emily, and the more difficult it became to separate his professional and personal feelings.

Later that evening, as Alex reviewed the final points of his strategy, his phone buzzed. It was a call from an old colleague, someone who had been with him during the Dynamic Systems debacle.

“Alex,” the voice on the other end said, “I heard about the E-Tech situation. You know what you’re up against, right? Don’t let Hayes get the upper hand again.”

"I won't" he promised, but the doubt lingered.

“You’ve got the experience now,” the colleague continued. “You know how Hayes operates. Just don’t let him play you the way he did last time.”

Alex appreciated the support, but the conversation only heightened his anxiety. The stakes were higher now than they had ever been before. It wasn’t just about saving a company—it was about saving Emily, someone he had come to care for far more than he should.

Just as he was about to call it a night, an email notification flashed on his screen. It was from one of his contacts, someone who had been digging into Sentinel’s recent activities. As he opened the message and read the contents, his heart sank.

This changed everything.

Silent Strength