The café was surprisingly quiet, with long shadows stretching across the room. All the other customers wore identical uniforms adorned with the emblem of a Great Family, creating a subtle backdrop for the two figures seated at a secluded corner table.
If Jessica or David had been there, they would have recognized one of the men immediately—Steven, a well-respected member of the NovaTech development team.
Steven was known for his coding and project management skills and was usually confident and in control. But today, he looked nervous, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his tablet.
He was fortunate that NovaTech offered a flexible work arrangement, allowing him to go out whenever pleased.
Across from him sat a man who exuded calm authority; Lucien LaRue, one of the five heirs to the LaRue family—one of the Twelve Great Families. Charles would have known him at a glance.
The LaRues have a long history of influence in the tech and finance industries, and their power extends far into the shadows.
Lucien was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his demeanor relaxed and almost indifferent, as if meetings like this were a routine part of his day. His expression was friendly, but his eyes carried a predatory glint—a warning that nothing he did was without purpose.
“You look tense, Steven,” Lucien said smoothly, breaking the silence. “I thought a man in your position would be more comfortable with… this kind of thing.”
Steven swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously around the café. “This isn’t something I usually do,” he admitted, his voice barely steady. “I’m taking a big risk even talking to you.”
Lucien’s smile remained, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Relax,” he said, gesturing for Steven to continue. “If I mean trouble for you, we wouldn’t have this conversation now. Now, let’s see what you have for me.”
With a shaky breath, Steven pulled out a sleek tablet from his bag. He hesitated momentarily before unlocking it and pushing it across the table to Lucien.
“That’s everything,” Steven said, his voice low. “The entire framework for BiteWave. User data, performance analytics, backend code, server architecture, and future business projections.”
Lucien’s interest piqued, his fingers deftly swiping through the files. “Interesting,” he said with a nod, though he didn’t look up. “But I need more than just the basics. What about security measures? Any gaps in the system? What’s protecting all this valuable data?”
Steven took a deep breath, seemingly reluctant to continue. “I’ve included the security layout,” he said quietly. “I’ve included the firewall configurations, intrusion detection systems, data flow management, and encryption protocols. I even added the encrypted server communications Ethan implemented for extra security.”
Lucien’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Not bad. He is pretty good.”
Steven nodded. He couldn’t deny being impressed that someone as young as Ethan could create an app and incorporate the features they had worked on for so long to make it perfect.
Lucien smiled, “Now, tell me about the core features that make BiteWave stand out.”
Steven’s anxiety was clear, but he pressed on. “I’ve included the custom algorithms that Ethan built,” he explained. “The ones that power the Taste Meter and allow users to customize their dishes without compromising quality. There’s also the tech behind the nutritional assessment feature—the app breaks down ingredients, tracks allergens, and provides personalized food suggestions based on a user’s dietary needs.”
Lucien’s smile grew more pronounced as he listened. “Now we’re getting somewhere,” he said, his tone almost approving. “What about the marketing tools? Do I have everything I need to understand how Ethan plans to make BiteWave a game-changer?”
Steven reluctantly nodded. “You’ll find all the data on our influencer and reviewer strategies—how we plan to create buzz around each restaurant.”
However, Lucien did not seem too impressed with this.
Steven then added, “Chill. There are files on our video production techniques—the professional filming of dish preparations, the influencer interviews, and the visual style we use.”
“That’s it? Nothing special,” ridiculed Lucien.
Steven smirked, “Just wait until you see it and study it first. Don’t be too quick to judge.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed as he continued to scroll. “And the user engagement strategies? How do you keep people returning to the app instead of visiting the restaurants directly?”
“We’ve got a series of loyalty rewards in place,” Steven explained. “The usuals.”
Lucien leaned back, feeling only half satisfied. “You need to do better than this, Steven,” he said, his voice taking on a threatening tone. “You should know what’s best for you…and your family.”
Steven swallowed hard, tension etched in his eyes. “Don’t you dare do anything to them!”
At that moment, Lucien’s bodyguards stood up almost in unison. But Lucien raised his right hand, and everyone immediately stopped and stayed seated.
“Give me some more time,” he said quietly. “And make sure no one finds out about this. If Ethan ever realizes I’ve been leaking information…”
Lucien’s smile turned cold, his gaze piercing. “As long as you keep providing what I need, there’s nothing to worry about. But remember, Steven—my patience has its limits. Keep up your end, and you’ll be well compensated. Fail me, and you know what will happen.”
Steven’s face turned pale as he nodded, his gaze dropping to the table. He knew he was far past the point of no return.
Lucien pushed the tablet back across the table and stood up, calm and composed. “We’ll be in touch,” he said, slipping the device into his coat. “Keep an eye on things at NovaTech. I want to know about every update, every change, and every opportunity.”
With that, Lucien left the café, his expression unreadable as he vanished into the busy streets outside. Steven remained at the table, the weight of his decision pressing down on him like a stone.
***
At NovaTech’s headquarters, Ethan sat in the conference room, facing Jessica and David. The room was brightly lit, and its modern décor starkly contrasted the weight of the conversation.
David had just finished a report, but Ethan’s calm demeanor suggested he had something important to discuss.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he glanced between the two. “We have a problem,” Ethan said calmly. “Someone in our company is being a mole.”
Jessica’s eyes widened in shock while David’s brows furrowed in confusion. “How can you be sure?” David asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
Ethan’s gaze remained steady. “I’ve been monitoring our system’s security protocols and noticed something odd. There were traces of unauthorized access—a digital signature embedded deep within the data files.”
Jessica frowned, leaning forward. “A digital signature? Couldn’t it be a glitch or an accidental breach from someone inside?”
Ethan shook his head, his expression unwavering. “No. This was intentional. Someone accessed files they shouldn’t have and left a trace. What’s more concerning is that the files in question were related to BiteWave’s core framework.”
David’s eyes narrowed, alarm spreading across his face. “Wait, you mean the custom algorithms and security measures?”
“Exactly,” Ethan confirmed. “And here’s the thing—even the most advanced tech leaves a fingerprint when someone makes a copy of the framework. It’s subtle, but there’s always a trail. I found evidence of a digital copy made offsite.”
Jessica’s face turned pale. “But how is that possible? Wouldn’t our systems detect an offsite copy?”
“They should,” Ethan replied. “But whoever did this was careful. They bypassed our main monitoring systems using a covert data extraction method. They probably thought no one would notice, but I built redundancy—a hidden layer within the code that marks any unauthorized duplication.”
David looked both impressed and worried. “You anticipated this?”
“Not exactly,” Ethan admitted. “But I’ve always been cautious when it comes to proprietary information. If someone attempts to copy sensitive data, my hidden security layer embeds a unique identifier within the files. It’s practically invisible but allows me to trace where the data has gone.”
Jessica looked at him, admiration mixed with worry. “And you found a match?”
“Yes,” Ethan said. “The identifier shows that a copy was made and removed from our internal servers. Someone inside our company might be planning to leak BiteWave’s core data.”
David’s face turned grim. “Do you have any idea who it could be? A developer, an analyst, someone with high-level access?”
“Not yet,” Ethan said calmly. “But I’ve narrowed it down. I set up a trap with false data files and monitor who will access them in the coming days. It’ll lead me to the culprit.”
Jessica’s voice was tense. “And what do we do in the meantime? This could be catastrophic if our competitors get hold of everything we’ve worked for.”
Ethan’s eyes hardened. “We keep moving forward as planned. Don’t change anything in our operations—if the mole senses we’re onto them, they’ll go to ground, and we’ll lose our chance to catch them. Meanwhile, I’m reinforcing our internal security with a new layer of encryption. If anyone tries this again, they won’t get far.”
David’s jaw tightened. “What about the data they already have? What if they sell it or use it against us?”
“They won’t,” Ethan said with certainty. “The moment the recipient opened the copied framework, the decoy activated. It triggered a video I prepared.”
Jessica’s brows furrowed in confusion. “A video?”
Ethan chuckled. “Yes. It’s a prank video—a little ‘gift’ for our competitor.
David’s jaw dropped, a mix of disbelief and laughter bubbling up. “You did what?”
Ethan’s grin widened. “I wanted to make sure they knew exactly how futile their attempt was. Trust me—they won’t be happy. But it gets better. The decoy files they receive are programmed to auto-delete and corrupt their servers within twenty-four hours if they try to dig deeper or share the data. It’s a little insurance policy to keep them out of our way.”
Jessica was stunned, a smile breaking across her face. “So, you let them think they got away with it, only to hit them with a prank and then ruin their day?”
“Exactly,” Ethan said, his tone light. “They didn’t realize I had layered security. I also wanted to teach our competitor a lesson. Don’t mess with NovaTech.”
David leaned back in his chair, laughing. “I would have paid to see their faces when they opened that video. You’re a genius, Ethan.”
Jessica exhaled slowly, clearly impressed. “You really thought of everything, didn’t you?”
Ethan smiled, but his eyes remained cold.
David and Jessica exchanged a worried glance, both understanding the stakes. “Alright,” David said, his voice firm. “We’ll follow your lead. Just tell us what you need.”
Ethan nodded, his expression resolute. “For now, keep things normal. But be ready—I’ll need your support once we find out who’s involved. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
Jessica and David agreed, a tense silence settling over the room as the gravity of the situation took hold. They knew this betrayal was only the beginning of a larger game being played in the shadows, and they would have to be ready for whatever came next.
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