Chapter 506
Chapter 506:
“My data center,” Lucian said softly, his voice vibrating against her ear. “It’s gone. Vaporized p>
Skye’s breath hitched.
“You and your friend Thorne,” Lucian continued, his grip tightening slightly on her waist, “you cost me billions tonight p>
“Hush,” Lucian murmured. “We’ll discuss your punishment later. First, we have a war to win p>
The Penthouse office was silent, save for the hum of the air conditioning and the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock. The contrast to the chaos below was jarring.
Lucian dropped Skye onto the leather sofa. He didn’t offer comfort. He walked to the wet bar, poured two fingers of bourbon, and downed it in one swallow.
He turned to face her. The violence of the tunnel was gone, replaced by the cold calculation of the CEO.
“Explain,” he said.
Skye sat up, adjusting her torn dress. Her hands throbbed.
“Explain what? That your employee tried to sell me to the Morettis p>
“Amy is being handled,” Lucian said dismissively. “I want to know about the explosion. I want to know exactly how Alistair Thorne got into my server room p>
Skye’s heart skipped a beat. There was no point in denying Alistair’s involvement now.
“He came for me,” Skye said, keeping her voice steady. “The data center was collateral damage p>
“Collateral damage?” Lucian laughed, a dark, humorless sound. “He planted thermite charges on the mainframes. That wasn’t a rescue mission, Skye. It was a strategic strike. And you were the distraction p>
The door opened. Kael walked in. He looked grim. He was dragging Amy, who was now silent, her face a mask of terror.
“Boss,” Kael said, throwing Amy to the floor. “She wants to talk. Before the end p>
Amy scrambled to her knees. “He’s lying! She’s lying! I saw it! In the hallway! The janitor! He wasn’t a janitor! He passed her the access codes p>
Lucian looked at Amy, then at Skye.
“A janitor?” Lucian asked.
“Yes!” Amy cried. “She’s a spy! She’s working with Thorne! That’s why she ran! She was meeting him to hand off the backup drive p>
о𝗇𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝗼𝘮pl𝘦𝘁𝖾𝘥 ո𝗈𝗏e𝗅s 𝘰𝗇 𝖻e.c𝗈𝘮
Lucian walked over to Skye. He loomed over her, blocking out the light.
“Is this true, Skye? Do you have a backup of my data p>
Skye looked him in the eye. She knew she couldn’t deny everything. A partial truth was the best lie.
“There was a man,” Skye admitted. “I don’t know who he was. He gave me a keycard to the service elevator. He said he could get me out p>
“And the drive?” Lucian pressed.
“I don’t have any drive,” Skye lied. In reality, the USB drive Alistair had shoved into her hand moments before the ceiling collapsed was burning a hole in her pocket. It was the worm program, the ultimate weapon against Lucian’s empire, but she couldn’t let him know it existed.
“She’s lying!” Amy screamed. “Search her p>
Lucian stared at Skye for a long moment. Then he turned to Amy. His expression was bored.
“You let the Moretti hit squad into my building, Amy. You disabled the perimeter sensors on Level B2 to smuggle Skye out p>
“I just wanted the money…” Amy sobbed.
“You compromised my security during a Code Red,” Lucian said softly. “That is unforgivable p>
“Lucian, please p>
“Kael,” Lucian said. “Take her. The Red Room p>
“No! Please! Lucian!” Amy screamed as Kael dragged her out.