David, Jordan, and Jessica sat around a polished table in a meeting room at Nova Tech. Large glass windows let in natural light, making the room bright.

Even though the surroundings were nice, the atmosphere inside felt tense. They had decided who to hire. Now, they just needed to send out the offer letters.

However, something was stopping them from proceeding right now. It was about what had happened over the past two days.

Just outside the room, Ezra and Yamal stood guard, their sharp eyes scanning every corner of the hallway. Their presence, while reassuring, was a stark reminder of the danger that now loomed over Nova Tech.

David rubbed his temples, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. “In just a few days... so many things have already happened?” he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “A gunshot incident? A power struggle with a family as influential as the LaRue? This is insane.”

Jordan, sitting to his right, nodded repeatedly, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a more serious one. “Yeah. It is insane."

He let out a deep sigh, "I never imagined this city—or this country, for that matter—was so tightly controlled by families like the LaRue. I always thought it was just politics and corporations.”

"Besides, Ethan still had not told me about the incident with Donald. We believed that guy was backed by someone powerful, too," Jordan added.

Jessica, who had been quietly sipping her coffee, glanced between the two men. She hadn’t spoken much since they arrived, her mind still replaying the events of Brookville. The tension on her face was clear, but she didn’t interrupt the conversation.

David leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. “When I met Charles to set up the accounts for Nova Tech, he did mention something about the Great Families,” he admitted. “But I brushed it off. I thought it was just... you know, rumors. Stories to scare newcomers.”

He paused, his brows furrowing as he processed the gravity of the situation. “But now, after hearing all this... I see how families like the LaRue secure their power. It’s not just influence or money. They have a grip on the city itself.”

Jordan crossed his arms and shook his head. “I thought the same thing,” he said, sounding frustrated.

“I figured Nova Tech would just be another competitor in the tech industry. Healthy competition, right? Build a better product, market it well, and you win. I never expected to deal with... this,” Jordan added.

David tapped his fingers on the table, his mind clearly working through the implications. “This isn’t just about business anymore,” he said quietly. “We need to focus on survival. If we don’t handle this correctly, Nova Tech might fail before we even start.”

Jessica finally spoke, her voice calm but steady. “We can do this,” she said, setting her coffee cup down with a soft clink. “Ethan isn’t the type to back down. Neither should you guys.”

Her words carried weight, and both men turned to look at her. Jessica met their gazes with determination, her usual warmth replaced by a newfound resolve.

Jessica leaned forward slightly, her gaze firm. “You guys should filter the new hires properly,” she said. “Who knows if any moles are trying to make their way into the company.”

Her words hung in the air, the weight of the suggestion pressing on Jordan and David.

Jordan furrowed his brow, exchanging a glance with David. “She's got a point,” he admitted, his tone serious. “But how are we supposed to do that? I believe there is no real way to know who might have ulterior motives.”

David tapped his fingers on the table, his mind already racing. "Background checks are not always reliable. If someone wanted to get inside our company, they would make sure their disguise was perfect."

Jessica nodded, her expression thoughtful. “True, but we need to start somewhere. It's better to be careful now than to regret it later.”

The three of them were quiet, each thinking about how to do that best.

Jordan let out a heavy sigh. He could not think of anything. He let his hand run through his hair. "This is frustrating."

He added, “Now we’re scared of everything. Every new hire, every decision—it’s like we have to second-guess every step we take.”

David nodded, his expression tense. “It's impossible to know who can be trusted and what's the best course of action.”

Jessica’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I agree. It’s impossible to fully filter out the risks. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore them.”

David relaxed in his chair and took a deep breath. “I wonder how Ethan will settle this. He's like the troubleshooter—maybe he has a plan.”

Just as if on cue, the meeting room door opened, and Ethan walked in. Everyone in the room immediately focused on him.

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“You want me to settle what?” Ethan asked, his voice calm but tinged with exhaustion.

The three of them exchanged quick glances. Ethan looked a bit pale, and the dark circles under his eyes stood out more than usual. It was clear he had been working hard, but no one dared to ask what or why.

The truth was that Ethan had spent the morning training relentlessly. After his first session with Mark, he sparred with Maya, too.

He understood that to survive in this world, he could not rely only on the system. He had to push his body and mind to their limits, even if it meant hiding his struggles from those around him.

Ethan shook off his thoughts and looked at the group. “What are you guys discussing?” he asked, his gaze moving between them.

David quickly filled him in, recounting Jessica’s warning about filtering the new hires and the concerns it raised.

Ethan nodded thoughtfully, leaning against the edge of the table.

“I see. Jessica’s right,” he said after a moment. “And you guys are right, too. There's no way for us to know who is who, but..."

Ethan smiled at everyone and said, "You don't need to worry if someone does something funny with our app."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Ethan straightened slightly, his confidence returning. “I mean that everything we’ve developed and going to develop is perfectly secured."

"Including Quick?" asked David.

Ethan nodded, "Quick is just the beginning."

Everyone was waiting for Ethan to continue. "I've taken every precaution to ensure the safety of our app or system. Someone can try, but I’ve made it as hard as humanly—or superhumanly—possible.”

Jessica crossed her arms, her tone cautious. “You can’t be that confident, Ethan. No system is unbreakable.”

Ethan met her gaze, his expression calm but resolute. “I know,” he admitted. “But what else can we do? We have to trust in what we’ve built. I believe in my creation, Jessica—not just Quick but everything we’ll develop in the future. I’ve made it difficult for anyone to compromise what we’ve built.”

David leaned forward and put his hands together. “Are you saying we just need to trust the security measures you have in place?”

Ethan nodded. “For now, yes. This is what we can do. I will monitor it. If anyone tries something, I will know, and we will handle it then.”

The room went quiet for a moment as Ethan spoke. His words had a strong impact on the group. Even though there was tension, his confidence made everyone feel more at ease.

Jessica finally broke the silence. “That's it, then,” she said softly. “A creator should be confident in his creation. Sorry for doubting you.”

Ethan nodded and smiled. He did not wish to add anything to those remarks.

Jordan sighed. "Yeah. Since we can't trust others, we should at least trust Ethan.”

Ethan smiled faintly, his exhaustion briefly giving way to gratitude. “Don't worry. We'll face everything together.”

They discussed a few more important things before David looked at Jessica with a warm smile. “Jessica, you’ve been really helpful to us. Thank you for everything.”

Jordan, ever the playful one, grinned and leaned back in his chair. “You know, Jessica, you should just officially join our team.”

Jessica blinked in surprise.

However, just before she could say anything, Ethan said, “I've planned to discuss that, too,” he said, looking at all three of them. “I’d like to hear what you think.”

Ethan paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “Since Jessica is being targeted by Lucien, it’s going to be harder to protect her if she continues working as a property agent."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "That’s why I want to offer her a position at Nova Tech. But... What position do you prefer, Jessica?”

Jessica was surprised. Her eyes were wide as she looked at Ethan. “Are you serious?” she asked softly.

Ethan nodded. “Yes. You’ve already proven how capable you are, but I want to make sure you’re safe above all else.”

Jessica was speechless for a moment before she shook her head slightly. “I… I don’t want to be hired just because of my circumstances. That doesn’t feel right.”

Jordan interjected with a playful smirk. “Why are you saying that? You’ve already shown us how competent you are. Besides, Ethan already made the offer. Just name a position... Well, of course not the manager... and you’re in.” He ended with a wink, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

David cleared his throat, his expression thoughtful. “Actually, I think this could be a very good decision. And regarding Jessica’s position…”

He hesitated for a brief moment before continuing. “To ensure her safety, she could become Ethan’s personal assistant.”

Ethan and Jessica both froze, their eyes widening in shock. “Personal assistant?” Ethan repeated, clearly caught off guard.

Jessica looked equally surprised, her gaze darting between David and Ethan. “That seems… sudden,” she said hesitantly.

David held up a hand, his tone calm but firm. “Hear me out. With everything happening, Ethan needs someone he can trust implicitly—someone who can handle responsibilities and be by his side, especially with Lucien in the picture.”

Jordan nodded, his playful demeanor giving way to agreement. “It’s a solid idea. Plus, Ethan, don’t forget—you’re heading back to university in a few weeks. Balancing studies and running Nova Tech is going to be insane.”

Ethan frowned slightly. "I am thinking about leaving university or switching to a long-distance program. With everything happening, I don’t see the benefit of staying enrolled full-time."

David and Jordan exchanged a knowing glance. "I won't interfere with your decision, Ethan. Just do what you think is best for you," said David.

"Yeah, exactly. If you choose to continue, we're here to handle Nova Tech," added Jordan.

They understood what Ethan meant—his current path didn’t align with the typical trajectory of a university student.

"Thank you, everyone. But I think I have made up my mind," said Ethan.

Jordan shrugged. “Even if you do that, it wouldn’t hurt to have Jessica as your assistant. You’d have someone to help ease the burden, especially with development and management. You know as well as we do that your focus is going to shift more toward the apps and systems.”

Ethan fell silent, deep in thought. He glanced at Jessica, his mind racing through the possibilities.

After a long pause, he finally spoke. “You know… that’s actually a nice idea.” He looked at her softly and said, “What do you think about this, Jessica?”

Jessica paused her hands on the table. “I guess I don’t have much to lose. And, honestly…” She glanced down, her voice quiet. “I’m terrified of what Lucien might do if he comes after me again. At least, being with you guys... I feel more at ease.”

She looked back up, her expression a mix of uncertainty and resolve. “Is it really okay?” she asked, her voice tentative.

Ethan, Jordan, and David all nodded together.

Jessica took a deep breath to understand the situation. “Alright,” she said softly. “I’ll accept.”

A grin spread across Jordan’s face. “Welcome onboard, Jessica.”

Ethan smiled as well, nodding in agreement. “Yes, welcome to the team.”

Jessica smiled slightly. She felt some relief from their support, even though she was still overwhelmed with emotions.