Chapter 3 Shadows Of Uncertainty

The following morning, Olivia ended up in a smooth meeting room at Blackwood Advances, her head actually turning from the occasions of the earlier evening. She had barely slept, and her dreams were a jumble of high school memories and worries from the present.

Dark circles under his eyes marred Ethan's usual confident demeanor as he sat at the head of the table. Next to him, a group of harried-looking chiefs pored over piles of reports and PCs.

"Okay, we should begin," Ethan said, his voice slicing through the strained climate. " For the people who haven't met her, this is Olivia Summers, our new Head of Worldwide Drives."

He made Olivia feel uncomfortable, but she kept her mouth shut. This moment wasn't the opportunity for another showdown.

"Just like all mindfulness," Ethan proceeded, "we've had a huge security break. Project Prometheus's entire database has been compromised.

An aggregate mumble of concern undulated through the room. Olivia inclined forward, interested notwithstanding herself. " What precisely is Undertaking Prometheus?" she inquired.

Ethan's look locked onto hers, a flash of something - help? gratification? – disregarding his highlights. " He explained, "It is the foundation of our global education initiative." A progressive man-made intelligence framework intended to adjust to individual learning styles and needs. With Prometheus, we could give top notch schooling to a large number of oppressed kids all over the planet."

"What's more, presently it's in the possession of your rivals," a rough voice contributed. From the other side of the table, Olivia turned to see an elderly man staring intently at Ethan.

"We don't have the foggiest idea about that for certain, Mr. Callahan," Ethan answered, his jaw holding.

"Oh? Then, at that point, maybe you might want to make sense of why Tech Dyne's stock has abruptly soared for the time being?" Throwing a tablet across the table, Callahan responded in kind. They're our greatest opponents in the ed-tech space, and presently they're ready to declare a 'historic new item' one week from now. Coincidence?"

The room emitted into warmed conversations. She sat back, her thoughts racing. How could Ethan bring her into this wreck? She was a design leader, not a tech master or corporate government operative.

Except if...

A chilling idea struck her. What if this was not at all about her abilities? Imagine a scenario where Ethan associated her with being associated with the information break.

She looked at him, attempting to peruse his appearance. He met her look, and briefly, she saw a flash of the kid she once knew - unsure, powerless, looking for replies.

"Enough," Ethan said, hushing the room. " Pointing fingers will not address anything. We want arrangements. Olivia, you have insight in emergency the board from your time in the style business. What's your interpretation of this?"

Everyone's eyes went to her. Olivia took a full breath, shoved aside her own sentiments and slipped into the expert mode that had served her well in New York.

"In the first place, we really want to control the account," she said, her voice consistent. " Investor confidence will plummet if word of this breach spreads. We ought to set up an explanation tending to the gossipy tidbits about another item, neither affirming nor denying any break."

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. Second, we want to follow the wellspring of the break. I accept you have network safety specialists chipping away at this?"

Ethan gestured. " the very best in the industry. Yet, they're reaching stopping points every step of the way."

"Then, at that point, we want to consider some fresh possibilities," Olivia proceeded. " This degree of break recommends an inside work. Somebody with personal information on your frameworks and security conventions."

The room fell quiet as the ramifications of her words sank in. Ethan's appearance was obscured. " Are you saying that one of our members is a traitor?"

Olivia met his look unflinchingly. " I'm proposing we think about all the prospects. No stone left unturned."

Olivia felt both excitement and anxiety as the meeting ended. She'd stood her ground in that room brimming with tech tycoons, yet she was unable to shake the inclination that she was being brought into something undeniably more hazardous than corporate reconnaissance.

Outside the gathering room, a hand got her arm. She went to track down Jackson, watching awkwardly in the cutting edge environmental elements.

"Liv, we want to talk," he said, his blue eyes loaded up with concern. " I did some digging the previous evening. There's something you want to be familiar with Ethan and his undertaking of his."

Sophia showed up before he could continue, her heels clanging ominously against the polished floor. She replied, "Well, well," her smile not reaching her eyes. Isn't this comfortable? I trust I'm not intruding on anything... once more."

Olivia removed herself from Jackson's grasp, keenly conscious about the strain snapping between them. " Not by any stretch," she said without a hitch. " Jack was simply leaving, right?"

Jackson gave the impression that he wanted to protest, but Olivia's warning glance silenced him. No doubt," he said hesitantly. " Be that as it may, this discussion isn't finished, Liv. Be cautious who you trust around here."

As he left, Sophia connected her arm through Olivia's, her hold somewhat too close to ever be agreeable. " She said, "Come on, darling," and pointed her in the direction of the elevator. We should eat. We need to catch up on so much."

Olivia permitted herself to be driven, her psyche spinning. What did Jackson be aware? Also, for what reason did she have the premonition that this lunch with Sophia was less about getting up to speed and more about checking an area?

As the lift entryways shut, catching her with her previous closest companion and current opponent, Olivia really wanted to feel that she was sliding into a trap of insider facts and lies, with no reasonable way out.

Much to her dismay, the genuine peril was just barely starting.