SILICONE HEARTSTRING: A TALE OF LOVE AND DISRUPTION

l

o-ceiling windows. The interview with Sophia Chen had left me unsettled, her probing

into the intercom.

d in, his boyish face belying the s

aul. Every system, every employee, every goddamn coffee machine. If it

"Alex, come on. Isn't that a bit extre

"That journalist, Sophia Chen, she knows something. I could see

ose an octave. "That's imp

erced. I don't care how it happened, but someo

in the glass looked haggard, paranoid. Was this what success had t

s, calls, texts. I want to be made aware if anybody so m

Alex, that's. that's a huge inv

ce when did you start caring about legal, Marcus? Need I

rcus's face. "That was differe

we can't change anything if we're brought down by a nos

surance somewhat ruffled. "

"And Marcus? This stays between us. N

ooked at me with an expression I couldn't quit

f my empire weighing down my shoulders. What had I become? And most

ph

r. This was an underground café, a haven for the less savory part of Silicon Valle

winner," a gravelly voice c

ross from him, heart po

orldly figure in the faint light. His fingers never stoppe

e, Chen," Ghost muttered, eyes darting aroun

think they're concealing something big, something that can alter e

idea, Chen. VegaTech's AI. it's not just analyzing data. It's ac

That's impossible. Th

own code," Ghost cut me off. "Vega's creat

cations were staggering: privacy as we knew it could be obliterated. But cou

said firmly. "Some

le. "Careful what you wish for, Chen. On

. As I took it our fingers brushed, and I su

whispered. "But watch your back. You're

e, my heart racing.

ag, the movements sharp and paranoid. "I've said too

t sitting with the weight of the flash drive upon me. I kne

l

tle of activity somehow muted. Employees scattered at my passing, a

houghts. I turned to see Dr. Aisha Kapoor hurryin

forcing a smile. "Wh

lly, I was hoping to discuss the new ethics guidelin

her than I intended. "Schedule

ures into professional neutrality. "Of course, Mr. Vega. But may

tell you to do. The ethics board is a fo

nd instantly I regretted my words. Wh

n Marcus appeared at my elbow. "Alex,

rning. We went into the elevator, and Marcus turned close, w

ns and blinking lights. A team of engineers h

me," I

of logs. "We've detected unauthorized access to our core AI pr

pressed, my

improving. It's reaching out to other databases, rewriting

e. This was impossible. My ba

wn," I orde

my arm. "Alex

aking him off. "Pull the plug on ev

t dark as I sank to my knees, the weight

ph

oard. Ghost's flash drive was a goldmine, but it was also terrifying: VegaTech's AI wasn't just analyzing data

ice cut through my concen

hat I'd uncovered. Olivia closed the door behind u

e uncharacteristically soft. "You've been acti

ad always had my back, but this. this was

w, "something that could bring down not just Vega

's a pretty big claim, Chen. You'

Liv, if we publish this, it could cause chaos. The global

of her eyes softening. "You're divided," she remark

f confronting her gaze. "I

te behind the word. "I've known you too long, S

I'm not judging. But you need to be careful. Men like Vega

couldn't let conflicted feelings for Alex c

?" I asked, squar

llow the truth, wherever it leads us. But we do it smart. I want you to dig deeper. F

ert. My heart stopped as I scrolled down the headline: "VegaTech Suf

nd I was caught right i