The Blind Date Was Empty —Until Twin Boys Appeared And Told The Billionaire,“Dad’s Sorry He’s Late”
The Target Shifted
The implications were immediate and alarming. This wasn’t about Olivia at all—or at least, not directly.
It was about Karen, which meant Matthew’s connection to this situation was through his sister, not through any scheme to target Wright Innovations. “I’m sending security to Matthew’s house,” Olivia decided aloud.
“If someone is targeting his sister, they might go after him next, especially if they think he knows something.”
“Should I call the police?” Jenna asked.
“Not yet. Let me handle this through private channels first. The last thing we need is media attention.”
Olivia ended the call and immediately contacted Victor again, instructing him to dispatch a security team to Brooklyn. 20 minutes later, her phone rang again. It was Victor.
“Miss Wright, we have a situation. When our team arrived at Taylor’s address, there were signs of forced entry. The apartment appears to have been searched, but there’s no sign of Taylor or the boys.”
Olivia felt her chest tighten. “Any indications of violence?”
“None. It looks like they left in a hurry. One of the neighbors reported seeing them leave with suitcases about 15 minutes before our team arrived.”
“They’re running,” Olivia murmured, more to herself than to Victor. She made a quick decision. “Track his phone.”
“Already done,” Victor replied. “Last signal places him near the Hudson River waterfront. Signal went dead 5 minutes ago.”
“Send the team there immediately. And Victor, I’m coming too.”
Confrontation at the Waterfront
Within minutes, Olivia had changed into jeans, a cashmere sweater, and practical boots—a far cry from her usual corporate attire. As her driver sped toward the Hudson, she tried Matthew’s number repeatedly, each call going straight to voicemail.
The waterfront was quiet when they arrived, industrial buildings looming like silent sentinels against the night sky. Victor’s team had already secured the perimeter, their black SUVs positioned strategically around an abandoned warehouse.
“The last signal came from inside,” Victor informed her as she approached, looking dubious about her presence at the scene. “We’ve done thermal imaging. There are three heat signatures inside: one adult, two smaller figures.”
“Matthew and the twins,” Olivia confirmed, relief flooding through her. “Let me go in.”
“Miss Wright, I strongly advise against that. We don’t know the situation.”
“He trusts me,” she insisted, though she wasn’t entirely sure that was true anymore. “If he’s frightened, seeing armed security will only make things worse.”
After a tense standoff, Victor reluctantly agreed but insisted on fitting her with a discrete communication device. “At the first sign of trouble, we’re coming in,” he warned.
The warehouse was cavernous, its high ceilings disappearing into darkness. Olivia’s footsteps echoed as she made her way deeper inside, following the beam of her flashlight.
“Matthew,” she called out, her voice bouncing off concrete walls. “It’s Olivia. I’m alone.”
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, from the shadows: “How did you find us?”
Matthew stepped into the light, positioning himself protectively in front of the twins, who peered around him with wide, frightened eyes.
The Web of Deception
He looked nothing like the charming, slightly disheveled teacher from dinner. His expression was hard, wary.
“I tracked your phone,” Olivia admitted, stopping several feet away from them. “My security team noticed your apartment had been broken into. I was worried.”
“Your security team,” Matthew repeated, a bitter edge to his voice. “Of course you have a security team. Just like you probably have people who can run background checks, access private information, monitor communications.”
Olivia felt a chill run through her. “Matthew, what’s going on? Who are you running from?”
“I thought I was running from you,” he said quietly. “Or whoever you work with.”
The accusation stung. “I don’t understand.”
Matthew’s laugh was hollow. “After our date, I received a message. Photos of the boys at school, at their soccer practice, at their grandmother’s house.”
The message was clear: “Cooperate or they’ll be hurt.”
Olivia felt sick. “Cooperate with what?”
“They want access to my sister’s work, specifically a defense project she’s been consulting on.”
His eyes narrowed. “The message came minutes after I texted you. After I foolishly used my phone to let you know I wasn’t involved in whatever was happening.”
The realization struck Olivia like a physical blow. “Your phone was compromised. That’s how they tracked you here, too.”
She took a step forward, stopping when Matthew tensed. “Matthew, I swear to you, I have nothing to do with this. Yes, I had you investigated, but only after hearing about the private investigator. It was a precaution.”
“Dad,” Lucas whispered, tugging at his father’s jacket. “I believe her. She’s not a bad person.”
A Desperate Hope
Matthew hesitated, studying Olivia’s face in the dim light. “If you’re telling the truth, then who is behind this?”
“I don’t know,” Olivia admitted. “But whoever it is, they’re sophisticated enough to compromise your phone and break into two separate apartments in one night. That suggests resources, organization.”
“Corporate espionage?” Matthew suggested.
Olivia shook her head. “This feels like something else. The timing, the target, your sister’s DoD work. This is bigger than corporate rivalry.”
She held out her hand. “Let me help you, Matthew. My security team is outside. We can protect you and the boys while we figure this out.”
For what seemed like an eternity, Matthew didn’t move. Then, slowly, Ethan stepped out from behind his father.
“Dad always says we should trust our instincts,” the boy said solemnly. “And my instinct says Miss Olivia is telling the truth.”
Matthew looked down at his son, then back at Olivia. The weariness in his eyes gave way to something else: a desperate hope that he wasn’t making a terrible mistake.
“Okay,” he finally said, taking her outstretched hand.
“But if anything happens to my boys—”
“It won’t,” Olivia promised, the weight of that vow settling heavily on her shoulders. “I won’t let it.”
As they emerged from the warehouse into the cool night air, Olivia’s security team moved swiftly to escort them to waiting vehicles. She couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight’s blind date had set in motion events far beyond a simple dinner conversation.
Someone had orchestrated this entire situation, and she was determined to discover who and why.
The Command Center
The Wright Innovation’s executive floor was eerily quiet at 2:00 a.m. The usual bustle of activity was replaced by the soft hum of electronics and the occasional ping from distant servers.
Olivia had converted the main conference room into an impromptu command center, with Matthew and the twins settled in her private office down the hall.
The boys had finally fallen asleep on the plush leather couch, covered with throw blankets bearing the company logo. Matthew paced nervously between them and the door.
“I’ve established a secure line to Karen,” Victor announced, entering the conference room with a tablet. “She’s at a DoD safe house in Virginia.”
Olivia nodded, gesturing for Victor to place the tablet on the table. Karen Taylor’s face appeared on screen.
The family resemblance to Matthew was immediately apparent in her blue eyes and determined expression. Her dark hair was cut in a severe bob that contrasted with her brother’s more casual style.
“Matthew and the boys are safe?” Karen asked without preamble.
“Yes, they’re in my office,” Olivia assured her. “Now tell me exactly what you’re working on that would make someone target your family.”
Karen’s hesitation was brief but noticeable. “It’s classified, but given the circumstances…” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been consulting on a quantum encryption protocol for military communications. If compromised, it could expose every secured channel the DoD uses globally.”
“And the information was on your laptop?” Olivia asked.
“No, the laptop is just a secure access point. It contains authentication protocols that, combined with biometric verification, would allow someone to access the network where the actual encryption data is stored.”
Karen’s expression darkened. “But they need me, or someone with my credentials, to complete the access.”
