The Blind Date Was Empty —Until Twin Boys Appeared And Told The Billionaire,“Dad’s Sorry He’s Late”
Identifying the Culprit
Victor exchanged a glance with Olivia. “That explains the threats against Matthew and the boys. Leverage to force your cooperation.”
“But it doesn’t explain the timing,” Olivia pointed out, a thought beginning to form. “Why tonight? Why use a blind date as part of this plan?”
She turned back to Karen on screen. “When did you tell your brother about me? About this date?”
“3 days ago,” Karen replied. “After Jenna suggested it.”
Olivia felt a chill run through her. “And who else knew about the date?”
Karen frowned, considering. “Just my department head. I needed to adjust my schedule to watch the boys, so I mentioned it when requesting time off.”
Her eyes widened with realization. “Colonel Westfield.”
“I need everything you have on him,” Olivia said, already turning to her computer. “Victor, wake up our cyber team. I want a complete profile on Colonel Westfield within the hour.”
As Victor left to make the calls, Matthew appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted but alert. “The boys are still asleep,” he said quietly, then noticed his sister on the tablet screen. “Karen, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just worried about you and the twins,” she assured him.
“Though Olivia’s team is looking into Colonel Westfield. He knew about your date tonight. He might be involved.”
Parallel Technologies
Matthew moved closer to Olivia, his expression troubled. “I still don’t understand. What does a military colonel have to do with Wright Innovations? Why involve us in this elaborate scheme?”
Olivia was scrolling through search results on her screen, pieces falling into place with alarming clarity. “Because it wasn’t about you at all; it was about me.”
She turned the screen so Matthew and Karen could see. “Colonel James Westfield sits on the board of Meridian Medical Systems, our biggest competitor.”
“Corporate espionage after all,” Matthew murmured.
“Not just espionage,” Olivia corrected grimly. “Look at the date Westfield joined their board. Six months ago, right when we announced our breakthrough in quantum-enhanced medical imaging.”
Karen gasped audibly. “The same quantum computing principles I’ve been applying to encryption. They are parallel technologies.”
“He’s playing both sides,” Olivia concluded. “Using his military position to access your research, then funneling aspects of it to Meridian to help them catch up to our technology.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And he saw tonight’s date as an opportunity to apply pressure on both fronts simultaneously.”
“But why go after me and the boys?” Matthew asked. “Why not just threaten Karen directly?”
“Because I’m too visible,” Karen explained. “My work is classified, my movements monitored. But you—a high school teacher with no security clearance, no protection—you were the path of least resistance.”
“I’m sorry, Matthew,” Olivia finished softly. “Your family was dragged into this because of me. Because of my company.”
Intercepting the Runaway
Before Matthew could respond, Victor returned with a young woman in rumpled clothing who looked like she’d been woken from a deep sleep but was now fully alert. Her fingers were flying over a laptop keyboard.
“This is Zoe, head of our cybersecurity team,” Victor introduced her. “She’s found something.”
“Colonel Westfield’s been busy,” Zoe announced without looking up from her screen.
“I’ve traced unusual data transfers from DoD servers to an anonymous account, begun exactly when he joined Meridian’s board. But here’s the interesting part: the transfers stopped 3 weeks ago.”
“When did Meridian announce their new imaging prototype?” Olivia asked.
“3 weeks and 2 days ago,” Zoe confirmed. “And there’s more. Westfield has booked a private jet to Geneva tonight. Wheels up in 2 hours.”
“Switzerland,” Matthew said, the pieces connecting. “Non-extradition for corporate crimes.”
Olivia was already reaching for her phone. “He’s running, which means he knows we’re on to him.”
She dialed a number from memory. “Senator Mitchell, it’s Olivia Wright. I apologize for the hour, but I have information about a national security breach involving classified DoD research and corporate espionage.”
“Yes, I’ll hold.”
While Olivia spoke with the senator, Matthew moved to stand beside her, their shoulders nearly touching. “You have a U.S. senator on speed dial,” he remarked quietly, a hint of amazement in his voice.
“She chairs the Armed Services Committee,” Olivia explained, covering the phone’s microphone, “and she owes me a favor.”
The Threat Neutralized
20 minutes later, Olivia ended the call with a satisfied expression. “Military police will intercept Westfield before he boards his flight. The FBI’s cybercrime division is already securing Meridian servers.”
She turned to Karen on the screen. “Senator Mitchell wants you to report directly to the Pentagon at 8:00. Your security clearance is being upgraded.”
Karen nodded, visible relief flooding her features. “What about Matthew and the boys? Are they still in danger?”
“Westfield was working alone within the DoD,” Zoe interjected, still typing rapidly. “His communications suggest he was feeding information to a small team at Meridian, but he kept the operation compartmentalized. Once he’s in custody, the threat should be neutralized.”
“Nevertheless,” Olivia said firmly, “I’d like to keep a security detail on Matthew and the boys for the next few weeks, just to be certain.”
She glanced at Matthew. “If that’s acceptable to you?”
He met her gaze, a complex mixture of emotions crossing his face. “After everything that’s happened, I should probably be running in the opposite direction,” he said quietly.
“But strangely enough, I’ve never felt safer than I do right now, with you.”
The simple admission sent an unexpected warmth through Olivia’s chest. “I need to go,” Karen interrupted from the screen. “My escort is here to take me to a more secure location. Matthew, give the boys my love.”
Her expression softened as she looked between her brother and Olivia. “And Ms. Wright, thank you for protecting my family.”
