Chapter 109
Chapter 109:
“Yes.” She looked up at him. “Is that wise?”
Herod considered her question, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair. “Probably not,” he admitted. “But wisdom is overrated.”
Their second kiss was slower, more deliberate, but no less intense. Rose found herself melting into it, into him, all thoughts of Camille and Victoria temporarily pushed aside. This wasn’t part of the plan, but maybe, just maybe, it could be part of something better.
Later, much later, they lay tangled together on Herod’s massive bed, watching the storm gradually subside through the bedroom windows. Rose’s head rested on his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear.
“What happens if something goes wrong?” she asked suddenly. “With the Grid, I mean.”
Herod’s hand, which had been stroking her back, paused. “Nothing will go wrong. The modifications are perfect.”
“But what if they find them somehow? If Camille or that engineer discovers what we’ve done?”
“They won’t.” His voice held absolute confidence. “The changes are too subtle to catch unless someone knows exactly what to look for. And by the time anyone realizes something’s wrong, it will be too late.”
Rose wanted to believe him. But she’d underestimated Camille before. Her sister had a way of surviving, of turning disaster into opportunity. Just as she had transformed from the broken woman signing divorce papers into Victoria Kane’s powerful heir.
“We should have a backup plan,” Rose insisted, propping herself up to look at him. “Something else in motion, just in case.”
Herod studied her face, then nodded slowly. “You’re right. It’s good strategy.” He sat up, reaching for his robe on the bedside chair. “Actually, I may already have something in mind. A contingency I’ve been developing.”
“Tell me,” Rose said, wrapping the sheet around herself as she watched him move to the desk across the room.
Your new favorite stories are at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․com
Herod returned with a tablet, sitting beside her on the bed. He pulled up a file labeled “Phoenix Gala” and handed it to her.
“What’s this?” she asked, scrolling through what appeared to be security details and floor plans.
“Kane Industries is planning a charity gala to celebrate the Phoenix Grid going live.” His finger tapped the screen. “All their key people will be there. Camille. Victoria. Alexander Pierce. The engineers. The board members.”
Understanding dawned on Rose. “The perfect target.”
Herod nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. “If the Grid fails, wonderful. But if not…”
“We bring the disaster to them directly,” Rose finished, a thrill running through her.
.
.
.