Chapter 298

Chapter 298:

“But I did go on. We all do. And with your help, countless women will find the strength to rise from their own ashes, to rebuild their lives brick by brick, and discover the power that has always existed within them.”

The ballroom erupted in applause, but Camille barely heard it. Her focus remained split between her speech and the increasingly frantic movements of security personnel. Something was very wrong. She could feel it in the air, thick with tension that only she and a few others seemed to notice.

Jason moved silently through the service corridor, his flashlight beam sweeping across the walls and floor. Twenty years in private security had taught him to trust his instincts, and right now, every nerve in his body screamed danger. When Alexander Pierce had ordered a full sweep of the building, Jason had chosen to check the basement himself.

“East corridor clear,” crackled a voice through his earpiece.

“Copy that,” Jason replied. “Moving to check the electrical room.”

The door to the electrical room was unlocked— the first red flag. Hotel policy required all maintenance rooms to be secured at all times. Jason drew his weapon before pushing the door open with his shoulder.

The room appeared empty at first glance. Rows of circuit breakers lined the walls. The constant hum of electricity filled the air. Jason moved his flashlight methodically across the space, checking every corner, every shadow.

Then he saw it.

Attached to the main circuit panel was a black device the size of a paperback book. A small screen displayed glowing red numbers: 15:42… 15:41… 15:40…

Jason’s throat went dry. He’d seen similar devices during his military days.

“Sir,” he said into his comm, his voice tight. “I’ve found something in the electrical room. Southeast corner, basement level. It appears to be an explosive device. Timer shows fifteen minutes and counting.”

Alexander’s response was immediate. “Stay there. Bomb squad is on site. They’re coming to you now.”

Jason didn’t touch the device but moved closer to examine it. The timer continued its relentless countdown. 15:22… 15:21… 15:20…

He could hear footsteps approaching fast— the bomb squad, he hoped. But fifteen minutes wasn’t much time to disarm a device, especially if there were others hidden throughout the building.

The Grand Plaza Hotel housed over eight hundred guests tonight, not counting staff. Eight hundred lives now hanging in the balance.

Jason had never been a religious man, but in that moment, he found himself praying.

Alexander Pierce stood at the edge of the ballroom, his face carefully blank despite the chaos erupting in his earpiece. Reports flooded in from his security team:

“Suspicious device found in the ventilation room.”

“Another one near the main support column in the west wing.”

“Device located in the kitchen, attached to a gas line.”

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