POV: Jay
Kaizer Watson sat across from us, his fingers interlocked on the table. The room felt colder with him in it. Night Byte stood slightly behind me, silent, unmoving. Even without looking at him, I could feel the weight of his presence.
"What do you want back?" I asked calmly.
"The Watson Company," Kaizer replied.
The answer was too fast. Too rehearsed.
He began talking about how he once helped someone rise, how he trusted them, gave them everything, only for that person to grow bigger and push him out of the company. According to him, he was the victim. According to the tightness in his jaw, there was much he wasn't saying.
When he finished, the silence returned.
"And what do you expect us to do?" I asked.
"Help me get it back."
Night Byte finally spoke, his voice deep and cold through the mask.
"What's in it for us?"
"Yes," I added. "What do we gain?"
"I'll give you twenty percent of the company each."
The offer hung in the air. Tempting, but wrong. Power offered too easily always came with poison.
"What's your plan?" I asked.
"In two weeks, I'll visit the Watson family at their home. I want you two to come with me."
Night Byte let out a low laugh. "That doesn't make sense. We deal with programming and legal hacking, not family visits."
"I heard you have strong lawyers," Kaizer said. "Influence. You can make things move."
Nothing he said lined up. No clear target. No system. No real job.
"So," Kaizer pressed, "will you accept or not?"
Night Byte stood up.
The sound of the chair scraping against the floor made Kaizer tense.
"Listen carefully," Night Byte said, his voice dropping even lower. "You don't get to talk like that here. And what you're asking has nothing to do with our work."
Kaizer pointed at him. "How old are you?"
Night Byte didn't flinch. "Maybe young. But what I can do, you have no idea."
I raised my hand slightly. "Night Byte. Sit."
He returned to his seat, the air still heavy around him.
I looked straight at Kaizer. "I don't fully understand what you want us to do. But you'll have us for three weeks. That's all."
Kaizer's eyes narrowed. "Three weeks?"
"You may go now."
He stood and extended his hand toward me.
I didn't move.
Neither did Night Byte.
After a few seconds, Kaizer awkwardly withdrew his hand and walked out without another word.
The door closed.
Night Byte removed his mask. I did the same.
Carlos, Miguel, Hannah, and Nathan entered almost immediately. I told them everything. The offer. The visit. The nonsense plan.
Confusion spread across all their faces.
I walked over to the table and poured a glass of water. The image of Kaizer's confident smile replayed in my mind.
Nothing will happen to the Watson family. Whatever game he thinks he's playing, I'll end it.
My grip loosened.
The glass slipped and shattered on the floor.
Just like his plan will.
Hex was at my side in seconds. "Jay . Are you okay?"
"Yes," I said quietly. "I am."
But the calm in my voice didn't change the truth.
Kaizer Watson had just stepped into the dark.
And the dark belonged to us.