Chapter 94

"Location." Evelyn Roland's voice was barely above a whisper, her fingertips tapping lightly on the earpiece.

Dylan Orlando's hushed response crackled through the comms: "East service corridor, behind the third pillar."

Evelyn pushed the cleaning cart forward at a measured pace, her gloved fingers tightening imperceptibly beneath the rubber. Her disguise was flawless—gray work pants, a matching vest, even her hair pinned up in an intentionally frumpy bun.

At the corner, Dylan nearly collided with her.

"Boss?" His eyes widened as they swept over her appearance. "That outfit—"

"Quiet." Her sharp gaze flicked toward the security camera at the end of the hall. Under the pretense of handing him a rag, she slipped a micro-storage device into his sleeve. "Blueprints inside. Plan A."

Dylan's Adam's apple bobbed as he discreetly pocketed the device. The venue's security had been absurdly thorough—even dismantling pens for inspection. Who would suspect the schematics hidden inside a janitor's mop handle?

"Extract in three." Evelyn moved past him without breaking stride.

Her mop swiped across polished marble as she kept her peripheral vision locked on the main exhibition platform. The quantum chip display was her true objective.

"New here, sweetheart?"

A greasy voice slithered from behind. Evelyn's fingers stiffened before she slowly turned. Two men in tailored suits leered at her, ties loosened, reeking of alcohol.

"Need assistance?" She offered a practiced service smile.

"Absolutely." The taller one draped an arm over her shoulder. "How about a drink?"

Evelyn's lashes lowered, noting his limited-edition wristwatch and manicured nails—classic trust-fund brats. She shifted just enough to evade contact. "I'm on duty."

"Work's boring." The shorter one invaded her space, his cologne cloying. "We know somewhere fun."

The blind spot was the stairwell. Evelyn's lashes fluttered before she suddenly bloomed into a shy smile. "Well... lead the way?"

Their grins widened in triumph.

The moment the fire door clicked shut, Evelyn twisted the taller man's wrist, using his momentum to slam him into the wall. The shorter one barely registered the movement before a precise strike to his neck sent him crumpling.

Thirty-seven seconds. She checked her watch, arranged their unconscious forms into a drunken slumber, and pocketed their access cards.

"Area sanitized." Her murmur dissolved into the air as she stepped back into the glittering exhibition hall. Chandelier light caught in her eyes—flames sheathed in ice.