Seth tries to do his job the best he can. Yes, he’s the head of the company; yes, his meetings include playing poker; and yes, it works out fine. This time is no different, even though the news is more worrying than usual. But he’s going to take it one step at the time and be just fine. It’s more of the same in the end -- talk to these people, arrange that meeting, and don’t panic anybody. The stakes are higher, but it’s nothing he hasn’t done before. And he gets to spend time at the fire station with Connor. Seth should be good.<br><br>And there’s nothing out of the ordinary on Connor’s end. It’s a normal day, spent doing normal things, with the normal people. He happens to love his life and, though some things could be better, they could also be way worse. Connor is satisfied, and nothing is going to change that.<br><br>Everything is going according to plan. There’s no reason to believe that anything has to change. Right?

Out of Nowhere

“These are the numbers,” Seth says as Brian comes in with the reports. “No threats, but Simon noticed a pattern to the hacks. That worried us more than anything else.”


The three aim apologetic smiles in his direction, but Seth isn’t moved. He earns his money by taking advantage of a vital aspect of their work being hard to secure, but he’d never invent or overstate a threat. It doesn’t matter in the end, but Seth feels like his professionalism is questioned.


“This is a pattern,” Angel says, openly concerned. “I’ll take that meeting with Lisa as soon as possible.”


“Thank you for telling us,” John tells Seth with a sheepish smile. “You always take care of us.”


“Always,” Seth repeats and warns at the same time.


Two hours later, a meeting on the books that has nothing to do with him, and the food arrives. Seth bundles it in the car and drives two whole blocks to the station. There’s just too much food to do otherwise.


Chapter 6