Chapter 19: The Rival's Threat

I never thought I'd end up hiding in a supply closet, listening to a conversation that could destroy everything Ethan and I had worked for. But there I was, ear pressed against the door, heart pounding so loud I thought it might give me away.

"Dr. Chen's predictions are becoming a problem," a voice growled. I knew that voice – Victor Zhao, the CEO of QuantumTech, our biggest competitor. "We need to discredit her, and fast."

I held my breath, trying to catch every word. Then I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.

"Leave it to me," Victoria said smoothly. "I have a plan that will not only discredit her but also bring down Drake Technologies."

It felt like a knife through my chest. Victoria, the new board member who had been so friendly, was working with our rivals. I bit my lip, trying not to make a sound.

"Remember," Zhao continued, lowering his voice, "if you fail, the consequences will be... severe. We have ways of making androids disappear."

Androids? I was stunned. Was Victoria an android? Everything was happening so fast, and it was too much to process.

"I'm aware of the stakes," Victoria replied, her tone icy. "By this time next week, Olivia Chen will be nothing but a cautionary tale."

Suddenly, footsteps came closer. I panicked, looking around the cramped closet for a place to hide. There was nowhere to go. The doorknob turned, and I braced myself for what was coming.

Just then, an alarm blared throughout the building. The footsteps hurried away, and I sagged against a shelf, relieved.

"Security breach in Sector 7," an automated voice announced. "All personnel evacuate immediately."

Sector 7 – the quantum computing lab. My heart sank as I realized what it meant. Someone was targeting our research.

I burst out of the closet, no longer caring about being quiet. I had to warn Ethan. But how could I tell him without admitting I'd been eavesdropping? And what was I going to do about Victoria?

The hallways were chaotic, with people rushing everywhere. I pushed against the crowd, my heart racing. I had to get to the lab. I had to protect our work.

As I rounded a corner, I collided with someone. Strong hands caught me, and I looked up to see Ethan's worried face.

"Olivia! Thank god," he said, his voice filled with relief. "We need to get you out of here. It's not safe."

I shook my head. "No, we have to get to the lab. Our research-"

"Is secure," he interrupted. "I activated the quantum encryption the moment the alarm went off. But you-" He looked me over, noticing how disheveled I was. "What happened? Where were you?"

I opened my mouth but didn't know what to say. How could I explain without sounding crazy? Without admitting I was sneaking around like a spy?

Before I could answer, another explosion shook the building. Ethan pulled me close, shielding me as debris fell around us.

"We don't have time for this," he said urgently. "We need to move. Now."

As we ran, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. Victoria's words echoed in my mind. By this time next week, Olivia Chen will be nothing but a cautionary tale.

We rushed into the quantum lab, and for a second, I felt hope. The quantum computer was humming quietly in its chamber, untouched. But then I saw it – a small, blinking device attached to the console.

"Ethan, wait-" I tried to warn him, but he was already reaching for the computer.

Time slowed as I watched him reach out. A vision flashed in my mind – not of stock markets or business, but of fire and destruction. I saw Ethan in pain, reaching for me as flames consumed him.

"No!" I screamed, throwing myself at him. I knocked him away just as his fingers touched the console, sending us both to the floor.

The device beeped once, twice – and then the world exploded.

Heat burned my skin as the blast threw us back. My ears rang, and smoke filled my lungs. Through the haze, I saw the quantum computer sparking, our work going up in flames.

Ethan pulled me to my feet, his mouth moving, but I couldn't hear him. He pointed towards the exit.

As we stumbled toward the door, coughing and dizzy, a figure appeared in the smoky doorway. For a moment, I thought we were saved. Then the smoke cleared, and I saw a face that looked just like mine.

Victoria smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Hello, sister," she said, her voice unnaturally clear. "I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

Ethan's grip tightened on my arm. I could feel his confusion. "Olivia, what-"

"Oh, she hasn't told you?" Victoria's laugh was cold, mechanical. "Your brilliant wife has been keeping secrets, Ethan. Big ones. But don't worry – all will be revealed soon enough."

She raised her hand, and something shiny glinted in the light. A weapon, aimed right at us.

"Now," Victoria continued, her smile widening, "let's talk about the future of Drake Technologies. And believe me, it's a future that doesn't include either of you."

My mind raced, looking for a way out. But we were trapped – fire behind us, a deadly android in front of us, and secrets threatening to tear us apart.

As I stood there, smoke stinging my eyes and Ethan's hand in mine, one thought became clear: this was just the beginning. Whatever game Victoria and QuantumTech were playing, it was bigger than corporate warfare. Bigger than our marriage of convenience. Maybe bigger than anything we could imagine.

And as Victoria's finger tightened on the trigger, I realized with a sinking heart that we might not survive to uncover the truth.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was Ethan's face, a mix of confusion, betrayal, and something else – something that looked terrifyingly like love. Then there was a flash, a searing pain, and darkness.

In that moment, one question burned in my mind: how do you fight an enemy who wears your own face?