chapter 7

Tara's POV

The conference room buzzed with quiet conversations as the team settled into their seats, anticipation thick in the air. Today was a big day—not just for me, but for the entire cybersecurity department. Months of hard work, late nights, and countless revisions had led up to this moment: the unveiling of our new security infrastructure, Sentinel AI, a next-generation cyber defense system.

I glanced at my reflection in the dark screen of the presentation monitor, inhaled deeply, and straightened my blazer. This is it.

"Thank God I don't have baby bump yet." I murmur to myself.

As the clock struck ten, I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the polished floor, and the room fell silent.

"Good morning, everyone." I scanned the room, making eye contact with each person—my team, senior executives, and the board members, including the chairman himself. "I won't waste time with a long introduction. Let's dive right in."

I tapped the remote, and the screen lit up with the Sentinel AI logo—sleek, bold, and the embodiment of our innovation.

"This," I began, "is the future of cybersecurity. Sentinel AI is not just another firewall or threat detection software—it's an adaptive, self-learning defense system."

A few murmurs of interest rippled through the board members.

I clicked to the next slide. "We designed Sentinel AI to be more than just reactive; it's proactive. Traditional security systems detect and block threats after they infiltrate. Sentinel AI predicts and neutralizes threats before they happen."

I turned to my team. "Sophia, explain how the predictive model works."

Sophia, my lead data scientist, sat up straighter. "The system integrates machine learning algorithms trained on vast datasets of cyber threats. It continuously analyzes patterns, identifying anomalies that indicate a potential breach before it occurs. Think of it as an AI-driven chess player, always three moves ahead of the hacker."

One of the board members, Mr. Langford, raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. But what about zero-day vulnerabilities? Can Sentinel AI handle unknown threats?"

I smiled. Right on cue.

"That's where our proprietary anomaly detection system comes in," I said. "Marcus, want to take this one?"

Marcus, head of network security, nodded. "We've implemented real-time behavioral analysis. Sentinel AI doesn't rely solely on known threat databases. Instead, it studies normal system behavior and flags any deviation, even if it's never been seen before."

There was a pause as the board members digested the information.

I switched to a new slide. "To demonstrate, let's run a live attack simulation."

The room tensed slightly—live demos were always a risk. But I was confident.

I nodded at Ethan, our ethical hacker, who was already typing away at his laptop. "Ethan will simulate a phishing attack combined with a polymorphic malware injection—an advanced technique that mutates its code to evade detection."

Ethan hit enter, and the screen split into two windows—one showing his attack attempt, the other Sentinel AI's real-time response.

Seconds later, red warning boxes flared on the screen.

"Sentinel AI just blocked the attack before it could execute," I explained. "It detected the phishing attempt, isolated the suspicious payload, and neutralized the malware before it could mutate."

A murmur of approval spread through the boardroom.

I turned to the chairman. "Mr. Mickelson, with Sentinel AI, our company will be at the forefront of cybersecurity. This technology will not only protect our infrastructure but could be a game-changer for our clients."

The chairman, a distinguished man in his fifties, leaned back in his chair, observing me with thoughtful eyes. "And how scalable is this?"

I anticipated this question. "Scalability was one of our primary focuses. Sentinel AI can be deployed across organizations of any size, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Its cloud-based architecture allows seamless integration with existing systems, and we've built it to handle rapid scaling without performance loss."

I glanced at my team. "We also designed it with modular adaptability. That means companies can customize security parameters based on their unique vulnerabilities. Unlike rigid, one-size-fits-all security models, Sentinel AI evolves with the business."

There was a brief pause before the chairman gave a slow nod. "Impressive."

Relief washed over me, but I kept my posture firm. We weren't done yet.

"Now, let's talk numbers." I switched the slide. "Projected revenue increase over the next three years based on our beta test clients shows a 40% rise in security investments once Sentinel AI is deployed. Cost savings on breach mitigation are estimated at $500 million annually for enterprises using this system."

One of the executives let out a low whistle. "That's a significant return on investment."

"Exactly," I agreed. "Cyber threats are evolving. If we don't innovate, we fall behind."

The chairman leaned forward. "What's your next move?"

I exhaled slightly. "We're ready for market deployment. If the board approves, we can roll out the first commercial version within the next quarter."

Silence.

Then, after a long pause, the chairman smiled. "You've done well, Tara." He turned to the other executives. "I think we all agree this is a major step forward for the company."

A few nods. Some murmured agreements.

Then, the chairman stood.

"There's one more announcement before we conclude today's session."

The atmosphere shifted slightly. I exchanged a glance with Sophia.

The chairman clasped his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable.

"As many of you know, I've been leading this company for over three decades. And while I have no intention of stepping away just yet, succession planning is a necessary conversation."

A murmur spread through the room.

"I am pleased to announce that my son, Paris Mickelson, will soon be taking on a leadership role within the company."

I felt my stomach drop.

The name sent a jolt through me. Paris.

A wave of memories crashed over me, but I forced myself to remain neutral.

The chairman continued, oblivious to my internal turmoil. "paris has spent the past few years leading cyber initiatives in the military. He will be joining us in the coming weeks to transition into an executive role."

A round of polite applause followed.

But I barely heard it.

Because the only thing ringing in my ears was his name.

"Paris, not sure of the Mickelson though".

The one person I never wanted to see again.