My Milf Conqueror System novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Van der Meer

[Jake’s POV]

Sleep lasted four hours.

That was apparently progress.

Nia called it a miracle, Claire called it barely acceptable, and Darius checked my face when I entered the operations room like he expected to see steam coming out of my ears. I ignored all three of them and focused on the wall screen, where Van der Meer had become less of a building and more of a living threat.

The estate sat outside the city, old Dutch stone and high windows, surrounded by winter gardens arranged with the kind of symmetry that made violence feel inevitable. The public auction would happen in the east gallery. The Ash Room would meet upstairs in the music salon. The restoration archive sat in the west wing, climate controlled, discreetly locked, and far too perfect for holding something powerful people wanted to classify before moving.

Sofia might be there.

Or she might have already been moved again.

That possibility followed me through every briefing like a hand at the back of my neck.

Aurelia stood beside the screen, dressed in black with a pearl pin at her collar. Vivian Crossley sat near her, sipping tea like she was attending a pleasant morning committee instead of helping plan entry into a hostile social court. Margaret Hale was dressed in soft gray, elegant and political, her smile useful only to people who did not know better. Evelyn Cross was reviewing legal papers with the calm focus of a woman choosing which blade to sharpen first.

Older women had filled my tower with war.

Claire and Nia stood out among them because they were from another part of my life. My age. My college world. The world before private doctors, widow courts, and emergency signatures. Claire was at the table with her sleeves rolled up, building routes and contingencies. Nia was barefoot at the console, hair a disaster, threatening three security systems at once. They looked younger than the rest, but not softer. Never softer.

Cassandra sat beside Nia, almost hidden in her oversized grey sweater, staring at the west wing map.

"You see something?" I asked.

She startled slightly, then nodded. "The restoration archive has two entrances."

Nia frowned. "Blueprints show one."

"Blueprints show the public renovation," Cassandra said softly. "But the old floor plan has a service corridor behind the western wall. It connects to the private chapel."

Aurelia turned slowly. "The chapel?"

Cassandra’s voice grew smaller, but steadier. "Old estates used private chapels for family access. Funerals, confessions, things people wanted servants to pretend not to hear."

Vivian smiled faintly. "How grimly accurate."

Nia tapped rapidly. "She’s right. There’s a void in the wall. Modern scan missed it because someone covered the corridor during restoration."

Claire leaned closer. "If Sofia is in the archive, that corridor is how they move her without crossing the auction floor."

"Or how they already moved her," I said.

No one corrected me.

The System appeared.

[Ding!]

[Mission Objective Updated.]

[Probable Movement Route: Chapel Service Corridor.]

Objective: Confirm Sofia’s presence before Ash Room consensus.]

[Time Remaining: 13 hours, 18 minutes.]

[Penalty: Custody transfer completed.]

I looked away before my face gave too much away.

Claire still noticed.

She always did.

Aurelia stepped forward. "Roles. Jake enters with me as my guest. He stays visible in the east gallery until I release him."

"I dislike the wording."

"You are allowed to dislike it quietly."

Vivian lifted her teacup. "Growth opportunity."

Margaret continued smoothly. "I will draw the political donors toward the insurance question. Victoria will keep Charles Bancroft and the corporate men occupied. Evelyn remains with the legal group until proof is found."

"And Marianne?" Claire asked.

"She enters with Vivian," Aurelia said. "Sympathy gives her access. Rage gives her use."

Marianne, standing near the door, gave a small, humorless smile. "I prefer that to being fragile."

"You never were fragile," Vivian said. "Only underinformed."

Marianne accepted that like a wound she had decided to keep clean.

Ethan lifted a hand from the couch. "And I continue being useless here?"

Nia did not turn. "Medically accurate."

"I was asking emotionally."

"Still accurate."

He sighed. "Cruel room."

Darius stood by the wall, arms folded. "You are not going."

"I know."

"You were about to argue."

"I was preparing a speech."

"Delete it."

Ethan looked at me. "You hear how he talks to me?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"He’s right."

Ethan pointed at me, betrayed. "Power has changed you."

Claire gathered the final route file and turned toward me. "No improvising unless the room changes."

"The room always changes."

"Then wait until it changes first."

Aurelia smiled. "She is good for you."

Claire froze for half a second.

I pretended not to notice, which was difficult because everyone else absolutely noticed.

Nia made a small sound.

"Do not," Claire said without looking at her.

"I said nothing."

"You breathed sarcasm."

"I have allergies."

Aurelia’s eyes moved between us, amused and far too perceptive. "How charming."

Claire ignored her.

I looked back at the map because it was safer than looking at Claire.

The plan was simple, which meant it would probably become complicated before dessert. Aurelia would get me inside. I would remain visible. Marianne, Vivian, Margaret, and Victoria would work the social court. Nia would monitor feeds from the tower. Cassandra would be positioned in a mobile van near the estate with Claire’s second team, ready to confirm any room evidence. Darius would enter as private security attached to Evelyn’s legal group, close enough to break things if necessary.

Claire would be inside as legal operations support.

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