The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 408

Chapter 181: First Twelve Hours-3

“Damien,” Harper cut in, firm but not unkind. “Listen to me.”

He stopped.

“Volkov’s attention is already on the two of you. If you leave with them, he splits his focus.”

Her gaze flicked briefly to Maya and Jaime, then returned. “That’s when people get hurt.”

“But if you stay,” she continued, “he locks onto you. Every resource he has follows your trail. That

clears the airspace, the borders, and the handoffs for everyone else.”

Damien’s jaw tightened. “And what are we doing while he’s hunting us?”

“You play your role,” Harper replied. “You move exactly how he expects you to move.”

She tapped the screen once, a clean timeline snapping into place. “We’re just giving them a head

start.”

She leaned forward now, tone sharpening.

“Then we’ll trigger all attacks on the same day.”

“Four hours after their departure, the first strike hits Blackwood Enterprises’ Taiwan headquarters.

Protocol activates immediately. But it’ll take at least thirty minutes before your systems fully shut down and the alert propagates.”

She glanced up. “An hour after initiation, you’re notified. Right on cue, you do exactly what’s

expected-make arrangements to fly out to the affected location.”

Her fingers stilled.

“All four of you board the same plane. You leave the country as yourselves.”

A beat.

Her eyes sharpened. “Once you’re airborne… that changes.”

“Once you’re inside the aircraft, you switch-clothes, shoes, everything visible to the naked eye.” Her fingers flicked, advancing the schematic.

“Mid-route, we execute the aircraft transfer. Four hours after the first attack, we trigger the

second. Ashcroft is notified mid-air, giving the flight a legitimate reason to reroute and make a stopover in Singapore.”

She let her gaze linger.

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Mapter 181 First Twelve Hours 3

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“On paper, Cruz and Ashcroft disembark there, while Hudson and Damien continue on to Taiwan.”

Another beat-colder now.

“In reality,” she finished, “it’s you and Ashcroft getting off in Singapore… and Hudson and Cruz heading to Taiwan instead.”

Her eyes lifted. “You’ll fly straight here-and before you land, the third attack triggers, exactly four hours after the second. The four-hour gaps establish a clear pattern, making it look coordinated and deliberate. That’s what sells it to Volkov.”

Harper leaned back slightly, exhaling through her nose before continuing.

“Holding his attention for twelve hours is all we need. After that, Hudson and Cruz lock it down, the

others are already gone.”

Her voice didn’t rise-but it landed hard.

“By the time Volkov realizes he chased the wrong shadows, it’s too late.”

A pause.

“By then, Jaime’s surgery will be done, he’ll be moved to a secure recovery location, and we’ll already be a few steps ahead-planning the next move Volkov will never see coming.”

Hearts raced, the air electric with anticipation. The game had begun; every second mattered, and the first move was already in motion.

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