“Nine months of surveillance all come down to this event. The meeting will take place on the rooftop to make the trade. I’ve put you as my plus one on the guest list.” Takara explained, sitting regally in the back of the limousine. Thiery leaned his elbows on his knees to break their nervous shaking and felt the collar of his suit chafing against his neck. He promised himself that this was the last cyber hacking job. One of Japan’s wealthiest tycoons, Takara’s uncle, was trading government secrets for money. If the tycoon found him, the result would be murder with no trace of his demise. “Thiery?” Takara beckoned. He looked into her almond eyes, her glossy black hair over her shoulder. “Think of Peyton… this is your last chance to set your daughter up for life.” He nodded pensively. He had grown close to Takara as they replicated the bank accounts and surveilled the activity in preparation for the transfer. “Once we’re inside, you will set up the software program in the master bedroom,” Takara instructed. “I thought we were setting up extraction from the gallery?” Thiery replied rubbing the hairline of his afro. Takara was composed as she studied him. “Your discomfort is throwing me off. Can you do this?” Thiery shrugged. “Yeah…” She pulled him by the collar and kissed him hard, her brown eyes glittered before she stepped out of the limo. Thiery swallowed and linked her arm as they walked past security by the mention of her name. Once inside, he discreetly took inventory of the security team lining the walls. The mansion had glimmering lights across the ceiling and opened onto an enormous pool. “Now remember, my uncle, disinherited my father from his will. This transaction is nothing compared to his whole fortune. We are simply taking a portion of what is already ours.” Takara uttered over the orchestra. “Yours... What is already yours.” Thiery clarified. Takara took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter before she replied. “I could never do this without you.” Theiry felt the tension in his stomach ease and smiled at her. The first thing he would do is take Takara and Peyton on vacation to Hawaii. He visualised Peyton lighting up at the news and her ringlets bobbing while doing her funny helicopter dance. Sparks shot up near Takara’s heel, the contents in her glass poured down the lapels of his suit. The orchestra ended the symphony in a red glow. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” She gasped loudly before flagging the security guard at the foot of the staircase. “I will see to it that my uncle’s guest gets cleaned up.” The security guard gave him a disapproving once over before issuing an easily missed nod. Takara thanked the guard in Japanese before he muttered into the microphone on his collar. “We have exactly four minutes,” Takara uttered as they ascended the staircase. They looked behind them to see a man following them. Thiery felt his whole body clench as Takara pushed him through the door of the master bedroom. Thiery heard her speaking to the man from behind the door. He couldn’t understand what they were saying but the man sounded angry. Thiery pulled the tablet from his suit jacket and placed it on the ornately hand-painted bedside table. “The last one, Peyton, baby girl. Daddy is coming home.” His voice shook as the software loaded. He checked his watch that read one minute to the hour. “Come on.” He tapped the table nervously with eyes wide as the trade transpired from the rooftop above. He intercepted the signal and watched the proof appear on the screen. “Fifty million.” He breathed. “You can be whoever you want to be, baby girl.” He stood as Takara entered the room holding a towel. “Is it done?” She asked. “Yeah, it’s all here.” Thiery smiled with his hands covering his mouth as the elation burst from him. He let out a laugh. He and Peyton would finally know freedom. “I should probably clean up.” He extended his hand to take the towel. Takara smiled wide as she stopped inches away. He thought of imparting a hasty kiss but instead felt a tearing in his abdomen. His mouth gaped open as he gaged against his tongue. It felt like his intestines were falling out of the impalement she had made. Takara’s expression was no-nonsense as she leaned in. “This isn’t personal, but I don’t want to share a fortune that’s already mine. You just happened to be good at your job. I suppose that’s at your expense.” She twisted the knife. Thiery felt his whole body flooding and experienced himself abandoning it without his consent as everything went black.