Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

Murray never doubted Brielle. After all, he and Annie had been keeping an eye on her for quite some time and knew her character well.

He was escorted to a computer room decked out with the latest tech. What used to be a cluttered storeroom was now an advanced tech hub, leased by Brielle. "Murray, tell me, where do you rank in the world of hacking?" she asked.

Without a second's hesitation, Murray scribbled on the digital whiteboard-Number 1.

Addison, standing behind Brielle, chimed in to provide some context. "The top-ranked hacker right now is a ghost. No one knows what he looks like. His skills are unmatched, capable of cracking any system. He was once the target of a massive international manhunt, but no photo of him exists. If this guy here is the real deal, then he's definitely number one."

Hacking was a mystery to Brielle, but Addison, a seasoned operative from Max's crew, was well-versed in such matters. Feeling reassured, Brielle spoke casually, "I need you to infiltrate the surveillance of the underground casino. Find the masked boss until the moment he removes his disguise."

Anyone with a bit of street smarts in Beaconsfield knew about the mysterious casino and its enigmatic, masked owner. Even the sight of him in his mask was rare. His appearances were brief, and he never lingered in one place too long, his whereabouts a constant puzzle. There was a rule: anyone who won a hundred billion in one night could meet him. Since the casino's inception, only a handful had met this criterion. Otherwise, he only appeared during major events, always masked. Inside the casino, he was the King.

Brielle had already sent Aiden to dig into Daisy's situation, but she couldn't just sit around. With an international trip looming and her return date uncertain, she needed to tie up loose ends.

Brielle's resolve surprised both Addison and Murray. She looked down, her voice even more detached. "The casino has a formidable firewall, but since you claim to be the world's best, it should be a challenge within your reach, right? Just be careful not to get tracked."

That was something a seasoned

hacker should be able to evade with

ease. Brielle had pondered long and hard and remained convinced there was something fishy about the casino owner's identity. Their first encounter had an odd familiarity, and the bizarre request he made in the alley only deepened her

suspicions. Perhaps this man was

someone close to her.

The casino was on the outskirts, and the entire estate was under his control. He surely had hidden rooms aplenty. If Murray could hack into any camera-equipped location, why not give it a shot?

It was a wild notion, but Brielle saw it as an opportunity. Without much hesitation, Murray fired up the computer and began hammering the keyboard like a madman.

To Brielle, who knew nothing of

hacking, the deal she offered Murray seemed irresistible. His obsession with Annie was clear, and if he could make sure Annie had eyes only for him, it would be a dream come true. This discarded dog had no hold over Annie unless she was captive

alongside him.

So Brielle wasn't the least bit concerned that Murray might use this opportunity to tip off Annie or contact others. Indeed, Murray was fixated on the deal from the moment Brielle proposed it, his gaze burning with fervor.

He wished he could make the keyboard spark, just to expedite Brielle's goal so Miss Annie would be by his side. His Miss Annie, with eyes for him alone-what bliss.

Brielle held her breath, staring intently at the computer screen. Hacking into a place used to be easy for Murray, but this was the most secretive casino, so sweat dotted his forehead within minutes. The droplets traced a path down his face, hanging from his chin.

Addison, standing behind Brielle,

cautioned, "There was a time when a

group of international hackers tried to take down the casino system after losing big. They wanted

revenge but couldn't breach the net

defenses even after a full day and night. They ended up getting their location tracked. This could take time, and if there's any risk of detection, we need to pull out and

hide our tracks. That's what matters

most."

No one knew how the mysterious owner might retaliate. Just as Brielle was about to nod, the computer screen filled with countless frames, each displaying live casino surveillance. She'd been to the casino before, so she instantly recognized the interior. It was daytime, yet the world never lacked for gamblers. A spark lit in her eyes as she scanned the multitude of screens for that masked figure. Soon, she zeroed in on one.

On the screen was a swimming pool, with the man in question seated at the forefront, being attended to by numerous staff. "Murray, zoom in on that screen," she urged, her voice tinged with urgency, glued to the display.