All Her Secrets

Zobber had heard about what was going on at Styre University, but she shrugged it off as nothing much.

She thought a tiny matter like that wouldn't bother Catherine. So, she ignored it. She just focused on the tasks Catherine had assigned her.

"Catherine, Branden just put in an order for Hacker Alliance again. This time, he jacks up the price by tenfold! He is so generous!" For a regular order, even double the commission would've been a big deal. The Duncans were loaded, but no one expected them to jack up the price by tenfold. Even the seasoned members of the Hacker Alliance were taken aback by the Duncans' extravagance.

Hearing that, Catherine was unfazed as ever.

Branden had always been like this- anything he set his mind to could be accomplished. Money was just a number for the Duncans.

She simply replied, "I told you to take the order. Any issues?" Zobber wouldn't have bothered making this call if it were a regular order. The demands were so high that Zobber couldn't make the decision herself. So, she turned to Catherine.

"Catherine, the Duncans specifically want the chief of the Hacker Alliance to take the order. They won't accept anyone else." Hearing that, Catherine frowned." They wantto take it?" "Yeah. Specifically, you!" The Duncans upped the reward tenfold precisely because they demanded the chief of the Hacker Alliance to handle it. It was something unheard of in the industry.

Zobber hesitated for a moment before voicing her thoughts. She asked, " Catherine, what if the Duncans just want to confirm your identity? Maybe Branden's bluffing, and they're actually looking for you!" "No way!" Catherine decisively dismissed Zobber's speculation.

She and Branden had kept plenty of their identities hidden from each other. It wasn't that they deliberately avoided sharing. Rather, they felt it unnecessary.

They believed what needed to be known would surface naturally without explicitly stating it. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of them.

was the chief of the Hacker Alliance, he'd ask directly, not

Hacker Alliance's rules." The Hacker Alliance had been around for

strictly. Once an order was with the Hacker Alliance, the employers had no right to interfere until the

with the Hacker Alliance's internal rules. It was something Catherine wouldn't allow, even if it

rules of the Hacker Alliance more than anyone else. Otherwise, she couldn't lead

the lab needing

study door with the latest

Branden sat at his

hesitated, wearing

working away without even glancing up. He was a bit surprised. "Mr. Duncan, how did you know I wasn't bringing good news?" Branden paused and set down his papers. He looked up and stared at

rules from Hacker Alliance that had

have a tradition of assigning tasks and won't set a precedent for us." They had offered a staggering

said, "Increase it." Paxton thought inwardly,

should we consider reaching out to Catherine..." Before Paxton could finish, Branden suddenly looked up with his cold eyes. It sent

He knew Catherine was a sore point for Branden. Proposing involving her was self-destructive.

help, in Branden's

hesitate. He stood up and swiftly left. He feared any