SHARE

Badass in Disguise

bChapter /bb257 /b

The younger agent stepped forward, his face fight with controlled anger. “If you didn’t do this, then it must be your friend Mr. Haxton. Either way, we bneed /byou to contact him immediately and tell him to stop the attack and restorework functionality.”

Jade leaned against the wall, enjoying this little dance. “Would you like his contact information? I’d be happy to provide bit/b.”

bGrant /bbshifted /bufortably beside the agents, avoiding eye contact with her. He knew exactly what bway /bto prove it.

at she bwas /bcapable of, but there was no

The older agent–ckwood–studied Jade with new interest. Ilis demeanor shifted subtly, the aggressive Interrogation tactics giving way to something more calcted.

“Miss Morgan, we understand your desire to clear your name,” he said, his bvoice /bsoftening. “But there are legal channels for that. This attack vited dozens of federalws andpromised national security protocols.”

She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“However,” ckwood continued, his expression transforming into an unexpected smile, “that’s not bthe /bonly reason we’re here. The government bvalues /btalent and puts it to good use. We’d like to formally invite you to join our cybercrime division at the FBI.”

“You haven’t even confirmed I was behind the attack, band /bbyou’re /balready offering me a job?” Jadeughed. “Bring some evidenceb, /bthen we

can talk

“We can discuss the detailster,” ckwood pressed. “The positiones with significant benefits, including immediate expungement of bany /bpending investigationsb./b”

“I told you, I’m not interested in your department,” she replied coldly. “Where’s your evidence that I did anything?

“Would you like to cooperate in our investigation?” ckwood’s smile faded. “We’ll need yourputers and phone.”

Jade remained silent for a moment, then spoke with deliberate precision. “FBI Cybercrime Division, correct? Your department head is Nathan bWestfield/b, isn’t that right?”

Both agents froze, their expressions betraying their shock.

“The systems will be restored at 6 PM tonight,” she announced.

“That’s not eptable,” the younger agent snapped. “You’ll need to be /bwith us now.”

bJade /bshrugged, “Fine. I’ll go with you

you. If you can produce evidence that I bwas /bresponsible within 15 days, I’m all yours. But if byou /bcan’t- band /bwe both know you can’t–then theworks stay down indefinitely. Your choiceb,/b”

ckwood pulled out his phone and stepped away to make a bcall/b. His hushed conversationsted nearly five bminutes /bbefore he returned, visibly frustratedb. /b

“It seems Mr. Haxton bhas /balready contacted the NSA director,” he said tightly. “We’ll be in btouch/b, Miss Morgan.”

As they

hey walked away, Grant exhaled loudly. “Jesus Christ, Jadeb./b”

12:29 Sat, Sep 27 →..

For twenty–four hours, America could only watch one thing on their screens–the unedited footage showing exactly what had happened at Mike’s Auto Service. Every social media tform, news siteb, /band video service disyed the some footage on an endless loop. bNo /bamount of refreshing, restarting, or rebooting would change what appeared.

Theplete context that had been deliberately omitted from the vital clips was now impossible to ignore.

bThe /bincident became headline news internationally. Tech fonims and hackermunities buzzed with theories about how such aprehensive takeover was possible. Most spected it was the work of the Haxton family, given Ethan’s connections to cutting–edge security firms. The Princeton student body certainly belleved t–bJade /boverheard whispers about how “Haxton doesn’t let people mess with his girlfriend” as she walked through campus.

At exactly 6:00 PM, allworks simultaneously returned to normal operation. Every social media tform, messaging app, band /b/divmunication bservice /bresumed functioning as if nothing had happened.

But something had changed. Every news story, social media post, andment about the incident had vanishedpletely. The video that had gone viral showing Jade deliberately crashing her car? Gone. The follow–up stories about the Mercedes owner’s death? Erased. Every single mention across the inte had been wiped clean.

The major tforms had also temporarily disabled theirment sections, cutting off the trolls and hate–mangers at the source. There would be no more public lynching of Jade Morgan

The next bday/b, bJade /bwalked into ss as if nothing had happened. bSeveral /bstudents approached her with awkward expressions of concern and support.

“That

was so messed up what they did to you,” a girl said. “I’m d the truth came out.”

bShe /bbnodded /bpolitely but kept moving. Ss wasn’t in ss bthat /bday.

ed with ban /biing call. Ethan had been away on business for bover /bba /bweek.

After herst lectureb, /bJade’s phone buzzed

“I justnded,” he said when she answered, “Can Ie over tonight? Have a dinner together.”

“I’m not home,” she replied. “I have some things to take care of,”

There was a pause bon /bthe other end of the line. “I see. Tomorrow, then?”

“Maybe. I’ll let byou /bknow.”

She hung up before he could respond.

Ethan stepped into his bwaiting /bbcar/b, his expression tightening as he pocketed his bphone/b.

12:29 Sat, Sep b27 /b

estate.”

“Change of ns, Connor. We’re heading to the est

Connor looked confused. “We’re not going to Miss Mergory’s ce?”

“No,” Ethan replied curtly, Inosening his tic. He hadn’t slept properly in days, working around the clock topress two weeks of business into fist over one week, All to get back to her sooner,

And now this.

In the days that followed, Ethan remained buried in bwork/b, unable–or perhaps unwilling–to make time to see Jade. She was preupied with Ss’s situation anyway.

asionally, they exchanged brief text messages:

Still busy? he’d ask.

Yes, she’d reply. You?

Always.

And that would be it.

A week after “The Override,” Jade was leaving campus when she spotted two familiar figures waiting by the gates. Agent ckwood and his younger partner stood beside an unmarked sedan, scanning bthe /bcrowd of departing students.

ckwood’s demeanor had transformedpletely. Gone was the stern federal bagent/b. Now he approached with a friendly smile and rxed posture.

“Miss Morgan, do you have a moment?” he asked politely.

“Depends what it’s for,” she replied, continuing to walk.

“bWe’d /blike to revisit our earlier conversation,” he said, falling into step beside her. “About joining our cybercrime division. Any terms you want, we can amodate.”

bJade /bstopped and faced him directly. “I told you I’m not interested in your department.”

“You have extraordinary talents,” he persisted. “Talents that could benefit bnational /bsecurity. Name your price.”

“I’m just a regr student,” she said with a shrug. “Not nearly bas /bcapable as you think.”

“Miss Morgan—‘

“You want someone with those kinds of skills?” she cut him off. “Try Ethan Haxton. Recruit him, use his talents. I’m bsure /bhe’d be ttered by the offer.

12:29 Sat, Sep b27 /b

She walked away, leaving ckwood staring after her in confusion.

As Jade slid into her car, she caught a glimpse of the young

ounger agent leaning toward ckwood

“Sir, do you think Haxton was actually behind it?”

ckwood shook his head slowly.

Chapter Comments

3