Fake Heiress Real Trouble (Sienna) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Sienna’s fingers came to a halt as she eyed the program on the screen easing back into smooth operation.

She double-checked that the key areas were locked down-the rest could proceed on autopilot, with the institute’s team handling upkeep-before finally letting out a slow exhale.

Her fingertips buzzed faintly from the relentless, high-stakes typing.

“It’s… it’s over…”

“Holy shit! That cleanup was faster and more thorough than the top-tier program we poured months into developing!”

“The core module traps are cleared-the alarms are silent!”

“Damn! Last night… the emergency patch-was that her? She must’ve anticipated a follow-up attack and set up the cleanup and blocking framework in advance!”

“We’ve nailed the attackers’ location! It’s been forwarded to the Ministry of National Defense-they’ll scoop them up any minute now!”

With the traps yanked out and the alerts flipping from red to green, the room burst into jubilant cheers, like everyone had just dodged a bullet.

Over at the central console, Patrick was so overwhelmed that tears welled up in his eyes. “Outstanding… Sienna, Mason-you both nailed it…”

Through the connected feed, he caught sight of Sienna at the controls, lightly massaging her temples.

He jumped in quickly, “You two, head to the cafeteria and eat something.”

Patrick looked worn out himself, but his energy was buzzing. “Things are steady now. Refuel and grab a couple hours’ rest. The fortification and repair work is up next-it’ll need razor-sharp focus and no mistakes.”

Mason picked that cue to stand, stretching with a lazy yawn before casually snagging Sienna’s empty water cup and topping it off with water. “When Professor Sharp speaks, we listen.”

He placed the cup next to her, leaning in a touch with one hand propped beside it, his gaze drifting down to her with easy nonchalance. “Professor Sharp’s spot on. Time to recharge those batteries.”

Mason had somehow inched a little too close. His clean, smoky pine scent swirled around her, blending with his warmth and wrapping her up.

Their stance gave off this intimate vibe-like he was drawing her into an embrace, holding her there.

Sienna shifted uncomfortably, her brows knitting as she glanced up.

Her eyes hit his open collar first, catching a peek of smooth, pale skin over his striking collarbone.

Higher still, his Adam’s apple jutted subtly. The instant their stares met. It bobbed up and down. Tempting enough to make her itch to lean in and nip it. A downright temptress in male form.

Sienna grabbed the cup, chugged the water, then rose. “Let’s move.” She strode off at a quick clip.

Mason eyed her back-practically bolting-and his thin lips tugged into a radiant, mesmerizing grin. Pocketing his hands, he sauntered after her.

It was prime crunch time, way off-peak for meals, so the cafeteria felt deserted, with only a scattering of researchers quietly chowing down.

The pair loaded their trays, claimed a corner table, and dug in.

Amanda lingered in a nook outside the institute’s front gates, arms wrapped around a tidy stack of research papers, her gaze glued anxiously to the entrance. Her refined, gentle features were twisted with stress.

She’d been planted there for a solid four-plus hours, from morning straight through to afternoon-stomach rumbling fiercely, but she wouldn’t budge.

She thought, ‘What if I she left and missed Professor Sharp?’

After hanging on this long, no way was she throwing in the towel.

The longer she waited, the more anxious Amanda became, a spark of grievance stirring inside her.

As the daughter of the Cooper family-the wealthiest in Orlathis City-when had she ever had to endure this kind of endless waiting?

She’d always been the star of the show, surrounded by fawning admirers. This was downright humiliating.

Still, eyeing the lines of guards posted at the institute’s entrances and exits…

If she hadn’t flashed her Disey University student ID-proof she’d passed Patrick’s initial screening and was poised to join his roster-she probably wouldn’t even be allowed to loiter here, hoping to catch him.

Amanda kept waiting.

At last, she saw a man rushing over in a white lab coat from the institute, glasses perched on his nose.

“Jaden!” Her face brightened as she hurried to intercept him.

Jaden Hurley was a fellow Disey University student-one of Patrick’s favorites, no less.

She’d pulled out all the stops to get accepted as Patrick’s student herself. In the process, she’d connected with this standout mentee of his, Jaden.

“Amanda?” Jaden’s eyes settled on her perfectly made-up face. He pushed up his glasses and shot her what he

Chapter 1

figured was a suave, charismatic grin. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for Professor Sharp.” Amanda fixed him with a pleading gaze. “Jaden, I’ve been out here forever without a glimpse of him. Could you pop inside and tell him I’m waiting at the gate?”

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