376: Brewing Storms

Maxwell found himself in the living room, the weight of his family’s expectations pressing heavily upon him. He watched as Emma and Bauer rapidly coordinated their next moves, their efficiency leaving little room for doubt or delay. The strategy was set: announce the fictitious critical condition of the hospitalized man to bait out their hidden enemies. "I've taken care of the media announcements," Bauer confirmed, his voice a low hum of controlled urgency. "The news should be circulating any minute now. This will force their hand, make them act out of desperation." Emma nodded, her expression unreadable, yet her eyes sparkled with a tactical sharpness. "Good. That’s exactly what we need. Desperation leads to mistakes, and that’s when they’ll reveal themselves." Their gaze met briefly, a silent acknowledgment of their synchronized understanding, before Emma turned her attention back to Maxwell and Gable. "We also need to tighten security around our research institute. Our competitor