The Lexus continued its smooth journey through the city streets, the engine's soft purr creating a lullaby of sorts. Altair and Cassy sat in the back, their hands still entwined, while Chloe was upfront, her fingers nimbly navigating her phone.
 
"Ah, that restaurant was an experience," Cassy mused, glancing at Altair. "You know, between the showdown and the delicious food, I don't know which was more memorable."
Altair chuckled. "Well, the showdown was certainly entertaining, but I'd prefer a life with more culinary adventures and fewer confrontations."
Chloe interjected, "Well, given Altair's knack for drama, I'd say prepare for both."
Altair raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like I enjoy creating a spectacle."
"You don't?" Chloe asked with a teasing tone in her voice.
Altair smirked. "Maybe a little."
 
A brief lull settled in the car. Chloe took the opportunity to retouch her makeup in the rearview mirror, while Cassy scrolled through her phone and Altair seemed lost in thought.
 
"Chloe, ensure that my digital footprint gets wiped clean. We're in for a prolonged conflict, and I want them running on fumes." Altair finally broke the silence.
 
"Ah, a war of attrition! Starve them out, make them fight blind, and confuse the hell out of them, right? Where's the fun in them folding once they know exactly who you are?" Chloe caught on immediately.
Altair chuckled. "You're picking up on the Gryphon's strategies quite quickly, aren't you?"
 
Chloe smiled, her eyes twinkling "Well, you know what they say—only learn from the best. You've been like a masterclass in 'Corporate Strategy 101' and 'Espionage for Dummies' rolled into one. Honestly, your mind is like a chessboard, always five moves ahead. I mean, who else plans an emergency exit strategy for a coffee run? It's basically like getting a degree in 'How to Be a Boss' just by working for you."
Altair couldn't help but grin, clearly pleased with the compliments. "Best hiring decision ever, hands down. You've been much more than a secretary; you're practically my right hand, my co-conspirator in this wild journey. You're picking up on things even before I articulate them, and that's a rare skill. And let's not forget, You make every challenge seem like a cakewalk, Chloe. I don't just feel like I've got an employee; I feel like I've got an ally."
"Right?" Chloe replied, pausing for effect. "Actually, I've already taken care of it."
 
Altair was taken aback. "Wait, what? When did you do that?"
 
Chloe grinned, obviously pleased with herself. "About a week after you went MIA from the firm,"
 
"A financial consultant of your stature suddenly transfers his clients and goes on an indefinite leave without so much as a heads-up to his own secretary? I may not be Sherlock Holmes, but I know when to put two and two together. So, I acted."
 
Altair shook his head, half in disbelief and half in admiration. "You're one step ahead, as always."
 
Cassy smiled at the exchange between Altair and Chrloe, Though tonight had been a whirlwind of tension and confrontation, it was clear that she and Altair weren't walking this path alone. And as the car glided through the night, each of them couldn't help but think about what lay ahead—a future uncertain, yes, but a future they would face together.
"It was pretty straightforward, actually. I used the Gryphons' standard 'Delete Me' form that's meant for scrubbing someone's online presence. Then, I pulled your digital signature from your work computer—by the way, your password was laughable, so I went ahead and changed that for you. I also found your official stamp hiding in that chaotic labyrinth you call an office. I submitted it all, and poof, you were a ghost!" Chloe gleefully recounted the tale.
 
Altair chuckled heartily. "You're a one-woman SWAT team. Remind me never to end up on your bad side."
 
"Don't even think about it," Chloe warned playfully. "I know everything about you—your coffee orders based on your mood, your favorite drinks, your fashion preferences, even your speech idiosyncrasies. Basically, I'm irreplaceable."
 
"Whoa, slow down, indispensable employee of the year," Altair said, grinning. "Kudos to you, Chloe. We're several steps ahead thanks to your ingenuity."
 
"Thank you so much, Ms. Greyfield," Cassy chimed in, her voice filled with genuine warmth and appreciation.
 
"Ah, it's no biggie, future Mrs. Mirales," Chloe said, waving her hand dismissively. "It's my job—and pleasure—to make life smoother for people I care about."
 
Cassy blushed, caught off guard by the casual sincerity in Chloe's voice. "Well, this is all still a faux setup, Ms. Greyfield."
 
"Oh, I know, but I'm totally invested in your 'faux setup' evolving into a 'real setup.' Go, Team Cassy!" Chloe cheered, raising her fist in a mock victory salute.
 
Cassy couldn't help but smile at Chloe's antics. As the Lexus glided through the city's nocturnal landscape, Cassy felt swathed in a comfort and assurance she had never experienced before. With Altair, Chloe, and her newfound support system, no challenge seemed too daunting. And for the first time in her life, she had an inkling that she might have found her tribe—her true north.