Chapter 302: Final Arc of Miami

"It gets better... Lea tried to come back with some comment about Sofia choosing dick over dignity, and that’s when Sofia grabbed a plastic chair and threw it. Didn’t hit anyone, but the message was clear."

"A chair?"

"A fucking chair, dude. The sound was incredible. Like a gunshot. Half the freshman class dove under tables."

I was laughing now, I couldn’t help it. My little Ghost had gone full WWE storyline in the cafeteria. Probably needed a D to calm her down before she moved on to ladders and steel cages.

"What happened to Jack?"

"That’s the best part. He’s been walking around looking like someone killed his dog. I think he’s realizing his girlfriend cares more about defending you than she does about him. It’s beautiful and tragic at the same time."

"And the school?"

"Oh, they’re loving it. Everyone’s picking sides. Team Sofia versus Team Lea. Connor’s documenting everything — the kid treats every second like archival footage. The group chat’s been blowing up for hours. Mrs. Peterson had to separate them in class because they kept glaring at each other like they were planning murders."

"This is insane."

"Bro, your life has been insane since you started dating Madison. This is just Tuesday for you now."

He wasn’t wrong. A month ago my biggest drama was getting stuffed in lockers. Now I had the quarterback’s girlfriend throwing furniture in my honor after she’d publicly defended me and gone nuclear while I plotted corporate takeovers from Miami penthouses.

"When are you coming back?" Tommy asked.

"Thursday, probably. Try to keep everyone from actually killing each other until then."

"No promises. Oh, and Peter?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for not letting me fuck up the API. I know I was being paranoid, but—"

"You weren’t being paranoid. You were being smart. Your software’s about to make you rich enough to buy the school. A little worry was justified."

"Rich enough to buy the school," he repeated, tasting the phrase like it might be real. "Fuck, that’s still not real."

"It will be Wednesday."

After I hung up I stood on the balcony a beat, watching Miami stretch itself awake below. Sofia Delgado throwing chairs in my defense while her boyfriend had an existential crisis. Lea Martinez calling me a gold-digging manwhore. My best friend on the cusp of getting stupidly rich.

Meanwhile, I’d spent the morning erasing international crime networks and negotiating with CIA directors.

No cap — my life had become absolutely fucking ridiculous.

But I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

I went to find everyone, and they were already staring.

"What?" I asked.

"The school is on fire?" Madison quipped, amused. "Blame ARIA — she projected your whole conversation onto the TV."

"Apparently Sofia and Lea are fighting over me. Or about me. Or something," I said.

"Your Ghost?" she asked.

"That’s the one."

Madison laughed, the sound sharp as designer heels. "Of course she is. You probably short-circuited her brain with your mere presence."

Before I could respond, my phone rang again. Ava.

"We have terms," she said without preamble. "Two point five billion for the five companies."

"That’s five hundred million more than discussed."

"Consider it a government convenience fee. Yes or no?"

I looked at Charlotte. She was already doing the mental math. She nodded — the companies would be worth ten times that once Quantum Tech’s scaffolding held. The figure made sense in the cold arithmetic of leverage and rescue.

"Yes."

"Good. Meeting tomorrow, 3 PM, Federal Building downtown. Bring Charlotte. One of my bosses wants to meet the woman worth eighteen billion in recovered assets."

"Which boss?"

"You’ll see. Don’t be late."

She hung up. Government agents and their fucking dramatics.

"Two point five billion?" Charlotte asked. I had updated her before now, although I was basically running the whole thing, it was her company and she needed to know each move I make toward that involves Quantum Tech.

"For five companies that’ll make us twenty-five billion," I replied. "Worth it to get the government off our backs permanently."

ARIA’s hologram shimmered into existence on my laptop screen, visible only to those who knew to look.

"I’ve compiled a list of all compromised Quantum Tech employees," she announced. "Jessica, David, seven others in various departments. Recommended termination strategies prepared." Girl, first say sorry for making my call public. The one who did not know my other form did not ask why I was still in school and Peter.

"Charlotte needs a new secretary," I said. "Options?"

"I could help," Amanda said suddenly.

We all turned to stare at her.

"What?" She shrugged, elegant even in morning-after clothes. "I used to run Harold’s personal affairs for three months after my family sent me to him like I were then his burden to carry. I managed his schedule, correspondence, investments. I quit after... well, after I chose this instead. But I’m good at it. And I’d rather work for Charlotte than sit around being decorative."

Charlotte studied her. "You’d work as my secretary?"

"Executive assistant," Amanda corrected. "And yes. I have no interest in going back my family’s business — too much judgment, too many questions. But I like being useful. And I’d be close to..." she glanced at me, "the action."

Charlotte considered for a moment, then nodded. "We’ll try it. Better than hiring someone random who might be another spy."

"Speaking of public perception," Madison said, buttering toast like she was discussing weather, "the API auction should be public. Full media coverage."

"That’s the opposite of what we planned," Charlotte pointed out.

"Plans change. Right now, Quantum Tech looks guilty as fuck. But if major players are bidding billions on your technology while you’re supposedly a fraud? That changes the narrative. Makes the fraud claims look like competitor sabotage."

I saw where she was going. "Plus, Tommy’s software is the whole auction. Media coverage would make him the youngest tech millionaire in California like you said, eyes on him... zero eyes on you who actually runs it."

"Your friend would be famous overnight," Madison added. "The kid who created software worth millions while still in high school."

Charlotte nodded slowly. "It would shift focus. From scandal to innovation."

"From fraud to future that even big players bid on your software, and the praises for getting such a young high school genius," I added.

Margaret finally spoke, voice barely above a whisper. "It’s brilliant."

We all looked at her. She was still red but managing to make eye contact.

"The media loves a comeback story more than a scandal," she continued, finding her confidence. "Young genius, innovative technology, billions in bids despite controversy. It writes itself."

"Then we go public," Charlotte decided. "Full media access to the auction."

"ARIA," I said, "adjust the auction parameters. Media access, live coverage, the works."

"Already done, Master. Also, you have seventeen missed calls from your mother."

Shit. Mom.

"I should probably—"

"Call her," Madison finished. "Before she assumes you’re dead and comes to Miami to resurrect you just to kill you again."

I stepped onto the balcony, dialing home. She answered on the first ring.

"Peter fucking Carter—"

"Hi Mom."

"Don’t you ’Hi Mom’ me! I’ve been watching the news! Charlotte’s all over every channel, they’re calling her a fraud and it is never better like you’d promised, and you’re in the middle of it doing God knows what! I m worried, Peter Carter"

"I’m fine, Mom. Charlotte’s fine. Everything’s under control."

"Under control? The woman’s company lost half its value!"

"It’ll recover."

"Peter..." Her voice softened. "Are you really okay?"

"I’m perfect, Mom. Literally. Long story. But we’re fixing everything. By tomorrow, the narrative changes. By Thursday, I’ll be home."

"With Charlotte?"

"Probably."

"Good. I like her. Even if she is apparently a criminal mastermind according to CNN."

"She’s not a criminal anything, Mom."

"I know, baby. I know. Just... be careful. And Thursday?"

"Thursday."

"I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

I hung up and returned to find them discussing logistics. Media contacts, press releases, auction presentation. Charlotte was in full CEO mode despite wearing yesterday’s clothes and having lost four billion in market cap.

Tomorrow, the documents would drop. The auction would be public. The government would sign over five companies.

And Thursday, I’d go back to school to find out why the fuck Sofia Delgado was slapping people in my honor.

But for now, I had breakfast with my women, plans to finalize, and an empire to build.

No cap, Tuesday was shaping up to be almost as interesting as Monday.

Almost.