Midway through the meal, my phone buzzed. Then buzzed again. I excused myself briefly, stepping into the hallway.
A $7.3 million contract needed rescheduling. A government security review cleared. Forbes wanted comment on an acquisition rumor.
When I returned, the table went quiet. Everyone had been watching.
“What exactly do you consult on?” Harold asked slowly.
“Cybersecurity. AI infrastructure. Digital transformation,” I said. “Mostly boring things people don’t notice until they break.”
Thomas’s fork froze halfway to his mouth. “You mean federal systems?”
“Yes.”
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