Chapter 9 - Autumn Rivers Builds Her Own Empire
Autumn returned to MIT.
Not as a student.
As a guest lecturer.
Her first words to three hundred cybersecurity students were:
“Seven years ago this institution expelled me for something I didn't do. So this is awkward.”
The auditorium erupted in laughter.
Then she told them about Blackbird.
Not the criminal details.
The lesson.
Technology carried the ethics of the people controlling it.
Security without accountability became surveillance.
Power without limits became exploitation.
Afterward, three venture capitalists approached her.
Autumn rejected all three.
Instead, she founded Rivers Security.
Her first investor surprised everyone.
Victor Lau.
The Hong Kong businessman from Giovanni's.
“You saved me from investing nine hundred million dollars into compromised infrastructure,” he told her. “I consider that an impressive audition.”
Within one year, Rivers Security employed sixty-four people.
Autumn hired talented engineers overlooked because they lacked elite credentials.
Self-taught programmers.
Community-college graduates.
Former waitresses.
Her first major product was called Sparrow.
Not Blackbird.
Something new.
Noah became facilities director despite repeatedly claiming that changing light bulbs did not justify his salary.
Cross worked as a consultant after completing his own sentence.
His daughter recovered.
Roman became chief operating officer.
He complained about meetings constantly.
Autumn reminded him that legitimate businesses required paperwork.
He threatened to return to crime.
She doubled his paperwork.
Dominic served fourteen months.
Autumn stood outside when he walked free.
He looked different.
Leaner.
Quieter.
No entourage.
No expensive suit.
Just dark pants, a white shirt and a small bag containing everything he owned.
He saw her.
Stopped.
“You came.”
Autumn folded her arms.
“You sound surprised.”
“I told you not to wait.”
“I didn't.”
His face fell slightly.
Autumn enjoyed it for approximately two seconds.
Then she tossed him a key.
He caught it.
“What is this?”
“Apartment.”
“Whose?”
“Mine.”
Dominic stared at her.
“You're cruel.”
“I learned from criminals.”
He crossed the distance between them.
“Fourteen months.”
“Fourteen months.”
“I thought about you every day.”
“That sounds unhealthy.”
“I love you.”
Autumn's teasing disappeared.
Dominic looked almost nervous.
The man who once terrified half of Chicago was frightened of her answer.
She touched his face.
“I love you too.”
He kissed her.
Then someone honked.
Roman leaned from an SUV.
“If we're finished with the emotional reunion, some of us have a board meeting.”
Dominic pulled away.
“Roman works for you?”
“Unfortunately.”
Roman shouted, “I heard that.”
Dominic laughed.
Then Autumn told him the final surprise.
She had purchased Giovanni's Steakhouse.
His expression was priceless.
“Why?”
“Sentimental reasons.”
“You nearly died there.”
“So did your laptop.”
She took his hand.
“And that's where I met you.”
Dominic looked toward Chicago.
The city he had once ruled through fear continued without him.
Strangely, he felt relieved.
He no longer wanted an empire.
He wanted a life.
May you like
Autumn had built one.
And for the first time, there was room inside it for both of them.
