Chapter 16: The 99% Dilemma
The small blue progress bar on the internal interface flickered to life on the safe's built-in diagnostic screen: 10%... 30%... 60%...
Rebecca stood watching the numbers tick upward, her heart hammering against her ribs. Every second felt like an eternity.
Downstairs, the applause from the grand parlor swelled—Julian was finishing his keynote speech. That meant he would be heading upstairs to his study any minute now to check his notes or prepare for the next phase of the evening.
80%... 90%... 99%.
Suddenly, the progress bar froze. A flashing red warning light blinked on the screen: NETWORK CONGESTION - MANUAL OVERRIDE REQUIRED.
"Damn it," Rebecca hissed under her breath, frantically tapping the override key.
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Outside in the hallway, heavy, measured footsteps echoed across the hardwood floor. The door handle began to turn.
Panic surging through her veins, Rebecca grabbed the manual override cable, yanked the USB drive free just as the download flashed 100% Complete, and dove behind the heavy velvet drapes of the floor-to-ceiling bay window as the study doors swung wide open.
