Saturday afternoon arrived with a warm, golden hue. Marcus was in his living room, reviewing some code on his laptop, enjoying the quiet weekend. At exactly 2:14 PM, his smartphone vibrated violently on the glass coffee table. The screen lit up with a bright red banner notification:
ALERT: UNAUTHORIZED USER CONNECTED. PROTOCOL INITIATED.
Marcus calmly closed his laptop. He didn't rush. He walked to the front window and peered through the blinds. Parked brazenly in his driveway, angled awkwardly to reach the wall unit, was Susan’s pristine white luxury SUV.
Susan was standing next to the vehicle. She was dressed in a crisp cream-colored blazer, a white blouse, and black trousers, holding her expensive handbag. She looked entirely unbothered, acting as if she were at a public charging kiosk at a shopping mall. Marcus watched as she tried to pull the charging handle out of her car, her face twisting in confusion when the locking mechanism held it firmly in place. It was time to go outside.
Marcus opened his front door and stepped out into the afternoon sun. He wore a dark grey, well-fitted polo shirt and dark jeans, his posture relaxed but commanding. He held his smartphone loosely in his right hand.
As he walked down the driveway, Susan looked up. She didn't look guilty or embarrassed to be caught trespassing. Instead, she looked mildly annoyed, as if Marcus were an employee who was interrupting her day.
"Excuse me," Susan called out, gesturing impatiently at the charging nozzle. "This machine is stuck. You need to unlock it. I have an appointment to get to."
Marcus stopped a few feet away from her. He looked at the white SUV, then at the heavy cable connecting it to his house. He didn't raise his voice. He maintained a calm, steady gaze that immediately put Susan on the defensive.