the next round of questions. I won’t be long.” I trusted Claus implicitly- enough to know that, even in my absence, he’d ask the right questions and accept only the right terms.
Then I was gone, the glass doors swinging shut behind me with a quiet thud.
As I walked toward my office, my eyes flicked to the security monitor at the end of the hallway. Something moved–a flicker in the edge of the
screen.
I paused, scanning the hallway once more.
Nothing.
I pushed forward.
In my office, Jane stood with her hands folded behind her back, her gaze fixed on one of the African art pieces resting on my shelf. The deep red of her blouse contrasted sharply against the tailored black slacks.
Only the delicate silver chain at her collarbone shifted as she slowly turned toward me.
“You’re early.” I said, closing the door with a quiet click.
“Let’s get this over with,” She said.
I crossed the room, placing the folder on the desk. “Here you go.”
I slid the contract across the desk. She didn’t hesitate–just took it, fingers steady, flipping straight to the signature page like she’d already memorized every word that came before.
Then she signed. One stroke, and the deed was done.
Click. The pen cap snapped shut with a sound that echoed louder than it
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should have.
She looked up, eyes meeting mine.
t
“I thought I’d feel… relieved.”
“You will,” I said quietly. “Just not today.”
I reached for the contract-
Pop.
A soft thud. Muffled, but unmistakable.
Gunfire?
Jane’s eyes darted to the door.
I moved fast. Pulled her behind the desk.
Another shot. Louder this time.
I slammed the emergency button under the drawer. The silent alarm would trigger a lockdown, but we had seconds–maybe less.
“Stay down,” I said, crouched low beside her.
Jane’s breath came fast but even. No screaming. No tears. She didn’t panic. She braced.
Glass came crashing. Down the hallway.
A scream tore through the hallway. Then another, shorter, strangled.
I stood.
The office door crashed open, slamming against the wall.
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Three men stormed in–heads covered in black balaclavas, tactical gear molded tight to their frames, weapons up and moving with military discipline. Suppressed rifles. Gloves. No insignias. No wasted motion.
They weren’t here to make threats.
They were here to take.
Before I could speak, the lead man crossed the distance in three strides. The butt of his rifle struck my gut–hard. I folded. Another stepped in, jerking my arms behind me. Cold zip ties cinched tight.
“Hood him,” one of them ordered.
Fabric dropped over my head, suffocating light. I couldn’t see, but I could hear–Jane gasping somewhere behind me, the sharp edge of a chair scraping tile as she moved.
“Don’t touch her,” I said through clenched teeth.
“She’s not the target,” the lead muttered. “Stick to protocol.”
Heavy boots thudded around me. Then-
“What the hell is this?” Mr. Chang’s voice echoed from the boardroom entrance, sharp with confusion.
Wrong time.
Wrong place.
“Grab him too,” one of the men barked.
“No, he’s-!”
2
