Web's voice was urgent. Derek just entered the building through the parking garage. He's not supposed to be here. Marcus' heart rate spiked. "Where's Ms. Hart?"
"Still in her office." We've got eyes on her, but Derek's heading for the executive floor now. Web's voice tightened. Get to her. Marcus ran.
His boots pounded against marble as he raced down the corridor. Behind him, he heard elevator doors opening. Footsteps echoing through the empty building. He burst into Elena's wing to find her at her desk. Paperwork spread around her, completely unaware.
"We need to go," Marcus said urgently. "Now." Elena looked up instantly, reading the tension in his voice. What's Derek in the building coming up? We mobilizing security, but the lights went out.
Complete darkness swallowed the executive floor. Emergency lighting failed to activate. Marcus heard Elena's sharp intake of breath. Heard movement in the hallway outside. Every instinct screamed danger.
"Stay behind me," he whispered, pulling Elena away from her desk. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness. Shapes emerging from shadow. "He's cutting power." Elena breathed against his shoulder.
"Disabling security systems. Where's your panic button? Desk drawer. But if the power's out, footsteps in the hallway. Slow, deliberate.
Someone who knew exactly where they were going. Marcus positioned himself between Elena and the door. His hands were empty, his mind racing through options. He wasn't a fighter, wasn't trained for this, but he'd meant what he said about protecting her. "Elena."
Derek's voice called from the darkness. Friendly, calm, are you still here? The power went out. I came to make sure you were okay. The performance was chilling in its normalcy.
Marcus felt Elena tense against his back. I'm fine, Derek, she called back, her voice steady despite everything. Just finishing some work. The emergency lighting should kick in any moment. Actually, it won't.
Derek appeared in the doorway, backlit by exit signs in the hallway beyond. Marcus couldn't see his face clearly, but he could see the gun in Derek's hand. Dark and deadly. I made sure of that. Had months to prepare to understand every system in this building.
Derek stepped into the office. You made it easy, really, trusting me with so much access. Derek, what are you doing? Elena's voice carried just the right note of confusion, still playing her part. What I should have done two years ago when they first approached me, Derek moved closer.
You were never supposed to run this company, Elena. Your father knew it. The board knew it. Everyone knew except you. So stubborn, so convinced you could prove everyone wrong.
His voice turned bitter. And you did, which made everything so much more complicated. Who approached you? Elena asked. Marcus heard the calculation in her voice.
Keep him talking. Buy time for security to arrive. People who understand that innovation shouldn't be controlled by legacy and nepotism. People who could actually use Hart Technologies to change the industry instead of protecting market share and shareholder profits. Derek moved closer.
Marcus shifted to maintain his position between them. They offered me a real future, chief technology officer of a combined entity that would dominate the market. All I had to do was remove the obstacle. You mean kill me? Elena said flatly.
Remove. Derek repeated the word like it tasted good. The stage light was supposed to be clean. Tragic accident company and mourning. Smooth transition to new leadership.
His voice hardened. But you had to have him. The gun gestured toward Marcus. Your watchdog, your maintenance hero ruined everything. So now we do this the hard way.
Security is already coming, Marcus said. His voice was steady despite his racing heart. Building's on lockdown. You won't make it out. "I don't need to make it out."
Derek's tone was almost conversational. I just need her dead. They'll extract me after. New identity, new life. But only if I finish the job.
The gun rose, pointing directly at Elena. Marcus saw Derek's finger tighten on the trigger. He didn't think, didn't calculate odds or consider consequences. He lunged sideways, slamming into Derek with all his weight, driving them both into the wall beside the door. The gun discharged deafeningly loud in the enclosed space.
The muzzle flash illuminated the office in stark white light. Marcus felt the bullet pass so close to his head the air pressure made his ear ring, but he was already moving. Grabbing for Derek's wrist, trying to control the weapon, they crashed into furniture, struggled in near darkness. Derek was stronger than he looked, desperate enough to fight with everything he had. "Run!"
Marcus shouted at Elena. "Get out!" But Elena didn't run. He caught a glimpse of her moving in his peripheral vision. Heard the crash of something heavy.
Her desk lamp connected with Derek's skull. The CTO staggered, his grip on the gun loosening. Marcus wrenched it away, sending it skittering across the floor into darkness. Derek recovered faster than expected. Drove an elbow into Marcus' ribs that forced the air from his lungs.
They went down together, hit the floor hard, and then hands closed around Marcus's throat, squeezing with methodical pressure. Should have stayed invisible. Derek's face was inches away. His voice a hiss. Should have just fixed the lights and disappeared.
But you had to play hero. Had to make yourself important to her. His fingers dug deeper. Now you die with her. Marcus' vision started to gray at the edges. his lungs screaming for air.
He clawed at Derek's hands, trying to break the grip, but his strength was fading fast. Through the gathering darkness, he saw Elena searching frantically for something, anything she could use. Then light flooded the office, blinding after so much darkness. Voices shouted from multiple directions. The pressure on Marcus' throat released abruptly as security guards swarmed the room, pulling Derek away, forcing him to the ground.
Marcus gasped for air, his throat raw, his vision clearing slowly. Strong hands helped him sit up. And suddenly, Elena was there, kneeling beside him, her hands framing his face with desperate gentleness. "Marcus." Her voice broke on his name.