Someone was up in the catwalk during the presentation. Marcus' voice was steady despite his racing heart. I saw movement. Saw them working on something. They must have loosened it again.
Found another way to compromise the mount. Webb's jaw tightened. "Did you see a face? Any identifying features?" No, just a silhouette.
Dark clothes, moving fast, and you didn't report the initial sabotage because I had no proof it was deliberate. Could have been negligence, poor maintenance. I documented everything, fixed the immediate danger, and plan to monitor it. Marcus met Webb's eyes. I didn't expect someone to actively interfere during the event itself.
Webb studied him for a long moment. Your quick thinking saved Ms. Hart's life. I want to be clear about that, but this is now a criminal investigation. Attempted murder, possibly corporate espionage. You'll need to make a formal statement.
Whatever you need. The door opened and Amanda appeared. Mr. Cole, Ms. Hart wants to see you now. Webb nodded. We'll continue this shortly.
Don't leave the building. Marcus followed Amanda through corridors, now patrolled by additional security. Past employees gathered in worried clusters. The atmosphere had shifted tension, replacing the normal hum of corporate ambition. Amanda led him not to Elena's office, but to a small conference room he'd never entered before.
Elena stood at the window, her back to the door still in the blue suit, but her hair was down now, falling in waves across her shoulders. She didn't turn when they entered. "Leave us," she said quietly. Amanda hesitated. Elena's security protocols suggest I'm safe with Marcus.
Elena's voice was soft but absolute. Leave us. The door closed with a click that seemed too loud. Marcus stood just inside the room, uncertain whether to speak or wait. His heart hammered against his ribs.
The cut on his arm throbbed in time with his pulse. "You tackled me." Elena's voice was strange, hollow. In front of 300 people, you grabbed me and threw us both to the ground. I'm sorry.
I didn't have time to Don't apologize. She turned and the expression on her face stopped his words. Her eyes were red rimmed, her carefully maintained mask completely gone. You saved my life. Do you understand that?
Her voice cracked. If you hadn't been there, if you hadn't seen that light shifting, I would be dead right now. The rawness in her voice hit him like a physical blow. This wasn't the CEO. Wasn't the iron lady who commanded boardrooms.
This was a woman confronting her own mortality, stripped of every defense. I saw the sabotage this afternoon, Marcus said, needing to fill the silence with something concrete. "The frayed cable, the loose bolts. I fixed it, but I should have reported it immediately." Should have insisted they cancel the presentation until you did exactly what you should have done.
Elena crossed the room, stopped 3 ft away, close enough that he could see she was still trembling. You identified a threat, neutralized it, stayed vigilant. When the danger evolved, you acted without hesitation. Her voice broke. That's not something to apologize for.