"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.