Chapter 7 7

The silence in the lobby was deafening. The only sound was the hum of the massive air conditioning vents.

The two security guards took two large steps backward, putting distance between themselves and Ansley. They looked at the floor, sweating.

Cade stared at Ansley. The muscles in his jaw twitched. He let out a nervous, high-pitched laugh.

"You're lying," Cade pointed a shaking finger at her. "You're a fraud! She's just an assistant for a bankrupt startup! Throw her out!"

The receptionist swallowed hard. She didn't move a muscle.

Ansley reached up and rubbed her bruised wrist. She smoothed down the front of her black blazer. She didn't even give Cade the satisfaction of looking at him.

Before Cade could yell again, the VIP elevator at the back of the lobby chimed.

The polished metal doors slid open.

A middle-aged man stepped out. He wore a silver bespoke suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He walked with the terrifying efficiency of someone who held immense power.

Every Aegis employee in the lobby immediately looked down. No one dared to make eye contact with him.

The man walked straight past Cade and stopped directly in front of Ansley.

He bowed slightly from the waist.

"Miss Holcomb," he said, his voice carrying clearly across the quiet room. "I am Mr. Woodward's executive assistant. I deeply apologize for the unacceptable behavior of our security staff."

He gestured toward the VIP elevator with an open palm. "Please, follow me."

Cade's jaw practically unhinged. His eyes bulged out of his head. He stumbled forward.

"Wait! Are you crazy?" Cade yelled at the assistant. "She's nobody! I have the algorithm! I just met with your director!"

The assistant stopped. He slowly turned his head and looked at Cade. His eyes were dead behind his gold glasses. He looked at Cade like he was a piece of trash stuck to his shoe.

The assistant looked at the head of security.

"Escort Mr. Vance out of the building and permanently revoke his visitor access," the assistant ordered coldly. "Mr. Woodward will personally review and handle any pending business matters regarding his firm."

The two security guards who had just grabbed Ansley suddenly found their courage. They lunged at Cade.

They grabbed his arms and twisted them violently behind his back.

"No! You can't do this!" Cade screamed, thrashing wildly.

The silver hard drive slipped from his fingers. It hit the marble floor.

One of the guards stepped directly onto the drive with his heavy combat boot. A loud crack echoed as the plastic and metal shattered into pieces.

Cade screamed Ansley's name as the guards dragged him backward toward the revolving doors. He sounded desperate and broken.

Ansley watched him get thrown out onto the wet pavement. The knot of anger in her chest finally loosened.

The assistant bowed again. "Right this way, Miss Holcomb."

Ansley took a deep breath. She walked past the terrified receptionist and stepped into the VIP elevator.

The doors closed, shutting out the staring eyes of the lobby.

The elevator shot upward. The speed made Ansley's stomach flip.

The assistant stood perfectly still in the corner. He didn't ask her any questions. He didn't look at her. His professionalism was terrifying.

Ansley watched the digital numbers climb higher and higher. Her heart started to pound against her ribs.

She had used Emery's name to get in the door. It was a bluff. She had no real leverage. Now, she had to face the man who actually ran this empire.

Ding.

The elevator stopped at the 98th floor. The doors slid open.

Ansley stepped out into a massive, open-concept floor. It was entirely black, white, and gray. There were no cubicles. No walls. Just an endless expanse of cold marble and glass. The emptiness was suffocating.

The assistant led her to a set of massive, double oak doors at the end of the hall.

He stopped. He didn't open them. He just gestured for her to go inside.

Ansley gripped her manila envelope. Her knuckles turned white. She took a deep breath, reached out, and pushed the heavy doors open.