Double Life: The Janitor is a Billionaire"

Chapter 5: The Janitor’s Final Sweep

The next morning, the office was a war zone. Marcus Miller wasn't just angry; he was desperate. He had seen "The CEO" in the boardroom, and the resemblance to the janitor was eating him alive.

"Claire! My office. Now!" Marcus bellowed, slamming his door so hard the glass rattled.

Inside, he threw a termination letter onto his desk. "You're fired. Security is on their way to escort you out. I told you, if I go down, you go down first."

Claire didn't flinch. She looked at the letter, then at Marcus. "You’re firing me for your own mistakes? The Board already saw the Project Phoenix files, Marcus. They know you sabotaged the data."

"The Board saw what I wanted them to see!" Marcus roared, his face turning a deep shade of purple. "I’ve been here five years. I have friends in high places. You think a mysterious CEO who shows up once a year is going to care about one analyst? You’re a nobody. Just like that pathetic janitor you spend your nights with."

"Is that so?"

The voice didn't come from Claire. It came from the doorway.

Leo stood there, leaning against the frame. He was back in his blue jumpsuit, carrying a yellow "Wet Floor" sign. He looked humble, but his eyes were like chips of ice.

"Get out of here, trash!" Marcus screamed, pointing a finger at Leo. "I’m in the middle of a private meeting. You’re fired too! I’ll make sure you’re blacklisted from every cleaning agency in the state!"

Leo walked into the room, slowly and calmly. He placed the "Wet Floor" sign right in the middle of Marcus’s expensive rug.

"You talk a lot about 'nobodies,' Marcus," Leo said, his voice dropping an octave, becoming the cold, commanding tone from the boardroom. "But a company is only as strong as the people who keep it clean. And you... you’ve made a lot of mess."

Marcus froze. That voice. It wasn't the janitor’s shy mumble. It was the CEO's roar.

Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out his gold-rimmed dark glasses, sliding them onto his face. The transformation was instant.

"Mr. Thorne?" Marcus whispered, his knees literally buckling. He hit his chair with a heavy thud.

"Security isn't coming for Claire, Marcus," Leo said, leaning over the desk until he was inches from Marcus’s face. "They’re coming for you. I’ve personally reviewed your expense reports. Embezzlement is a serious crime. You won't just be blacklisted; you’ll be prosecuted."

Two actual security guards appeared at the door. Marcus tried to speak, but only a pathetic whimper came out. They grabbed him by the arms and dragged him out of the office he had used to bully so many people.

The floor was silent. Employees were peeking over their cubicles, gasping as they saw the "invincible" Marcus Miller being hauled away.

Leo turned to Claire. He took off the glasses and gave her a small, private wink.

"I think this office needs a new Department Head," Leo said loudly enough for the whole floor to hear. "Someone who knows the value of kindness."

He picked up his mop and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Claire called out, her heart racing. "Are you going back to... the basement?"

Leo smiled over his shoulder. "The floors don't clean themselves, Claire. Besides, I still owe you a coffee that doesn't taste like dirt."