The Offer That Changed Everything
613 Words
By the time Elena reached the staff locker room, her hands were still trembling.
She leaned against the cold metal lockers and closed her eyes.
A bomb.
Someone had planted a bomb inside the executive conference room.
If Alexander Knight had arrived even five minutes later, the meeting would have started, and dozens of people could have died.
The image refused to leave her mind.
"Elena!"
Mrs. Collins rushed into the room, her face pale.
"The police are taking statements. They need everyone who was on the presidential floor."
Elena nodded.
"I'll be there."
She splashed cold water on her face, hoping it would steady her racing heart.
It didn't.
Twenty minutes later, the hotel's grand ballroom had been turned into a temporary command center.
Police officers moved between groups of employees, asking the same questions over and over.
"Did you notice anything unusual?"
"Did you recognize the suspect?"
"Did anyone enter the conference room before Mr. Knight arrived?"
Elena answered honestly.
"No."
She had seen nothing until the maintenance worker crawled out from beneath the table.
After nearly an hour, she was finally allowed to leave.
She collected her bag and stepped outside the hotel.
Rain had begun to fall.
The streets of Chicago glistened beneath the city lights as taxis rushed past.
She wrapped her thin coat tighter around herself and checked her phone.
Three missed calls.
All from Ethan.
Her heart sank.
She called him immediately.
He answered on the first ring.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm just leaving work."
"You promised you'd be home by ten."
She glanced at the time.
11:37 p.m.
"I'm sorry."
His voice softened.
"You're okay, right? I saw the hotel on the news."
She forced a smile even though he couldn't see it.
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine."
"I'll explain when I get home."
She ended the call and walked toward the bus stop.
A black luxury sedan rolled to a stop beside the curb.
The rear window lowered slowly.
She froze.
Alexander Knight sat inside.
His expression was as unreadable as ever.
"Miss Hart."
She looked around.
Surely he wasn't talking to her.
"I'm speaking to you."
She stepped closer, confused.
"Is... something wrong?"
"I'd like a few minutes of your time."
She blinked.
"About the incident?"
"Get in."
It wasn't a request.
She frowned.
"With all due respect, Mr. Knight, I don't get into cars with strangers."
For the first time that evening, something flickered in his eyes.
Not annoyance.
Approval.
"Good."
He opened the door himself and stepped out into the rain.
His security team remained inside the vehicle, watching silently.
"I wasn't testing your obedience," he said.
"I was testing your judgment."
Elena folded her arms.
"And did I pass?"
"You did."
Rain dripped from the edge of his coat as he looked at her.
"Someone tried to kill me tonight."
"I know."
"They also saw you."
A chill ran through her.
"What do you mean?"
"The man who escaped looked directly at you before he ran."
She remembered.
He had.
She just hadn't understood why.
Alexander's voice grew quieter.
"If he's part of the organization I believe he is..."
"...then your life may already be in danger."
Elena laughed nervously.
"You're exaggerating."
"I wish I were."
He reached into his jacket and handed her a business card.
On the front was only a name.
Alexander Knight
On the back...
A handwritten phone number.
"If anything feels unusual..."
"...call me immediately."
Before Elena could respond, a motorcycle roared out of a nearby alley.
It accelerated straight toward them.
The rider wasn't looking at the road.
He was looking at Elena.
And in his gloved hand...
Was a pistol.
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