The Janitor's Legacy

UNSEEN ALLIES

Sarah Chen walked into TechNova's sparkling headquarters as the sun was just rising. She purposefully moved her heels across the lobby, bringing attention to herself as she passed. Sarah, at 32, was one of the youngest Presidents in the technology industry, and she carried herself with the confidence of someone who had fought hard for her position. Sarah's mind was already racing with the challenges of the day as she entered the elevator. TechNova was on the verge of making a breakthrough that could transform the business, but funding was limited. If she did her best, the gathering scheduled for later could make a significant difference.

Mike, her executive assistant, was waiting with a hot cup of coffee when the elevator doors opened. "Morning, Sarah," he said as he stepped alongside her. "Your meeting with Golden Dragon Imports at 9 a.m. has been confirmed." Mr. Their Representative "Vega, I just arrived." Sarah frowned as she accepted the coffee. "Vega? I mistook my meeting with Harrison, the CEO, for one." Mike shrugged. "It looks like a last-minute change. Mr. Vega claims he is authorized to make all company-wide decisions." Sarah had a slight sense of unease, but she ignored it. With the Chimera project in jeopardy, she couldn't afford to be picky with investors.

Sarah almost ran into a man in a janitor's uniform as they approached her office. She identified him as Alex, the new night cleaner. He mumbled, head down, "Sorry, ma'am," as he moved his mop bucket out of the way. Sarah gestured absently, her thoughts focused on the upcoming gathering. Alex's eyes followed her, and the slight frown on his brow went unnoticed by her.

Sarah sat at her desk in her office to complete her presentation review. Her idea was the Chimera project, which combines cutting-edge artificial intelligence and biotechnology to potentially transform everything from healthcare to national security. Regardless, its true potential for abuse was enormous, which is why Sarah was so cautious when selecting financial backers. The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. Mike inserts his head. "Mr. Vega is here." Sarah stood and smoothed her skirt. "Bring him."

Nicholas Vega entered with the unwavering confidence of a man who was used to getting his way. Sarah was startled by the coldness in his eyes, despite his charming smile. "Ms. Chen," he acknowledged, shaking her hand. "I'm delighted to finally meet you. TechNova's work has earned high praise." As they landed, Sarah launched into her meticulously planned pitch. She discussed the Chimera project's potential, how it would affect the market, and the expected returns on Golden Dragon's investment. Nicholas listened attentively, occasionally asking pointed questions that revealed an astonishing depth of specialized knowledge. Sarah was cautiously optimistic at the presentation's conclusion.

Nicholas leaned back in his chair, saying, "It's certainly an intriguing proposal. However, I must ask: why are you coming to us? It stands to reason that larger players would pay attention to a project of this size." Sarah paused. How could she make sense of the fact that she had deliberately sought out more modest, less scrutinized financial backers? That Chimera's very nature required discretion? She carefully stated, "We believe in developing strong partnerships. Our long term objectives are well matched by Golden Dragon's focus on emerging markets."

Nicholas nodded and smiled slightly. "I see. Now, Ms. Chen, I believe we can come up with a solution. Why don't we have dinner tonight and discuss the specifics?" Sarah blinked in surprise at the abrupt change. "I... That might not be necessary, in my opinion. We can continue our discussion here" "I demand," Nicholas said without hesitation. "Some of my partners would love nothing more than to meet you. We will send a vehicle to pick you up at eight o'clock." Nicholas stood before Sarah could continue her protest, effectively concluding the meeting.

Sarah sank back into her chair as he walked away, feeling uneasy in the back of her stomach. It didn't feel right in any way. Nicholas emerged from Sarah's office as Alex was emptying a trash can outside in the hallway. When their eyes met, they shared a brief moment of recognition. Nicholas' hand jerked towards his coat, but he reconsidered it in such a public setting. When Nicholas left, Alex abandoned his cleaning truck and slipped into an empty gathering room. He dialed a number from memory on a burner phone. "Mia," he said as the call connected. "I need everything from Golden Dragon Imports. Fast."

Mia Rossi sat in her cluttered apartment, surrounded by computer monitors and files. At 25, she looked more like a college student than one of the city's most well-connected information brokers. "Dragon of Gold?" She continued, fluttering her fingers over the keyboard. "That's a Vega front organization. Alex, what's your opinion?" Alex quickly explained, "They're trying to invest in TechNova. I believe they are pursuing something known as the Chimera project," Mia said softly, "Chimera? Alex, this is bad news. Extremely poor. I will see what I can find in an hour."

As Alex hung up, he could feel a natural strain in his shoulders. He didn't expect Vegas to move so quickly. Before Sarah Chen made an irreversible mistake, he needed to act quickly. When a new email arrived on her computer, Sarah was still thinking about her conversation with Nicholas in her office. Although the sender was unknown, the subject line "URGENT: Golden Dragon Imports - Do Not Trust" caught her attention. She held the mouse in her hands. Every cybersecurity measure she had ever implemented prohibited opening unsolicited emails. In any case, something  possibly instinct  caused her to snap. This was a brief email: “Ms. Chen, There's more to Golden Dragon Imports than meets the eye. They serve as a cover for criminal behavior. Meeting them outside the office puts you in danger. Refuse to accept dinner. Do not enter any contracts. A companion."

With her mind racing, Sarah leaned back. Could this be true? Or was it an attempt by an opposing organization to disrupt the arrangement? Sarah became more and more distracted throughout the day. She kept returning to her conversation with Nicholas, noticing little-known details. The manner in which he diverted specific inquiries. The request to meet outside of the office. Sarah had made her decision by the time 7:30 arrived. She picked up her phone, preparing to postpone the dinner meeting. There was a knock on her door at that exact moment. Alex, the janitor, had arrived to empty the trash. Sarah said, lowering her phone, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone was still present."

Alex lowered his gaze and shrugged. "Night shift. I will not bother you, ma'am." Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong as he walked around the office. His movements were excessively elegant for a janitor, and his stance was excessively prepared. It clicked all at once. The Message. The warning. Is this possible...? "It was, wasn't it, you?" Sarah spoke softly. "You sent that email." After a brief pause, Alex gradually turned to face her. The janitor's submissive slouch was no more. He stood tall, and the intensity with which his eyes met hers made her gasp. "Ms. Chen," he said with a low, urgent tone. "You should exercise caution when paying attention to me. We have a limited time, and you are in danger."

A sleek black vehicle approached the curb in front of the TechNova headquarters. Nicholas Vega straightened his tie as he emerged. "Is everything finished?" He inquired about the driver. The man nodded. "The group is ready. We'll extract everything Chen knows about Chimera once we have him." Nicholas smiled briskly. "Perfect. Go get our honorary guest now." Nicholas didn't notice the shadowy figure watching as he approached the building. Mia Rossi's heart raced as she lowered her camera. She had to tell Alex. Sarah Chen was directly in the Vegas' crosshairs as they made their move.