Briggs violently shoved her chest with both hands.
Evelyn stumbled backward, hitting the cold floor with a heavy thud, catching her weight on her palms.
“You’re nothing here! Get back in line!” Briggs roared, his voice echoing off the grey walls.
The lobby froze in absolute horror.
Then came the blur of motion.
The tall man in the dark suit didn’t just walk. He struck like lightning.
Before Briggs could even take another breath, a massive hand clamped onto his collar. The stranger pivoted, easily lifting the heavy guard, and slammed Briggs face-first onto the metal security table.
*BANG.*
The steel table shuddered. Briggs groaned, instantly subdued and completely paralyzed, his face pinned helplessly against the cold metal.
Silence returned to the checkpoint. A heavy, terrified silence.
On the floor, Evelyn slowly pushed herself up. She dusted off her beige trousers and adjusted her gold necklace with absolute composure. She placed a hand over her heart, taking a slow breath.
Then, her expression shifted. The brief flash of shock melted into an icy, calculating smile.
The man in the black suit didn’t even look at the guard he was pinning. He looked only at Evelyn.
“Are you injured, Madam Chairman?”
The collective gasp from the employees was deafening.
*Madam Chairman?*
Evelyn walked over to the table where Briggs lay trembling. His eyes widened in sudden, sickening realization.
“I’m fine, Marcus,” Evelyn said, her voice smooth as glass. “But it seems our undercover security audit is officially complete.”
She leaned down, her gold earrings dangling inches from Briggs’s pale face.
“You were right about one thing,” she whispered. “I don’t belong in this line. I own the building. But you? You don’t belong here anymore.”
Evelyn straightened up, turning to the stunned, silent crowd.
“Good morning, everyone. Let’s get to work.”