The corporate logo glowed in bright blue neon against the dark clouds.

I pulled into the underground parking garage, using my personal keycard to bypass the security gate.

The garage was mostly empty, save for a few luxury sedans belonging to the executive board.

I parked in my usual spot near the elevator bay.

I grabbed my bag and stepped out into the humid air of the concrete structure.

My footsteps echoed loudly as I walked toward the glass doors of the elevator lobby.

The security guard at the desk looked up from his monitors.

“Good evening, Ms. Hayes,” he said, offering a polite nod.

“Working late tonight?”

“I need to grab some documents from my father’s office,” I said, keeping my voice level.

“Is he still upstairs?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the guard replied, pressing a button to unlock the elevator.

“Mr. Hayes has been in his suite since five o’clock.”

“Thank you, Thomas,” I said.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the penthouse floor.

The elevator climbed silently, the digital display ticking upward rapidly.

My stomach churned with every passing floor.