It Is Too Late

Vance remained silent. He let the harsh laughter echo against the peeling paint and water-stained ceiling of the dilapidated office. His expression sat on his face like an impenetrable mask of stone. He did not blink. He did not shift his weight. He simply stared with cold, hard eyes at the scene unfolding in front of him.

Doug wiped a tear of mirth from his cheek, his chest puffed out with arrogant pride. He turned his back on Vance and gestured broadly to the massive group of defectors.

“Let's go,” Doug sneered, his voice cutting through the fading chuckles of the crowd.

He led the pack toward the exit, his heavy boots thudding against the worn, creaking floorboards. Just before stepping through the doorframe and out of the office for good, Doug stopped. He slowly turned his head back over his shoulder, locking eyes with Vance. A nasty, triumphant smirk twisted his lips. Doug raised his right hand and boldly flipped Vance off, holding his middle finger high in the air. Gathering a mouthful of saliva, he spit aggressively onto the carpeted ground right near Vance’s shoes.

“Zenith Corporation?” Doug sneered, his voice dripping with venom. “Yuck!”

He spun around and marched out into the brightly lit corridor of Genesis Tower.

The hallway outside presented a stark contrast to the run-down office they had just abandoned. The polished marble floors reflected the harsh fluorescent lights, and the air smelled faintly of expensive floor wax and corporate success. Standing right outside the door, waiting with eager anticipation, was Grant Fowler. Grant, the general manager of Nebula Corporation, wore a slickly tailored gray suit that struggled to contain his chubby frame. He adjusted his silk tie and pasted a wide, welcoming smile onto his face as Doug and the defectors poured out into the pristine corridor.

Doug’s attitude shifted in the blink of an eye. The arrogant swagger he had displayed inside the office vanished into thin air. In its place, a subservient, eager posture took over. Doug rushed forward, thrusting both his hands out to grasp Grant’s right hand in a frantic, obsequious handshake.

“Welcome, Mr. Baxter,” Grant greeted him smoothly, pumping Doug’s hand up and down.

“It’s an honor to meet you in person, Mr. Fowler,” Doug gloated loudly, ensuring his voice carried back into the open office door. “I have always wanted to join your side. We just left that useless trash Vance behind. He is nothing but a broke loser.”

Grant puffed out his chest, reveling in the public flattery. “You made the right choice, Doug.”

Back inside the office, Vance slowly slid his hands into his pockets. He took a steadying breath and walked with measured steps toward the door. As he stepped out into the corridor, the contempt in his eyes sharpened. He watched Grant and Doug chatting like old friends, their voices bouncing off the smooth marble walls.

Grant caught sight of Vance out of the corner of his eye. He stopped shaking Doug’s hand and let out a disdainful scoff.

“Come on out, everyone,” Grant ordered, waving his hand dismissively at the defectors. “Line up against the wall. Chop chop.”

The massive group of defectors scrambled to obey, pressing their backs against the polished marble, creating a wide, clear pathway down the center of the corridor.

Doug blinked, taken aback by the sudden military precision. “What is going on, Mr. Fowler?”

Grant straightened his suit jacket, his chin held high in self-importance. “Someone just acquired Nebula Corporation. A mysterious new boss. He possesses unimaginable wealth, and I hear he answers directly to Jaxson Reed.”

Doug sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes widened to the size of saucers. Acquiring Nebula Corporation required a minimum of ten million dollars in raw capital. And this new boss had ties to Jaxson Reed? Jaxson Reed owned Genesis Tower. Jaxson Reed controlled every single contract Nebula Corporation fed on. This meant they were about to be managed by the apex predator of the Oakhaven business world.

A fierce tremor of excitement rushed through Doug’s veins. He felt the intoxicating rush of impending wealth. He imagined luxury cars, tailored suits, and penthouse suites. He told himself he should have abandoned Zenith Corporation years ago.

Doug’s daydream shattered when his eyes landed on Vance. Vance still stood near the office doorway, his hands resting casually in his pockets, refusing to leave.

“Huh?” Doug shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Vance. “What are you doing here? Get lost!”

Grant stepped forward, his slick leather shoes clicking sharply on the marble. He looked Vance up and down with sheer disdain.

“Mr. Kensington,” Grant sneered, his voice echoing loudly down the hall. “Oh, my apologies. I should address you as Vanny, seeing as Zenith Corporation is going bankrupt any day now. Our new boss is arriving for an inspection. I advise you to pack your trash and leave the building immediately.”

Grant took another step closer, lowering his voice into a harsh, threatening growl. “If you stay here and disturb him, you won't escape the consequences. He will crush you like a bug.”

Vance stood his ground. He did not flinch. He did not break eye contact. “I don't believe that,” Vance replied, his tone flat and calm.

Grant’s face flushed a deep, ugly red. The veins in his thick neck bulged against his collar. He harbored a deep hatred for men like Vance. Men who possessed nothing, men standing on the precipice of ruin, yet still refused to cower. What right did Vance have to stand there with such unwavering calm? He was a failed boss of a bankrupt company. He had no right to act dignified.

“You have been a thorn in my side since the beginning, Vance,” Grant spat, his fists clenching at his sides. “You had better get lost. Otherwise, I will teach you a physical lesson right here in front of your former staff.”

Vance stared at Grant’s clenched fists. He tilted his head slightly. “You'll regret it if I leave,” Vance replied, his voice indifferent.

The words hung in the air for a fraction of a second.

Then, Grant threw his head back and burst into loud, echoing, mocking laughter. “What a freaking joke!” Grant roared, slapping his own thigh. “You think we need you? You think—”

*Ding.*

The soft, melodic chime of the elevator doors cut Grant’s laughter short. The heavy steel doors slid open at the far end of the corridor.

Jaxson Reed strode out.

He was a man in his forties, with a well-built, imposing physique that strained against his custom-tailored suit. Every step he took radiated power and authority. One could tell just by the way he carried his weight that he was skilled in combat arts. Jaxson was the billionaire CEO of Genesis Tower, widely known across Oakhaven as the most trusted right-hand man to Winston Rutherford, the wealthiest tycoon in the city. Jaxson’s personal net worth sat at over a billion dollars. He was a titan of industry, a man whose mere presence commanded fear and respect.

Grant’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. Desperate to impress this titan, Grant frantically scrambled forward. He smoothed down his suit jacket and bowed deeply, his spine bending as he rushed to welcome the man he assumed would introduce their new boss.

“You are here, Mr. Reed,” Grant greeted, his voice trembling with eager anticipation. He kept his head lowered in sheer respect.

Jaxson stopped in the middle of the hallway. He cast a brief, cold glance at Grant. “Prepare to welcome our new boss,” Jaxson instructed, his voice a deep, resonant baritone that echoed off the marble walls.

Hearing that command, Grant snapped upright. He wildly waved his hands at the lined-up employees, signaling them to stand straighter, to form two perfect lines. Grant wanted this inspection to go flawlessly. He wanted to show the billionaire that he ran a tight, disciplined ship.

But out of the corner of his eye, Grant noticed a massive flaw in his perfect setup. Vance was still standing casually in the center of the hall, his hands still shoved into his pockets, right in the direct path of Jaxson Reed.

Grant flew into an immediate, violent rage. He bared his teeth, his face twisting into a nasty snarl. “Do you have a death wish, Vance?” Grant screamed, his voice cracking with fury.

Refusing to let this bankrupt loser ruin his big moment, Grant stepped forward. He lifted his right leg, pulling his knee back, preparing to physically kick Vance out of the way. He aimed his heavy leather shoe right for Vance’s ribs.

But Grant froze mid-motion.

His raised foot hovered awkwardly in the air. His eyes locked onto the scene unfolding in front of him, and his brain simply ceased to function. It was as if a bolt of lightning from the heavens had struck him directly in the chest, paralyzing his muscles and shattering his reality.

Jaxson Reed—the untouchable billionaire, the titan of Genesis Tower—marched directly past Grant, ignoring him like a speck of dust on the wind. Jaxson walked straight up to Vance.

And then, Jaxson bowed.

He did not just nod his head. He did not just dip his shoulders. Jaxson Reed bent his waist at a perfect, ninety-degree angle. He held the bow, presenting a picture of sheer subservient respect before Vance.

“Hello, Mr. Kensington,” Jaxson declared, his deep voice ringing out in the dead silent corridor. “I am Jaxson Reed. I am looking forward to working with you in the future.”

His voice carried a raw edge of deep-seated fear and reverence. Jaxson had followed the wealthiest men in Oakhaven for over a decade. He knew the hidden hierarchies of the world. He knew of the terrifying, blood-soaked power Vance wielded in the shadows. He knew Vance commanded an exceptionally wealthy corporation abroad, possessing means and resources that could crush Genesis Tower overnight.

Straightening his posture, Jaxson turned sharply on his heel to face the bewildered, paralyzed crowd of Nebula employees. He looked at Grant, whose foot was still hovering in the air. He looked at Doug, whose mouth hung open in a silent scream of confusion.

Jaxson dropped the bombshell.

“Mr. Kensington is your new boss!”

The words slammed into the corridor like a physical shockwave. Grant and Doug’s blood ran ice cold. The color drained from their faces, leaving them as pale as ghosts. Their hearts hammered against their ribs in a frantic, irregular rhythm.

Doug’s knees knocked together. He refused to believe the impossible. He refused to accept that the man he had just mocked, the man he had just spat at, was the billionaire who had acquired their company.

“You... you must be mistaken, Mr. Reed!” Doug stammered uncontrollably, his voice cracking and pitching up into a hysterical whine. “How can this good-for-nothing be the new boss? He is nothing but a person in charge of that trashy company! Zenith Corporation is about to go bankrupt! His capital flow is suspended! He only has a hundred left on his balance sheet!”

Grant swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. He needed to back Doug up. He needed to prove this was a massive misunderstanding. “Exactly, Mr. Reed,” Grant chimed in, his voice shaking. “I have known Vance for around five years. I am familiar with his back—”

Smack!

The sound of the impact echoed like a gunshot in the confined hallway.

Before Grant could even finish his sentence, Jaxson stepped forward and ruthlessly slapped Grant directly across the face. The strike landed with explosive force. Skin slapped against skin, sending a spray of sweat into the air. The sheer power of the blow snapped Grant’s head to the side, his cheek instantly blooming into an angry, bruised red.

“Who gave you the right to evaluate Mr. Kensington?” Jaxson roared, his eyes blazing with unrestrained fury.

He stepped into Grant’s personal space, grabbing the chubby manager by the lapels of his tailored suit, and hauled him upright. Jaxson raised his hand and struck Grant a second time.

Smack!

The second slap hit even harder. Grant let out a choked cry as the force sent him staggering backward. He tripped over his own feet, crashing hard into the marble wall, clutching his swelling face with trembling hands.

“You must be tired of living, you imbecile!” Jaxson bellowed, pointing a thick finger right at Grant’s bleeding nose. “Mr. Kensington is the new boss! If you disrespect him again, I will end you!”

The corridor plunged into a suffocating, terrified silence. The traitors who had just mocked Vance moments ago now trembled like leaves in a hurricane. They pressed their backs harder against the marble wall, wishing they could melt into the stone. Their eyes darted nervously toward Vance, their previous arrogance replaced by overwhelming dread.

Vance stood amidst the chaos with perfect composure. He slowly raised his right hand. He pointed his index finger directly at Doug. Then, he moved his finger, pointing at Grant. Finally, he swept his hand across the line of terrified employees who had jumped ship.

“You're fired,” Vance stated.

His voice remained quiet, but it carried the heavy weight of an absolute decree. It was a death sentence to their careers.

Vance dropped his hand and turned his back on the ruined men. He looked past the shivering traitors and focused his gaze on his lone loyal subordinate standing in the office doorway.

“Colin,” Vance addressed the young man.

Colin stood frozen, his eyes wide as he processed the brutal scene.

“You will immediately become the legal representative of both Zenith Corporation and Nebula Corporation,” Vance announced, his voice steady and commanding.

Colin felt a massive jolt shoot through his spine. His face flushed a deep crimson. Flustered and overwhelmed by the sudden promotion, Colin frantically waved his hands in the air. “I am not qualified, Mr. Kensington!” Colin protested loudly, his voice shaking. “I might fail to draw any business! I am terrible at socializing and handling executives! I cannot run both companies!”

Jaxson stepped in. The fierce, terrifying aura he had displayed moments ago vanished. He chuckled warmly, offering Colin a reassuring smile.

“With Mr. Kensington's backing, such an issue is not a problem at all,” Jaxson assured the young man. He cast a quick, cautious glance at Vance before turning his full attention back to Colin.

To prove his point, Jaxson smoothly reached into the breast pocket of his custom suit. He withdrew a crisp, printed check. He stepped forward and pressed the slip of paper into Colin’s trembling hands.

“I will invest ten million dollars into Zenith Corporation and Nebula Corporation unconditionally in the early stages,” Jaxson explained, tapping the check with his index finger.

The crowd in the hallway gasped, sucking in cold air. Ten million dollars. Unconditional. That meant Colin’s personal net worth had just skyrocketed to millions of dollars in a single heartbeat.

But Jaxson was not finished. He turned to his side and snapped his fingers. A sharply dressed secretary immediately stepped out from the elevator lobby, rushing forward with a thick, heavy file folder. Jaxson took the file and handed it directly to Colin.

“Also,” Jaxson continued, his voice echoing clearly down the silent hall, “you will be in charge of the exclusive renovation rights for the three thousand luxury houses in Emerald Residences, starting tomorrow.”

As Colin blankly accepted the life-changing contracts, the weight of the paper heavy in his arms, the crowd in the hallway watched in agonizing envy.

Every single person present knew the math. The profit of renovating a single luxury house in Emerald Residences sat around thirty thousand dollars. Three thousand houses meant the total revenue guaranteed by that thick file was nearly a hundred million dollars. Pure, untouchable revenue. Jaxson Reed had developed Emerald Residences himself. No one dared to doubt his word or his authority to hand over the monumental project.

“If you have no more questions, please sign the contracts,” Jaxson prompted gently, gesturing toward the folder.

Doug stood rooted to the spot, completely paralyzed. His hands hung limply at his sides. His face twisted into a hideous mask of profound regret, bitter resentment, and utter disbelief. He stared at the ten-million-dollar check resting in Colin’s hands. He stared at the thick file containing a hundred million dollars in revenue.

The agonizing clarity hit Doug like a physical blow to the stomach. A few minutes was all it took for Colin’s net worth to reach astronomical heights. That unimaginable fortune, that golden ticket to the top of high society, that limitless power and wealth...

It should have been his.