INICIAR SESIÓNI sat in the driver's seat as the GPS chimed, "You've arrived at Northpoint Corp. Check-in successful." I looked up. Graves. Nothing but graves. My phone buzzed. My boss tagged me in the group chat: [Zane Zander, system says you checked in ten minutes ago. Where the hell are you? The whole company's waiting. Learned how to spoof your GPS to slack off?] Cold sweat slid down my back. I stared at the fresh headstone outside my window. My photo was on it. My hands shook. I tried to send my boss a video—no signal. Just dead bars. No service. So how did I check in? Worse— In the rearview mirror, someone in my exact outfit rose slowly from behind a dirt mound. Could it be... Was I already "dead"?
Ver másThe same guys who used to buddy up with Jay?Now pale. Jumpy. Sitting stiff as they might snap.No one even breathed too loudly.Like the next one getting dragged in could be them.I pushed the door open.Let my eyes sweep the room.Anyone who met my gaze dropped it fast.Power does that.So does guilt.But I didn't wipe them out.A full purge? Feels good for five minutes. Then it wrecks the company.I wasn't stupid.I signed a few quiet transfers. Finance, key positions—swapped in people I trusted.The rest?Fence-sitters stayed.Clean it too hard, and there's nobody left.This isn't some moral courtroom. As long as they could work and make money, I didn't care where they stood before. Or what they said behind my back.Fear works better than loyalty anyway.***At my first department meeting after that, I took Jay's old seat.My fingers were tapping the table.Soft.But everyone felt it.Message was clear.Still a Zander running this department.Just not Jay.
"Thanks, Mr. Lloyd."I stepped out.Sunlight hit hard.My phone rang."Mr. Zander? This is the county jail. Jay Zander has requested a visit. He said that if you refuse, you'll regret it."I frowned.Even now?What else could he possibly want?...Fine.I'd go.At the county jail, Jay sat across from me behind thick glass.Head shaved. Inmate uniform. Thinner. Eyes hollow.When he saw me, he grinned. Pale teeth."Zane, you won. But I left you a little gift. I messed with your brake pads. If you'd stayed on the road any longer yesterday, they would've failed. Too bad—you got lucky."He leaned in, grin twisting. "But don't celebrate yet. The guy I hired? Total psycho. Didn't get paid. He'll come looking for you."Jay broke into manic laughter.The guard grabbed him and dragged him out.I watched him go.Felt nothing but a dull weight.My brother.All the way to the end—still the same.After leaving the county jail, I headed to the parking lot.Near my car, that feeli
He looked at me, pure hate in his eyes. "Zane! Don't get cocky! I'm not done! Why are you always better than me? Top sales, Mom and Dad favor you, even Mr. Lloyd backs you! I just wanted you to lose everything once. Is that so wrong?"I walked over, looked down at him.The guy who used to call me brother."You messed up thinking my patience was weakness." I kept my voice flat. "And you crossed the line. Some paths—you don't come back from."The cops cuffed him. "Jay Zander, you're under suspicion of assault, unlawful detention, and property damage. You're coming with us."They dragged him out, still yelling.Didn't matter anymore.A few claps started.Then more.Louder.The same people who trashed me in the group chat were all smiles now."That was insane. What a comeback!""I knew you were set up!""Mr. Zander, take care of us next time..."Their faces made me sick.Didn't show it.This was work. These were people.I fixed my torn collar, gave Mr. Lloyd a short nod. "
"I have an alibi! Dropped you off, went straight home. My neighborhood cams can prove it!" The more he talked, the worse it got. Voice shaking.I just watched. No reaction."An alibi?" I tilted my head. "Jay, you're smart. You didn't get your hands dirty."A beat."But you missed one thing. The second you bring in help, things crack."I slid a hand into my pocket. Cold plastic."On my way back, someone tried to run me off the road. Pickup truck. Guy couldn't drive—wrapped it around a tree. Took off, dropped this."I set the access card on the table.Name facing up.Peter."Jay... that ring a bell?"***The second he saw the card, Jay went ghost pale.Yeah. He knew it.Peter. Head of security.Also the guy Jay bought.Mr. Lloyd picked it up, checked the name. His face dropped."Peter's card?" He looked at Jay. "Why does Zane have it? And what crash?"Jay's lips shook. "I—I don't know! Maybe he found it! Or stole it! He's changing the subject! What does this have to do












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