As the CEO, Mr. Dawson typed away on his laptop. Like all important men of his status.
A loud wail of the fire alarm pierced the air, breaking his concentration.
He froze, bewildered, and then quickly got up, heading to the doorway where smoke seemed to curl in tendrils down the hall.
His employees sprinted past, shouting and pushing toward the exits, their faces a resemblance of headless chickens.
His secretary, a slim woman, appeared from the side corridor.
"Mr. Dawson, this way, quickly!" She urged, guiding him toward the fire escape.
"What's happening?" He demanded, wanting to gain control of the situation. But she only looked back with urgency, dragging him forward.
As they reached the fire escape door, she opened it.
"This way, sir."
He stepped through, only to hear the clang of the door slamming shut behind him.
Confused, he turned back, hand grasping at the handle. It was locked. He tugged, but it wouldn't budge.
"Miss Collins?" He called, his voice rising in fury. "Open this door! Miss Collins!"
He banged on the door repeatedly.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?" A voice rang out behind him.
He spun around, and his eyes widened.
There, standing with arms crossed and a slight smirk on her lips was Tanya Pendragon.
"But is it a surprise if you knew it would happen." Tanya smiles at her ex-boss.
He hadn't seen her since he threw her out over a year ago.
"Tanya?"
"What the hell are you doing here? How did you even get in? I had all security make sure to never allow you back here." He rapidly fires out.
She simply ignored his questions as they were beneath her. "You know, Mr. Dawson, this company took everything from me."
"What—what are you talking about?" He edged back. "I gave you a job here. A chance to—"
She cut him off and delivered a swift kick to his knee, causing him to stagger back against the railing.
"A chance to be a slave?" She grabbed him by his collar.
"You think you built this? That everything under this roof exists because of you? Guess again. I made Phoenix Global Fund."
Dawson grimaced in her tightening grip. "You're talking nonsense! Phoenix was always mine."
"Liar. Just like you lied to everyone else while you signed my name away."
She started dragging him up the stairs toward the rooftop door.
He struggled in her grip, gasping as he banged against the stairs.
"You're crazy! You don't know what you're doing! The law will—"
"Oh, save it." She threw open the rooftop door.
She hauled him up, ignoring his protests as she forced him to the edge of the rooftop. The ash-like stench of burning materials filled the air.
"Look."
He looked down in horror, seeing the entire building in flames, thick smoke billowing out of the windows.
"Watch it burn. All of it." Tanya smiled at his pain.
"Tanya... you can't... You won't get away with this! The police, they'll come for you! You're going to rot in prison!"
Tanya laughed softly. "Prison? Oh, that's rich."
"This company was my life. I worked day and night, poured my heart into it. Missed birthdays, dinners, my own damn life... just to keep this place running. To keep you looking good."
He opened his mouth to speak, but she death glared him.
"And what did I get for it? My work stolen, my relationship ended, all my sacrifices taken for granted. And then, when I was no longer useful, you threw me away like garbage."
She leaned close, her voice a deadly calm. "I thought it only fitting, that I returned the favour."
"And burn this empire of yours to the ground."
He growls at her having enough. "You're insane. I'll mak—"
She suddenly kicked him off the edge of the roof.
"tttaannnnyaaaa!!!"
His scream echoed, desperate so desperate, it faded into silence.
Tanya leaned over, watching his figure splatter below.
"Didn't catch that—care to repeat?"
She tilted her head, a mocking smile on her lips.
Bzzzt... Bzzzt... Bzzzt...
Her phone buzzed.
She answered it, her tone casual. "Dawson the Drain took a dive, shame he didn't stick the landing."
"A shame indeed, it could have been epic." The other person joked back.
"Is it done on your side?" Tanya questioned.
"It's done. The fire department? They won't be here in time." The voice replied, amusement clear. "By the time they arrive... this place will be nothing but ash."
Tanya chuckled at how her plan was so perfect. "Good job."
"Bye now."
She hung up and slipped the phone back into her pocket.
Turning away from the edge, she strolled back into the burning building.
Flames danced around her, smoke thickening, but she moved through it.
Making her way back to Mr. Dawson's office.
Once inside, she slumped into his luxurious leather chair, propping her feet up on the desk.
"A wasted throne."
The firelight flickered across her face as she surveyed the office she'd once worked herself to the bone in.
"If only they'd stepped aside."
She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the flames and the distant wail of sirens that would arrive far too late.
"Their loss."