A week later, Marcus took the private elevator down to the ground floor. He wasn't wearing a suit. He was wearing jeans, a plain jacket, and comfortable boots.
He walked into the bustling employee cafeteria. It was loud, filled with the sounds of people talking, laughing, and eating. The oppressive atmosphere of fear that Victor and Derek had cultivated was entirely gone. People were just... people again.
Marcus walked over to the coffee station. He grabbed a small paper cup, poured a dark roast, and reached for the vanilla creamer.
“Excuse me, sir?”
Marcus turned. A young, nervous-looking kid in a gray maintenance uniform was standing there, holding a mop bucket. He looked terrified to be speaking to the CEO. “I think... I think that creamer is empty. Let me get you a fresh one from the back.”
Marcus looked at the kid. He saw the same fear Maya used to have. The fear of being crushed by someone with more power.
Marcus smiled gently, placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder.
“Don't worry about it,” Marcus said, his voice warm and steady. “I actually prefer it black. What’s your name, son?”
“Leo, sir.”
“Well, Leo, it’s nice to meet you. If you ever need anything, my door on the 40th floor is always open.”
Marcus took his coffee and sat down at a small table in the corner, blending into the crowd. He wasn't the undercover boss anymore. He was just the man who had finally cleaned his father’s house.
And as he took a sip of his coffee, surrounded by the hum of a renewed company, Marcus finally felt like he was home.