CHAPTER 201: The Old Spectral Corp

CHAPTER 201: The Old Spectral Corp

The elevator of Spectral Corp descended in silence, enveloped in a cold, white light. Enid stood alone, her back straight and her gaze fixed on the metallic reflection of the doors. Her mind worked tirelessly. Nothing was going as planned, but there was no room left for doubt. It was time to strike the final blow. Spectral Corp was going to be hers, no matter the cost.

The elevator stopped with a slight shudder.

The doors opened.

Enid stood completely still.

In front of her stood Marius.

He wore a dark jacket with a high collar, all in black tones. His presence was imposing. He seemed taller, more solid. However, there was something impossible to ignore: a suture line ran across his forehead from side to side, raw and perfectly visible.

Enid's heart stopped for a second.

"No… it can't be," she murmured, her voice breaking. "You're dead."

Marius smiled. A slow, almost amused smile.

"A little bird told me you're planning to take over the company," he said in a calm voice.

Enid swallowed.

"How do you know that?"

"It's a secret," he replied, tilting his head slightly. "But I'm not here to stop you. In fact, I want to help you. Everything is starting to fall into place, and Enid Corp will be very useful for what's coming."

She still didn't react. Her mind refused to accept what she was seeing.

Then, Marius let out a short laugh.

"Though I should make something clear."

He brought a hand to his forehead and, without effort, began to remove the sutures. The skin opened, revealing the inside.

Enid took a step back, horrified.

Where a normal brain should have been, a grayish, exposed, moist, living brain was visible. Embedded inside it, like a conscious nucleus, a gray eye moved slowly, watching her the entire time.

"Marius is dead," the creature said in a serene voice. "My name is Grunbak."

The elevator closed again.

And Enid understood that nothing had ended. In fact, everything had just begun.

Grunbak replaced the sutures with unsettling precision. The threads closed on their own, as if the skin obeyed an external will, hiding the horror again beneath an almost human appearance. The gray eye disappeared behind the reconstructed flesh, and Marius's face returned, cold and false.

Enid was still pressed against the elevator wall, unable to look away.

"Relax," Grunbak said, straightening his jacket. "I don't need to scare you more than necessary."

The elevator resumed its descent.

"I've been watching," he continued. "Investigating. It's curious how easy it is to follow the trail of someone like you."

Enid clenched her teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Grunbak smiled slightly.

"Of course you do. Fifty-five percent of Spectral Corp's shares. A not insignificant figure. Especially since it wasn't a purchase… but a gift."

Enid didn't respond.

"Simon," Grunbak continued. "The CEO. A weak man, with too many secrets and very little will. It was enough to 'convince' him. Pressure, promises, veiled threats. Nothing you don't master perfectly."

"That's none of your concern," Enid said finally, her voice firm.

"Oh, it concerns me a great deal," he replied. "Because Spectral Corp is not just a company. It's a key piece. And you already have more than half the board in your hands."

The elevator vibrated gently.

"You could have done it ethically," Grunbak added, "but that's never been your style. And even so, I don't judge you. On the contrary. I admire your efficiency."

Enid looked at him distrustfully.

"If you know all that… what do you want?"

Grunbak turned his head toward her.

"An alliance," he replied. "You want total control. I need resources, infrastructure, and discretion. Together, we can build something that goes far beyond Spectral Corp… and Enid Corp."

The elevator stopped once more.

"Think about it," he concluded. "You've already crossed too many lines to go back. I'm just offering you a way forward."

The doors opened.

And Enid, for the first time in a long time, didn't know if she was facing an opportunity… or the beginning of her greatest mistake.

Enid walked out without looking back, her step firm and her face impenetrable.

From inside the elevator, Grunbak raised his voice, adopting a childish, almost mocking tone.

"Goodbye!" he sang. "Don't forget to call. We can do very fun things together. Oh, and don't take too long… I don't like waiting."

He continued talking, saying disjointed phrases, soft jokes, promises disguised as games.

Enid didn't stop. She didn't respond. She walked down the hallway without turning around once.

The elevator doors closed.

And for the first time in a long time, even she felt she had entered territory where she no longer had absolute control.

She advanced to the main office. The gold plaque said Simon Verkut – CEO. She pushed the door open without knocking.

Simon was sitting behind his enormous dark wood desk. He wore an impeccable suit, though his hands trembled slightly as he held a fountain pen. Seeing her enter, his face lit up with a nervous, almost devout smile.

"Enid… you're just in time," he said. "I was finishing up the last documents."

She approached with slow, elegant steps. Her expression was cold, distant, as if Simon were just another piece of office furniture. She leaned lightly against the desk, observing the papers.

"Are they all ready?" she asked in a calm voice.

"Yes, yes… all of them," he replied, swallowing hard. "The shares, the subsidiaries, the labs, the investment funds. Everything will be transferred to your name, just as I promised."

Simon smiled, excited.

"When this is all over… we can announce our relationship. I know the age difference doesn't matter. You said you would marry me."