Then Cassandra heard footsteps.

The entire floor changed.

Daniel sat straighter.

Marcy stopped talking.

Two supervisors near the conference room separated instantly.

Someone closed a door.

Preston Vale appeared.

He walked beside Nolan Price, his operations assistant.

Nolan was younger, smaller, and far less intelligent than Preston.

But he had one quality Preston valued.

Loyalty.

Or perhaps obedience.

Nolan carried a tablet beneath his arm and watched Preston constantly, as if waiting for instructions about whom to intimidate next.

Preston stopped when he saw Cassandra.

His expression changed immediately.

"You."

Cassandra turned.

"Good morning."

"You're late."

She glanced at the clock.

"Seven thirty."

"Exactly."

"I was told to report at eight."

Preston looked at her clothing.

Then at the cleaning cart.

Then at her face.

"The agency told me seven-thirty."

"I'm not from the agency."

He laughed.

"Of course you are."

Cassandra looked toward the executive restroom.

"There appears to be a leak."

"I don't care."

"Someone should put down a warning sign."

"I said I don't care."

His voice was loud enough for the surrounding employees to hear.

Cassandra remained calm.

"Someone could slip."

Preston stepped closer.

"I did not ask for your opinion."

The office became silent.

Cassandra noticed the reaction.

Everyone immediately looked down.

That told her more than the reports had.

This wasn't an isolated incident.

It was routine.

Preston pointed at the restroom.

"Clean it."

"The leak needs maintenance first."

He stared at her.

"Did you just argue with me?"

"No."

"Sounds like arguing."

"I'm explaining a safety issue."

He laughed.

"Listen carefully."

He stepped closer.

"Cleaners clean. Managers manage. Executives make decisions. You are a cleaner."

Cassandra's eyes remained on him.

"You should be careful about deciding what someone is."

Preston's expression hardened.

"People like you always think you're smarter than everyone else."

Cassandra felt the room tense.

"People like me?"

Preston smiled.

"You know exactly what I mean."

She did.

But she wanted him to say it.

She wanted evidence.

She wanted the truth spoken loudly enough that nobody could later pretend it hadn't happened.

Instead, Preston reached for the cleaning cart.

He grabbed a plastic bucket filled with water and shoved it toward her.

The bucket struck Cassandra's sneakers.

Water spilled over the edge.

Nolan laughed.

"Director Vale doesn't like repeating himself."

Cassandra looked at the water.

Then at Preston.

"You are making a mistake."

Preston's smile widened.

"No."

He leaned closer.

"The mistake was letting people like you think they can walk into a corporate office and act equal to the people who run it."

Cassandra said nothing.

Preston grabbed her sleeve.

He pulled her toward the executive restroom.

The cleaning cart rolled sideways.

Daniel stood up.

Marcy gasped.

"Sir—"

"Sit down," Preston snapped.

Daniel sat.

Preston dragged Cassandra through the restroom door.

"Since you like talking," he said, "you can start with the toilets."

Cassandra looked at him.

"You want me to clean the restroom."

"I want you on your knees."

Nolan followed them inside.

He picked up a yellow sponge.

"Maybe start with that one."

Preston pointed toward the largest stall.

"Scrub until I can see my reflection."

Cassandra stared at him.

She understood now.

This wasn't about cleaning.

It wasn't about a leak.

It wasn't even about her.

Preston needed someone to feel small.

He needed someone beneath him.

And because he believed she was powerless, he had chosen her.

He didn't know who she was.

He didn't know that the woman standing in a faded hoodie owned the company whose logo was engraved on the marble wall.

He didn't know that every salary on the thirty-eighth floor ultimately came from decisions Cassandra had made.

He didn't know that his career was about to end.

And he certainly didn't know that the tiny camera hidden beneath her baseball cap was recording everything.

Cassandra picked up the sponge.

Then she looked directly into the camera.

"Begin live review," she whispered.

The first phase of the investigation had begun.

 Eight Minutes of Power

Preston stood in the doorway.

"Well?"

Cassandra looked down at the sponge.

"I'll need gloves."

Nolan laughed.

"She's demanding gloves now."

Preston shook his head.

"You've got five seconds to start."

Cassandra didn't move.

Preston stepped inside.

"Do you know how many people would kill for the opportunity to work in this building?"

"I imagine many."

"And you're standing here wasting my time."

"I was told to report at eight."

"I don't care what you were told."

He pointed toward the toilet.

"Scrub."

Cassandra bent slightly.

Then stopped.

"There is still water leaking from the sink."

Preston's eyes narrowed.

"Are you incapable of following a simple order?"

"No."

"Then prove it."

Cassandra picked up the sponge.

Nolan smiled.

"That's better."

But before she could touch the toilet, Preston grabbed her arm.

"Not like that."

He pulled her closer.

"On your knees."

The words echoed against the tile.

Outside the restroom, Daniel and Marcy were watching.

Daniel quietly pulled out his phone.

Marcy did the same.

Preston didn't notice.

He was too confident.

"You people always have an attitude," he said.

Cassandra looked at him.

"What people?"

He paused.

"People who don't understand how things work."

Cassandra's voice was quiet.

"Explain how things work."

Preston smiled.

"People at the bottom follow orders."

Nolan nodded.

"That's how companies function."

Cassandra looked between them.

"No."

Preston frowned.

"No?"

"That's how prisons function."

Nolan's smile disappeared.

Preston stepped closer.

"You think you're funny."

"No."

"You think you're better than me."

"No."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

Cassandra answered honestly.

"Because I'm trying to understand how someone becomes comfortable treating another person this way."

Preston's face tightened.

"Enough."

He grabbed the sponge from her hand and threw it into the bucket.

"Get down."

Cassandra didn't move.

Preston grabbed her shoulder.

At that moment, Daniel stepped into the doorway.

"Sir."

Preston turned.

"What?"

Daniel held his phone.

"I think you should stop."

Preston stared at him.

"Are you threatening me?"

"No."

"Then get back to your desk."

Daniel didn't move.

Preston's voice became colder.

"Daniel, I can destroy your career with one sentence."

Daniel swallowed.

"I know."

"Then leave."

Daniel looked at Cassandra.

Then at Marcy.

Then back at Preston.

"No."

It was the first time anyone on the floor had said no to him.

Preston stared at him.