Chapter 59 — The Face in the Shadows (Flashback part 6)

Chapter 59 — The Face in the Shadows (Flashback part 6)
Night had fallen over Manhattan like a dense veil of fog and tension.

The buildings gleamed like columns of glass and steel, reflecting the chaos of the metropolis. But among them all, one stood out—Aeternum Industries Tower, 73 stories of power and silence.

Alexander adjusted his black gloves, observing the building from the top floor of a neighboring building.

Dante, beside him, put on his communication headset and tested the microphone.

“We’re really about to invade one of the most powerful corporations in the country,” Dante murmured. “And all because you can’t sleep without knowing who their ‘boss’ is.”

Alexander glanced at him sideways, a cold smile on his face.

“Curiosity is the first step to revenge.”

Dante snorted.

“Revenge is the second step to suicide.”

Alexander didn’t answer. He simply stood, the cold wind biting his face, and surveyed the distance between the buildings.

The target was less than fifty meters away.

Far enough away to kill a man who hesitated.

"Let's go," he said, and ran.

They jumped off the ledge, sliding down the steel line strung between the two buildings. The sound of the metal hook echoed through the night air until they landed atop the Aeternum tower.

Dante crouched down and took a deep breath.

"Don't ever make me do that again."

"You say that every time," Alexander replied with a half-smile, pulling the laser cutter from his pocket.

The roof was protected by motion sensors and thermal imaging cameras, but Alexander had studied the system map for days.

He knew exactly where to step.

"Secure zone to the ventilation shaft," he whispered.

They descended the shaft like shadows. The muffled sound of metal echoed in rhythmic rhythms—a metallic heartbeat that matched their tension.

When they reached a grate, Alexander pulled out the tool and cut silently, opening a passage to the dark corridor of one of the middle floors.

The clock read 1:12 a.m.

The tower was nearly empty, only the internal security team and a few automated servers running.

Alexander accessed the system via his cell phone and plugged in the modified flash drive.

"We have six minutes until the security protocol resets," he said. "After that, the system will notice the intrusion."

Dante raised an eyebrow.

"Six minutes? That's how long it takes you to make coffee."

"Then I better not miss the point," Alexander replied, typing quickly.

The system gave way.

Lines of code began to scroll across the screen, revealing hidden directories, encrypted folders, internal messages, and financial records.

And that's when it appeared.

A name.

"Ethan Cross."

"We found something," Alexander murmured. "Hidden CEO. No public records, but he appears on all internal contracts and strategic moves."

Dante leaned in.

"Ethan Cross... never heard of him."

Alexander looked deeper.

The folder was locked by a layer of advanced encryption, but he had the right codes.

Within seconds, the system gave way.

The screen flickered.

Photos, reports, and confidential emails appeared.

And then—an image.

A man in a gray suit, impeccable blond hair, and a serene smile.

Cold, almost empty eyes.

Dante let out a low whistle.

"Who is this bastard?"

Alexander remained silent.

"Do you think this Ethan guy is the real boss?"

Alexander reviewed the rest of the files.

"Officially, yes. But it's not his real name. 'Ethan Cross' is just a corporate identity. He only exists on paper."

"So who is he really?"

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

"I don't know yet. But whoever it is, they're running everything behind this facade. And what's worse: they're two steps ahead of everyone else."

A noise echoed through the hallway.

The two exchanged glances.

Someone was approaching.

Alexander turned off the computer, pulled Dante aside, and turned off the monitor's light.

Two Aeternum security guards walked by, talking in low voices.

"The boss ordered increased security on the 31st floor," one of them said. "Looks like 'Mr. Cross' will be arriving tomorrow morning."

"Him? Here?" the other asked.

"That's what they say. But, between you and me, I don't think this guy's even human."

The footsteps disappeared down the hallway.

Dante looked at Alexander.

"He's coming here tomorrow."

Alexander straightened his coat.

"Then we'll be back tomorrow."

Dante's eyes widened.

"Are you serious? Breaking in twice in a row?"

"The first was to find it. The second is to confirm it," Alexander replied dryly.

Next night.

The plan was simple—and suicidal.

They would pose as outsourced maintenance workers and infiltrate the meeting where "Mr. Cross" would first appear.

Alexander wore a gray uniform, a fake badge, and a neutral look.

Dante, with a cap and a clipboard, followed him through the hallways.

Everything seemed calm until the VIP elevator opened on the main floor.

Silence.

Everyone stopped.

Out of the elevator stepped him.

The same man from the photos.

Impeccable black suit. Confident smile.

Their eyes scanned the floor until, for a brief second, they met Alexander's.

That gaze... cold, impenetrable, but charged with something.

Alexander felt his heart race.

"Dante..." he murmured, almost voiceless. "That's him."

Ethan Cross walked surrounded by security guards, speaking quietly to his aides.

But Alexander couldn't stop watching him.

There was something in the way he moved, in the distant tone of his voice. A calmness that hid something monstrous.

Dante noticed it too.

"This guy... there's something wrong with him."

"No," Alexander replied, his gaze fixed. "He is the mistake."

After the man entered the meeting room, Alexander hid near the side door and activated the recorder.

He managed to capture part of the conversation.

> “...the domination of New York is almost complete. Political alliances have been secured. Soon, the second phase will begin. The country needs a new order.”
>

> “And the unstable elements, sir?”
>

> “They will be converted... or eliminated.”
>

The sound of a chair scraping.

Feet approaching the door.

Alexander turned off the recorder and walked away with Dante before they were seen.

Back in the car, parked two blocks away, Dante threw his hood back on the seat and looked at his friend.

"So that's it. We just saw the face of the man who wants to take over the country."

Alexander kept his gaze fixed on the street, thoughtful.

"Yes... but that's not all."

"What do you mean?"

Alexander turned on the recorder and listened to the meeting clip again.

He noticed something Dante hadn't.

Ethan's voice had a slight European accent.

"We found the face. Now we just need to find the real name."

And as the lights of New York reflected in the windshield, Alexander realized that the war that was beginning was bigger than anything he and Dante had ever faced.

The name Ethan Cross was just the beginning.

Behind that elegant smile, there was a ghost.