Adonis Wykeham was in his penthouse, gazing over the city skyline that he felt he owned. At only 28, he'd become a big shot in the tough business world.
Everyone knew his name and feared his power.
But despite his success, he felt tired, really tired, like something deep down inside him was drained. It wasn't just because he'd been working too hard or not getting enough sleep; it was a kind of tiredness that his fancy lifestyle couldn't fix.
His secretary, Ms. Tessie, walked in and told him the quarterly report was waiting for his signature. She was always so dependable, placing the thick stack of papers on his desk like it was nothing.
"Just numbers, Tess,"
Adonis murmured, his voice lacking the usual bite. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the city lights outside.
The stuff he'd worked so hard for—money, power, success—it all just seemed so empty now.
Ms. Tessie tried to get his attention again.
"Don't forget the Aether Dynamics meeting tomorrow, Mr. Wykeham. Their new energy tech is supposed to be huge,"
she said, her voice hinting at the excitement she felt.
For a brief moment, something stirred in him. This could be big, something that actually changed the world, not just his bank account. But he quickly pushed the feeling away. Business is business, and feelings have no place in it.
That night, as he was on his way home, his phone vibrated. It was a weird text from some random number with really intense encryption.
It basically told him to stay away from Aether Dynamics. It was definitely a threat, but not your everyday kind of threat.
He ignored it. He'd faced worse in his climb to the top. The next day, the sun was shining as he walked to the Aether Dynamics building.
It looked like something from the future, all sleek and shiny.
But then, bam! A black van screeched to a stop next to him. Before he knew it, guys in masks and black clothes hopped out, guns in hand. They looked professional, like they meant business.
One of them pointed the gun right at him.
"Adonis Wykeham, your little plans end now,"
a robotic voice said. And just like that, he felt a burning pain in his chest. He looked down, saw his shirt getting wet with his own blood, and realized he'd been shot.
Everything started spinning around him. The sounds of the city—cars honking, sirens wailing, people screaming—sounded like they were coming from a TV on mute. He stumbled back, his legs giving out.
As the world faded away, the only thing going through his mind was
"Well, I definitely didn't plan for this."