JAEL FROST:THE RISE OF THE NEXUS SYSTEM

CHAPTER 6:THE FACE OF BETRAYAL

Jael rolled into the underground parking lot of Ryder Financial Corp, the wheels of his bike screeching against concrete as the sound echoed through the cavernous space. His chest rose and fell as he removed his helmet and looked up.

There it was.

Again.

Ten years younger, yet unchanged.

The company emblem rested proudly on the polished stone wall—a minimalist merge of the letters R and F. Not creative. Just expensive. Cold.

Jael climbed off his bike and secured his helmet in the rear compartment. He brushed down the sleeves of his faded blazer. His fingers paused at the frayed cuff. It was the same jacket from before, still carrying the weight of struggle.

He didn’t rush inside. He stood there, letting the memories wash over him.

In his previous life, by the time of his death, Ryder Financial had rebranded everything. The logo had become a silver phoenix tearing through a digital sigil. The tower itself had been rebuilt—taller, sharper, wrapped in glass and sensors, voice-activated doors and security layers. A monument that screamed invincibility.

But now, standing at the beginning, the building was already arrogant. Glass walls reflected sunlight like mirrors. Steel beams cut across its frame like scars on a beast.

Jael narrowed his eyes.

This was where it began.

Where he’d worked himself to the bone.

Where he’d begged.

Where he’d been betrayed.

And where he’d died.

He tightened his grip on his bag and walked inside.

The lobby felt larger than he remembered—not in size, but in pressure. Back then, just standing here had made him feel small. Now, he walked straighter. Still, the familiar scent of lemon polish and printer ink greeted him like a ghost.

Executives and assistants hurried past without a glance. No one noticed him. That suited him just fine.

A massive screen on the far wall streamed stock tickers—currencies, market movements, billionaire rankings. Promotional videos looped beside it, boasting Ryder Financial’s legacy, growth, and elite clientele.

Jael moved carefully, his expression neutral. People brushed past him like he wasn’t there. Some things never changed. Others just hadn’t changed yet.

When someone finally looked his way, it came with judgment—a whisper here, a scoff there.

At the reception desk, he encountered the first shadow of the past.

She looked exactly the same. Straight black hair. Heavy mascara. Lips too glossy. She would be gone soon—but not yet. For now, she sat behind the desk wearing her familiar smirk.

“Late again, Frost?” she said without fully lifting her gaze. “Are you ever good for anything?”

Jael didn’t respond. He signed his name in the register, his hand steady. No tremor. He returned the pen in silence and headed for the elevators.

Inside the metal box, the air felt colder. The elevator creaked upward. Time hadn’t touched this place. The fixtures were newer, but the soul was still gray.

When the doors opened, he stepped into the financial department.

Voices hummed. Keys clacked. Laughter rang out—forced and hollow.

He avoided eye contact, walking straight down the long corridor, shoes tapping softly against the floor.

At the far end stood a small office. A nameplate read:

Sandy Meyers – Financial Assistant

Jael pushed the door open.

Sandy looked up. Her hair was tied in a sharp bun, glasses slightly crooked. Her tired eyes brightened.

“Look at you, Jael,” she said with a small grin. “You finally showed up. Caden’s been riding me all morning about those reports. You’re not exactly making my life easier.”

Jael offered a faint smile. “Finished them last night. Sent them before sunrise.”

She raised a brow. “Trying to become a workaholic? Or just trying to make me look bad?”

“Wouldn’t dare,” he replied quietly.

Sandy chuckled and leaned back. “Don’t let that man grind you down. You know how Caden is. Loud bark, sharp teeth. Just don’t give him anything he can bite into.”

Jael nodded slowly.

She didn’t deserve what was coming.

In his last life, Sandy had vanished from the company. No farewell. Just rumors—an affair, hush money, disgrace. No one ever learned the truth.

He had taken her position.

And now she was here, smiling at him.

Before he could speak, the door burst open.

“Jael!”

The voice was bright. Familiar.

Kira Ryder.

She hurried over and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her perfume hit him instantly—flowers and warmth, just like before.

Jael froze.

His arms stayed at his sides as she pulled back and smiled up at him.

“I’ve been waiting all morning. Where were you?”

Her eyes looked warm. Concerned.

But he remembered the cold beneath that smile. The laughter she shared with Paul Wilson. The betrayal. The blade he never saw coming.

“Sorry,” he said after a moment. “Lost track of time.”

Sandy cleared her throat, expression unreadable.

“I’ll go check those reports,” she said. “You two… take your time.”

She left quietly.

Kira stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You okay? You feel… different today.”

Jael studied her face.

She was the same girl who once sat beside him on a rooftop, legs swinging, dreaming out loud about owning the sky. He had believed her. Loved her. Trusted her.

“I’m fine,” he said, forcing a mild smile. “Just a long morning.”

She giggled softly and touched his arm. “You’re weird today. But cute. Come on—Dad’s already irritated. You don’t want to be late.”

Jael nodded and followed her down the hallway, though his mind was elsewhere.

He was remembering.

Calculating.

Because this time, he wasn’t a naive intern.

This time, he had a goal.

And this time—

He had the Nexus System.