The Enigma Called Greg

Chapter 6

Before Jackson could speak again, the manager’s gaze hardened. He handed him a crisp document.

“Read this,” he said.

Jackson took it casually, barely glancing at the heading—

Then he froze.

His face went pale.

Confusion, disbelief, and panic flashed across his features.

“This… what is this?” he stammered.

It was his termination notice. His contract cited clear breaches of company conduct policies—insubordination, unprofessional behavior, and creating a hostile work environment.

The manager’s voice was flat, precise.

“This is your termination letter,” he said. “Effective immediately, due to violations of company policy. Please collect your belongings and leave the premises.”

The room fell utterly silent.

“What?” Jackson blurted. “No… this has to be a mistake!”

“It’s not,” the manager replied evenly.

“No, no, no—sir, you can’t be serious! I’ve been one of your top performers!” Jackson protested, panic edging into his voice.

“Performance does not excuse misconduct,” the manager shot back. “And threatening, insulting, or intimidating anyone on company grounds is unacceptable—regardless of who they are.”

Jackson faltered, his mind racing.

Could the manager possibly mean Greg? Greg was a nobody—a mere outsider. Surely he wasn’t the ‘valuable’ person the manager had referenced.

Or… was the company using this as an excuse to punish them for mocking him?

“Is… this about that lowlife, Eva’s ex?” Jackson muttered, incredulous. “He’s nobody. Why does it even matter?”

“Enough!” the manager’s voice cut through sharply.

Jackson’s smirk faded instantly.

“You’ve said enough,” the manager continued, his tone final. “Collect your things—and every one of you on this floor—leave immediately!”

Panic erupted across the floor. The company was in chaos.

Employees dropped to their knees, desperately pleading with the manager, but before their voices could sway him, he had vanished from sight.

“Sir, please—”

“There’s been a misunderstanding! If I’d known—if I’d only known—”

“I can fix this! You can’t do this!”

“I’ll apologize! I’ll make it right!”

Voices overlapped in a frantic chorus, but the manager was already gone.

Almost immediately, security appeared, moving with precision, escorting each employee toward the exits.

“Let go of me!” some shouted as guards gripped their arms. “This isn’t fair! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

Their protests echoed through the office, swallowed only by the firm authority guiding them out.

Outside, Greg’s chauffeur had started the car, ready to drive off. Then Greg’s hand shot up.

“Stop,” he commanded, his eyes narrowing.

His gaze had caught something—a subtle shift in the woman’s car across the garage. She had slid into the driver’s seat, seemingly ordinary. But then—a shadow moved in the back, almost imperceptible.

Her posture stiffened.

And in the next heartbeat, her body slumped forward.

Greg’s eyes sharpened instantly.

Before the moment fully registered, two men emerged from the back seat, moving with lethal precision. One gripped the steering wheel, stabilizing the car. The other leaned in, hauling the woman’s limp form into the back. Her keys were snatched mid-motion.

The operation was flawless—silent, practiced, and efficient. Anyone not watching closely would have missed it entirely.

No one in the garage noticed a thing.

Except Greg.

He had seen everything.

“Stay here,” he ordered sharply to his assistant and driver.

Before either could react, Greg was already moving.

The distance to the car closed in seconds.

The engine of the woman’s vehicle growled as one of the men shifted into position, ready to flee.

But Greg was faster. He yanked open the driver’s side door with a brutal force. The man inside barely had time to react before Greg grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the ground.

A grunt escaped his lips.

“What the—?!” the second man shouted from the back seat.

Greg didn’t hesitate. The first attacker swung wildly, trying to rise, but Greg sidestepped, and with a single, precise motion, the man collapsed again—this time unmoving.

The second man scrambled out, fury in his eyes. “You should’ve stayed out of this!” he snapped, lunging forward.

Greg met him head-on. One calculated strike sent him staggering back. Another hit, and the man crumpled to the asphalt, breath knocked out of him.

Sudden silence fell. Greg stood calm, breathing steady, gaze sharp. Neither man moved again.

He turned to the car. The woman lay slumped in the back seat, unconscious but breathing.

Carefully, Greg reached in and lifted her. She was lighter than he expected, her head tilting gently against his shoulder.

Behind him, she blinked slowly, her composure intact, eyes alert. “Are they—?”

“They won’t be getting up anytime soon,” Greg replied.

She nodded once, immediately refocusing. “We should leave before they return.”

Greg adjusted his hold, ensuring she was secure, then opened her car door, lowering her in gently and supporting her head.

He pulled out his phone and dialed his chauffeur, instructing him to leave with the assistant—he wouldn’t be joining them for now.

Outside, rain began to fall in thin, slanted sheets, blurring the edges of the empty highway.