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LOCATION: VOSS TOWER, 20TH FLOOR
CITY: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
DATE: JUNE 19, 2025 | 5:00 AM
Dawn broke over San Francisco in a soft wash of gold and gray, the city stirring beneath a low ceiling of cloud. On the 20th floor of Voss Tower, Elliot Voss stood alone, ready and composed.
His navy blue suit was tailored with quiet precision. The white shirt beneath it was crisp, matched with a muted blue tie. No flash. No ego. Just purpose. It was the uniform of a man who understood the gravity of what today meant—not just for him, but for the world.
He moved to the window, watching as the light filtered through the mist that still clung to the skyline. So much had changed since he first began this journey. And now, the world was about to change with him.
Elliot’s CEOs were making their way toward the Tower, each of them summoned with little explanation beyond time, date, and place. They trusted him—most of them, at least. He’d built that trust over decades. But this morning, he wasn’t just asking for their cooperation.
He was asking them to believe in the impossible.
Not in The System. Not yet. That card would remain close to his chest for now. Today’s meeting was about the foundation—about the two compounds that would redefine medicine, longevity, and the very fabric of global health.
Vitalyx.
Rejuvenex.
The cure and the resetting of the clock.
And they would be free. No patents. No licensing. No fine print. Every person on Earth—regardless of nationality, status, or wealth—would receive both compounds at no cost.
Today he was going to tell them he was giving it all away.
The manufacturing was nearly complete. Global distribution hubs were already staged. The logistics were locked down. Everything had been funded—privately—by Voss himself. He’d nearly emptied his accounts, liquidated assets, and repurposed the entire might of his empire to pull it off.
By the time the CEOs left the Tower today, they would understand two things:
That the world was about to be healed...
And that Elliot Voss would not be seeking permission to do it.
He turned from the window and tapped the screen of his tablet. His slide deck opened with a single word.
WELCOME
He scrolled to the agenda on the next slide:
- Health
- Longevity
- Global Access
- Closing Remarks
The slide deck was barebones by design. He’d scold anyone else for such a presentation—but this wasn’t about form. This was about fire. He wasn’t about to tip his hand before he had everyone’s rapt attention.
He let out a slow breath. Downstairs, the final preparations were underway. Mallory was checking every detail. The jamming array on the 19th floor would activate at 11:00 a.m., sealing off the summit from the outside world. No leaks. No distractions.
And if anyone had a problem with what they were about to hear?
Well, Grim, Brick, and two more members of the special security team would be arriving soon, too.
As the morning wore on, Mallory and her support team moved through their final logistical sprint. Coordinating vans to transport those arriving via private jets. Managing shuttle pickups from SFO for commercial arrivals. Overseeing coffee service, light lunch, and refreshments in the back of the auditorium. Fielding last-minute requests from executives who were used to being treated like royalty.
Hosting large meetings at Voss Tower was nothing new. But this time, every top executive from every company Voss controlled was either here or on their way. And this time, he’d instructed Mallory to ensure that their every need—within reason—was handled with speed, polish, and discretion.
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A few minutes before 11:00 a.m., the first shuttle arrived from Hayward Executive Airport, carrying three executives from Chicago. After check-in at the front desk, Vanessa Cho, Martin Reznick, and Daria Markovic were guided to the elevator. An assistant entered with them and pressed the button for the 19th floor.
Nobody spoke during the short ride up. As the elevator doors opened, they were escorted directly to the auditorium.
“Restrooms are down the hallway to the left,” the attendant said. “You can keep your bags with you at your seats, or we can secure them elsewhere. Ms. McInnis can help you with that if needed.” The assistant turned and left, using a keycard to call the elevator.
Vanessa glanced over her shoulder. That’s odd. A keycard for the elevator? She frowned slightly. Then again, nothing surprises me after that NDA…
The trio stepped into the auditorium. Mallory was there to greet them. Vanessa hung back as Mallory shook hands with Martin and Daria. The two executives moved toward the refreshment table.
“So, this isn’t weird at all,” Vanessa said dryly.
Mallory hugged her. “Sorry for all the secrecy. You know how Mr. Voss is. Everything will be made clear soon.”
Vanessa shrugged. “I’ve been around long enough to know better than to expect straight answers. So… what are you allowed to tell me?”
Mallory chuckled. “Not much. I can tell you your phones won’t work on this floor. Also, nobody’s allowed to leave until the presentation is over. But I am authorized to assure you that your life is not in danger.” She gave Vanessa an exaggerated smile, showing all of her teeth.
Vanessa exhaled in exaggerated relief. “Well, that’s something. Weird about the phones—but I suppose Voss doesn’t want any leaks. Smart enough. Alright, I’ll grab a bite and find a seat. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Vanessa. I’ve got plenty of help behind the scenes. Hopefully we’ll have time tonight to catch up at my place like we talked about.”
Vanessa nodded and moved off, eyeing the chicken salad croissants and kettle chips.
The rest of the executives trickled in over the next hour. Around 11:30, Graham Thorne and Mason Briggs exited the elevator with two women in tow.
Grim spotted Mallory near the back of the auditorium and clapped a hand on her shoulder.
“Mallory! How’re you holding up? Rough couple of days, I’m guessing.”
“Hey Graham. Good to see you. And yes, quite a bit of work—but you’ll never catch me complaining to you guys.”
Graham laughed. “You remember Mason, obviously.” Brick shook her hand, already angling for the sandwich table.
“I don’t think you’ve met Nina and Sienna,” Graham continued. “This is Nina Vosper.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “She can hack into just about anything with electrons running through it. And don’t ever let her near a knife if she’s in a bad mood—”
Nina rolled her eyes and punched Grim lightly on the arm before shaking Mallory’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss McInnis. Glad to finally meet in person.”
“Mallory, please. We all work for a living here. Good to meet you too. I’ve heard a few of those stories myself. I’ll make sure I stay on your good side.”
Graham waved Nina toward the food table and turned to introduce the last member of the team. “And this is Sienna Black. What can I say about Sienna... She’s the best I’ve ever seen at recon and intel gathering. And, like the others, not someone you want to cross.”
Sienna gave Grim a slow look before shaking Mallory’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Mallory. I’m new to the team, but it’s been a great fit. Operators like these three make it easy. Let us know if you need anything today.”
She moved off, leaving Grim and Mallory speaking quietly.
“Anything new in the last couple hours?” he asked. “I can see the jamming’s already live.”
Mallory nodded. “About to make the announcement. People are starting to notice.”
Grim grinned. “I counted six people who tried rebooting their phones just while we’ve been standing here.”
He waved to Nina, gesturing toward the back doors. She nodded and moved to take her post.
At 11:50 a.m., Grim walked to the front of the auditorium. Voices murmured throughout the room, but the sound quieted as he approached the podium. He pressed a button on the console and leaned in.
“Hello, everyone, and welcome to Voss Tower. I know you’re probably a little confused right now, but everything will be made clear soon.”
He gave a dry chuckle, voice low and gravelly. “No, you’re not in any danger. So for those of you speculating wildly—relax.”
Grim’s eyes moved across the crowd.
“Your phones and laptops won’t work on this floor. Mr. Voss has requested strict confidentiality for what you’re about to hear. So please—grab some food, use the restroom if needed, and take your seats. The meeting will begin in ten minutes.”
As Grim moved toward the opposite side of the auditorium, Colin Mercer approached hesitantly.
“Mr. Thorne. Good to see you again. I wanted to thank you for our chat the other day. I already apologized to Mallory, and I assure you it won’t happen again.”
Grim shook his hand, grip just a shade tighter than necessary. “If it won’t happen again, then there’s nothing more to say. Water under the bridge.”
Colin relaxed visibly. “Any idea what this is all about? That slide just says WELCOME. There’s not even a logo.”
Grim grinned. “I can’t say anything, but don’t worry—Voss will be here in a few minutes and…” He paused, smirking. “All will be revealed.”
Colin chuckled and returned to his seat.
It was time.
Both Mallory and Grim had confirmed the headcount. Exactly sixty-four executives had taken their seats. The room buzzed with nervous energy. The lights flickered once—subtle but unmistakable.
At exactly 12:00 p.m., Elliot Voss entered the room.
Every voice went silent. Every head turned.
He had their full attention.