Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Within

"You sold me out, Thomas?" Max yelled through the door, trying to buy time as he looked around the cramped shaft for an escape.
"Business is business, sir," Thomas replied coldly. "Vance offered me more money than I’d make in three lifetimes with you. Hand over the girl, and you get to live out your retirement."
"Don't do it, Max," Lily whispered, her voice trembling. "He'll kill you anyway. You know too much now."
Max winked at her. It was a rugged, dangerous expression she hadn't seen on the billionaire's face before. "I didn't make a billion dollars by giving up my assets, Lily."
Max looked up. The emergency hatch in the ceiling of the elevator cabin was bolted shut, but the heavy iron wrenches Julian had gifted him years ago for "good luck" were sitting in a utility box near the floor. Max grabbed a heavy wrench and slammed it against the emergency hatch lock.
CLANG!
"They're trying to go up!" Thomas shouted outside.
A gunshot blasted through the elevator door, leaving a smoking hole. Max shoved Lily through the open ceiling hatch just as a second bullet tore through the floorboards. Max scrambled up after her, his hands slipping on the cold metal cables.
They climbed the ladder inside the dark elevator shaft, the sounds of Thomas and his mercenaries breaking through the doors below echoing like the drums of war.
They reached the third-floor maintenance exit. Max kicked the grate open, pushing Lily through into his private study.
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But as Max climbed out, a hand grabbed his ankle. Thomas was right behind him, his face twisted in a cold sneer. "End of the line, boss."
Hook: Hanging over the dark shaft, Max looked at the heavy bronze bust of himself on his desk. He had spent his life building his image. Now, it was time to use it.