Maybe you need a folding bike instead of a cross bike.
For your brakes, take it to a bike shop.
I was just listening to something about measuring happiness and how that's done. And how happiness doesn't correlate with our wealth but with our expectations. If we have just upgraded to a covered wagon we're happy about that. If we dream about a Ferrari we'll never be happy with our Fiat, even though it goes much faster than the covered wagon. We can change our expectations, sometimes more easily than we can acquire the things we currently want.
That's relevant here because I was startled that you are dissatisfied with your hybrid, and I was trying to understand why. To me, a hybrid is a logical choice for commuting. Commuting isn't about going fast. But then, I'm coming from the perspective of a commuter. I've barely ridden a road bike ever. A hybrid is so much faster than walking, that the additional speed of a road bike is minor. My expectation of a commuter bike is that it should be faster than walking. Coming from a road bike, your expectation of bicycling is different than mine.
I'm not trying to be judgmental that you aren't satisfied with your hybrid, but just wanted to point out another option: maybe you are wanting something out of the commuting experience that isn't typical. Maybe you can change your expectations of commuting and be happier on your hybrid.
I definitely wouldn't get a nice new bike if you don't have a safe place to lock up.
I have facial recognition problems too. I'm better with names, not names that I hear but names that I SEE. Try looking at the security guards' name tags.
2009 Trek 7.2FX WSD, brooks Champion Flyer S, commuter bike