J. Gonzalez - The Corporation

“How do you feel about being part of Phase Two?” Sam asked.

“Very good,” Michelle said, slipping into the role of business so naturally. “It’s been my goal since coming on board to help Corporate Financial achieve its financial and business goals. Playing a part in this, helping lead the effort, is something I very much want to be a part of. I want to help move the company forward, and when Gary told me more about Project Reign I realized I wanted to be a part of this initiative.”

“You demonstrated your skills and dedication last week during the Building Products Project,” Sam said, pausing every once in a while to glance at her. “You led that effort well, and that initiative is an important part of Project Reign. You did that much to my satisfaction. Being able to fly out to Chicago was another demonstration of your willingness to serve the company. I was confident that once you learned about Project Reign, you would be interested in being a part of it. I saw that when I first interviewed you.”

“I’m glad you did,” Michelle said, looking ahead of her at the highway.

“I think you’ll enjoy headquarters,” Sam said. “It’s very beautiful out here. The building is very modern, very state-of-the-art. We can get you a nice condo, set you up real nice.”

“I would like that.”

“Relocation would be okay with you?”

“I’m willing to live wherever the company needs me,” Michelle said.

“We can talk about that tonight over dinner,” Sam said. He met her eyes in the rearview mirror. “How does that sound? Gary? Dinner at Brannigan’s tonight?”

“Sounds fine to me,” Gary said.

“I’ve let a couple of the executives know that we’re probably going out to dinner tonight,” Sam said. They were in open country now, traveling up a winding road into the mountains. “Bruce Wellhorn and Robert Sack, Gladys Sterling, a few others.” His eyes met Michelle’s again. “They all want to meet you.”

“I want to meet them,” Michelle said, meeting Sam’s eyes. “I’m looking forward to talking business with them and learning as much as I can about my new role.”

“Wonderful!”

When they reached a T Intersection, Sam turned left. Michelle watched the landscape go by; it was flatter in this area, with the hills continuing to her right. There was a glimmer of metal and concrete off in the distance and Sam said, “We’re almost there.”

Michelle watched as they grew closer to the building. There was nothing spectacular about it; there were dozens of similar-looking structures on the outskirts of large cities across the country. This building was large, sprawling, appeared to be four stories in height and commanded approximately forty acres of land including the parking lot, which was filled to capacity. Sam pulled into the lot and headed toward the back of the building. Michelle’s heartbeat quickened. Despite her knowledge of what Corporate Financial was, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of excitement at the thought of getting inside the building and scoping out its layout.

Sam pulled into a private parking slot and stopped the engine. Michelle grabbed her laptop and briefcase and joined Gary and Sam in the parking lot. She smoothed her skirt down briefly, regarding the building before her. Sam grinned. “Come. Let me take you inside.”

Michelle followed Sam and Gary down the walkway and into the building. They entered a well-furnished lobby. She followed Sam and Gary to the security booth, which was staffed by a young African-American woman. “We need a temporary ID with full security clearance for Miss Michelle Dowling,” Sam told the guard. “I called this in yesterday.”

The guard scanned a list and made a mark with a ball-point pen. She looked at Michelle, who tried not to look surprised when she looked back at the young woman.

My God she’s just like them !

The guard was young, maybe twenty-five, with high cheekbones, full lips, and large brown eyes. Her makeup was applied sparingly, yet it brought out her best features, which was her eyes and lips. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She was dressed in a blue security uniform and dark slacks. In short, she could have passed for a security guard at any large corporation or corporate building.

Yet her features were completely lacking in emotion. She had a flat, blank look.

This all came to Michelle the instant she saw the guard for the first time, and she ignored it and continued playing her part. She nodded at the guard. The guard said, “I can take her photo now or we can do it tomorrow morning.”

“Now would be fine,” Michelle said.

The guard nodded. “This way please.”

Gary gestured to a door near the security booth window and Michelle entered. “We’ll wait out here,” Sam said.

Michelle entered the security area, still carrying her briefcase and laptop. The guard led her into a small room with a chair and a large camera on a tripod. A large fluorescent light burned directly behind the camera. The guard stepped behind the camera. “Have a seat.”

Michelle sat down and once the picture was taken, the guard escorted her out. “I’ll have your permanent badge ready for you when you leave this afternoon,” she said. “In the meantime, I’ve already created a temporary badge for you.”

Michelle stepped back into the lobby and waited at the security booth for the guard to rummage through a file. A moment later, temporary badge pinned to her lapel, Michelle accompanied Sam and Gary through the thick double glass doors and into the central atrium of the building.

A large brick fountain was the centerpiece of the atrium. Extending four stories to a large skylight and decorated with lush vegetation, the atrium was attractive. Several people were either threading their way to and from various destinations or were talking in small groups. Michelle made a quick note of the atrium and then followed Sam and Gary to a bank of elevators.

Sam and Gary were talking and Michelle listened as they entered the elevator with two men dressed in suits. She noticed the men bore the same flat expression as the security guard. The people she’d seen in the lobby and the atrium had borne similar looks but it was hard to tell. Overall, the place was giving her the creeps, but she had to keep a stony face about it.

“I think once the final report for the day comes in we’ll have a better understanding of where our leverage will be tomorrow,” Sam said to Gary as the elevator went to the top floor. “Connie should have a final report from New York by now. And when the West Coast Stock Exchange closes this afternoon, Connie should have the final numbers within an hour of closing.”

“She can get those numbers to us via Blackberry, right?” Gary asked.

“Certainly,” Sam said. “That’s what the technology’s for.”

Michelle grinned as they chuckled and then she followed them down the fourth floor hallway to the executive suite, which was clearly evident by the large, polished walnut doors at the end of the hallway.

Michelle marveled at the sight of the executive suite lobby. Plush carpeting, oak paneled walls, ebony and marbled workspaces, large desks for the executive secretaries. Michelle took as much of it in as she could, noting several closed doors that could only lead to washrooms, executive dining rooms, or meeting rooms. Other doors clearly indicated that they led to offices—a few were open, and Michelle caught brief glimpses of men and women seated behind desks, some talking on the phone. Sam and Gary led her to an office at the southwest corner of the executive suite and Sam peeked in. “Bruce? We’re here.” He turned to Michelle. “Come on inside.” He gestured for Michelle to go in.

Michelle stepped inside and a rugged, handsome man was rising from a large walnut desk. He buttoned his suit coat, his features beaming. “Ms. Dowling,” he said as he stepped away from the desk and approached her, hand held out to be shaken. “So nice to meet you. Mr. Greenberg has told me so many wonderful things about you! Welcome to Corporate Financial!”