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Rick walked into the Legal Administration building and was immediately met by security. “Director Thompson, I’m Captain Jones head of building security. I am to escort you to your new office.” Jones was a tall man with a very muscular build. To Rick he looked like an ex-military man that could fight if needed and protect when necessary. As Rick grew up in the slums, fighting was necessary to surviving. Yet Rick would not willingly get into a fight with this man.
“That’s fine.” Rick didn’t know how to react. He was not used to his new status. It seemed that people in general were a little stiffer and a little more distant.
As he followed Captain Jones to the lift somehow, he felt underdressed. He had on his best suite but the way he was being treated made Rick feel that he should be wearing the finery of the CEO’s.
As they entered the lift Rick said, “The CEO told me there was going to be a briefing?” If important people were coming to see him then he was sure that security would know about it.
Jones hit the button to go up and said, “I have no data on that Sir. What I’ve been instructed to tell you was that you have ‘All access’, all areas of the building any time of the day or night.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” Rick didn’t know what else to say. It was like he was entering into a new world where he didn’t know the rules or what was expected of him. And the reality was that it was not far from the truth.
The rest of the ride was made in respectful silence. As the doors opened Jones turned to the left and it looked to Rick like they were headed to Hobbs old office. It made since that he would take over the office as he was taking over his job. It wasn’t until they passed Hobbs old office that it changed Ricks mind. He wondered what was going on.
Jones went a little farther and opened the door to the conference room. “Here you are sir.”
“Thank you.” And Rick walked in to find three people sitting at the table big enough for a crowd. The room was dark with lighting above each of the seats
Two men and a woman stood as Rick entered the room. A young man that was dressed better than Rick came around the table and extended his hand. “Director Thompson, my name is Tim Slattery. I am your personal assistant.” Tim was a thin man that was just slightly shorter than Rick. The investigator in Rick took notice of his appearance. The suite he was wearing had the sheen like it was made from silk. Tim had dark hair and blue eyes. He seemed just what an assistant of a Director should look like.
Still in a daze Rick took his hand and shook it. “Glad to meet you.”
Tim led Rick to the head of the table. They sat and Tim continued. “Let me start with this. This is Paula Kelly.”
Paula was sitting to Ricks left. She reached over to shake his hand. He took thinking that she would be a fine-looking woman if she didn’t have her hair in a bun and lost the glasses. High cheek bones and thick pouting lips made her look like a star from the movie videos.
“I’m your decorator. I’m here to get your preferences for your office.”
The long pause and blank stare must have caused confusion. Finally Rick said, “Seriously?” He could not believe what he just heard.
Paula was about to say something, but Tim spoke first. “Sir, If I’m out of line tell me. However, you need to understand that for a man in your position, image is everything. The people need to see that a member of the Board of Directors is prosperous. Money is an idea backed by confidence. You need to show the people that they should have confidence in the Wilson Corporation. Especially after what has happened over the last few months.”
“I get it. I really do. But that’s not me,” said Rick with a heavy sigh.
“No, it’s not,” said Tim. “But it’s not for you. It’s for the people.”
“Alright,” said Rick and looked at the man off to his right. “I suppose you are my tailor?” he had short but neat lite brown hair with a suite of the same type as Tim’s. The vest he wore had a gold chain from one side going through one of the buttonholes to the other side. As Rick used to say, ‘he looks like a man of money’.
The man smiled and said, “After that conversation,” he pointed at Paula, “I can understand why you would say that. But no. My name is Don Santee. I’m from the financial department. There is some paperwork that needs to be filled out.”
Tim added, “Your tailor will be here later this afternoon.”
Why don’t we get the frilly stuff out of the way?” said Don. “Then we can get down to business.”
Rick thought about it for a moment and said, “Alright, I want my office to be extravagant but conservative.”
“Extravagant but conservative?” repeated Paula. “You do know that those are a contradiction in terms?”
“That’s what I want.” If they were going to make Rick into something he was not, he was not going to make it easy for them.
“Yes Sir,” said Paula. She put her pen in her notebook and close the case. “I’ll have preliminary designs in the morning.”
“No. You are going to just do it. I have faith in you.” It was not that he had faith in Paula, it was more like he didn’t want to have to deal with it. Rick had no clue what the office should look like. She did, so he was going to let her do the job.
“Yes Sir,” Paula got up, and so did Rick. Seeing what Rick was doing both Don and Tim got up as well.
Paula left the room. Once the door was close Don said, “That was a bold move.” And the three men seated themselves.
“Sometimes you have to let the people under you do what they do best,” said Rick as he looked over at Tim. “That is what I expect.” Rick really didn’t know what to expect so maybe it was better to let them do their jobs.
“Understood,” said Tim. “Shall we get to business? Don.”
Don nodded his head and opened a leather case. “First and foremost, we need you to sign this.” He pulled out a piece of paper and put it in front of Rick.
Somehow Rick felt like he was being backed into a corner. “What is this?” he asked as he picked up the page.
“That is 200 million shares of Wilson corporate stock. As a Director, you are required to own 5% of the Wilson Corporation.”
“200 million!” Rick was horrified. “I don’t have that kind of money.”
Don looked over at Tim and said, “Has no one explained to him what’s going on yet?”
“Sadly no,” said Tim. “This is day one.”
“Yes, no one has explained anything to me.” Rick was starting to get a little angry. “So why don’t you start at the beginning. Talk to me like I’m stupid. Because in the ways of business I probably am.”
Don looked like he didn’t want to deal with Rick’s anger. He looked over at Tim. “He’s your boss, explain it to him.”
“Yes!” said Rick. “Explain it to me.” Rick’s mood was moving from slightly angry to down right out hostile because these two men were talking about Rick like he wasn’t even in the room.
“So, Director Thompson,” said Tim. “From the beginning you have been promoted to the position of Director. With it comes a number of responsibilities, both social and financial. You are now a member of a very elite group. Less than one-hundred-fifty people in the galaxy can claim that title.”
Don added, “You have to set an example. Something for people to aspire to, to motivate them.”
Rick calmed himself he realized that his anger was getting him nowhere fast. “Look guys. I’m a simple man. I’m not a social climber. I’m an investigator. That’s what I do best.”
Don looked thoughtful for a moment then turned to Tim. “Can we put a spin on that?”
“It’s never been tried,” said Tim he also was looking thoughtful. “Yes, I think we can. After he took down Harris and Nash.” Tim paused a moment then turned to Rick with an excited look. “Okay we are going to make you a man of the people and for the people. As I said Image is everything.”
“Now,” said Don. He seemed to be a little frustrated. “Can we get back to business? Sir, would you please sign that form?”
“I told you, I don’t have the money for this.”
Don just hung his head to his chest. It seemed to Rick he was trying to control his frustration. He lifted his head and with a sigh said, “Those shares have been gifted to you. They belonged to Director Hobbs. He has given them to you to fill your requirements as a Director.”
With no further arguments he signed the paper and handed it back to Don. Don pulled out another page and said, “This form is giving me the authorization to set up the proper accounts for you. If you would sign it, please.”
“Let me get this straight, you want me to let you set up a bank account for me?”
Don sighed with a smile. “You are a simple man.” It seemed that he finally understood what kind of man he was dealing with. “These are not bank accounts. What I’m setting up for you is a treasury account. Your initial deposit will of 20 million credits will grow over time.”
Rick slipped into apathy. “I don’t have 20 million credits.”
As Rick was saying this, Don’s phone started to buzz. Don looked over at Tim and said, “Would please handle this, while I handle this?” Indicating his phone. He stood and turned away from the table and put the phone in his ear.
Tim looked at Rick and spoke with a tone of someone that was trying to handle a child. “Everything we are setting up is all financed by the CEO. You don’t have a thing to worry about, it’s all taken care of. All we need from you is signatures.”
Don put down the phone and started franticly hitting buttons on the table that Rick didn’t even know were there. Opposite Rick a large screen came down from the ceiling. As it came on there were a fleet of Rossom ships attacking a space station. It looked like the station was putting up a good fight until it exploded.
The news announcer came on and said, “For those of you that are just tuning in, the Agro station at Summit has just been destroyed, by a Rossom attack group. We do not know if there are any survivors at this time.” He paused for a moment. “We just got a message that the CEO is about to take the stage at a live press conference. Let’s go live at the admin building.”
The scene changed to a shot of Hobbs walking up to the podium. It seemed to be a somber mood as he made his way through the room.
“Thank you. I need to respond to this attack. While I understand that a formal declaration of war exists between our two nations. I now ask Rossom for a cease fire to discuss a possible end to the war that was started by the previous administration. In the case of Pacifica, with the death of so many, the person responsible has paid the price. We absolved Rossom of any wrongdoing, so I don’t understand why the war continues. I want Rossom to understand that we do not want a fight, but we will if we must.
To the people and shareholders of the Wilson Corporation I ask that there be no retaliation. I know that many of you have suffered loss. I ask you to set those feelings aside for peace. However, I will not tolerate an attack on our sovereignty. If it comes to war, I ask that the people forgive me. Thank you.
As Hobbs left the podium there was a thunderous applause.
“Now that,” said Tim, “is image!”