by Sloan, C. T.
“Vanessa, bring me the overnight status reports,” Mr. Rex says. It takes me a few seconds to recognize and respond to my fake name.
“Yes, Mr. Rex,” I say as I walk out of the office. I head over to the elevators and make my way down to the eighty-first floor. I pick up the overnight status reports and head back to the elevators, where the silver fox is standing with his beefy and scary looking “security goon” guy.
“Good morning, Vanessa,” the silver fox says to me.
“Oh good morning,” I say as I look at both of them. I notice that the security guy is holding some sort of device that looks like a tablet computer. I begin to get a nervous twitch in my stomach as they look down at me.
“So it appears that you are spending an unusual amount of time with Mr. Rex,” the silver fox says. I don’t know how to react to that. Does he know that Mr. Rex and I are fucking? Of course, he probably knows that I spent the night at the boss’s house.
“I guess,” I say.
The security guy places that tablet looking device on a desk. The silver fox directs me over to the desk.
“We will need to perform an enhanced security check on you,” the silver fox says. I look down and see a screen on the device that reads Printscan. “We will be taking your fingerprints,” the silver fox says.
A shot of fear runs through my veins. It takes a few seconds for my brain to process the visceral reaction. If they get my fingerprints, then they will learn my true identity.
“Why do you need my fingerprints?” I ask nervously.
The silver fox begins to get a little irritated. “Because I am the head of security at Rex Industries and it is my job to protect Mr. Rex from corporate espionage, assassinations or any other threats to the CEO individually and to the company as a whole,” the silver fox explains.
What can I do? I think about running. Of course, I won’t get far. Once I place my fingerprints on that scanner, it will only be a matter of time before I am found out. I may have a few seconds or a few days. I have no idea how that device works. My hands begin to shake as I place my fingers on the scanner. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never even been arrested,” I explain. The silver fox is not interested in my excuses or my explanations. He just wants to get my prints. I place my fingers on the scanner. When the word “Complete” appears on the screen, I just get a sick feeling in my stomach.
“Thank you,” the silver fox says.
I am left alone. I really just want to start crying right now. My cover is going to be blown, my story will be dead in the water and worst of all, Mr. Rex will not look too kindly on me. I don’t know how much time I have. I feel like a condemned girl waiting for someone to take me to the gallows. I get into the elevator and press the eighty-five button. I am lifted up to Mr. Rex’s floor, very possibly for the last time. As I look around this floor, I realize that this may be the last time I will see this very secretive and special place.
I walk into Mr. Rex’s office. My boss, my lover is standing behind his desk looking over some papers. I walk over to his desk and place the overnight status reports in front of him. Mr. Rex places his right hand on my ass and gives it a nice, little squeeze. Dammit. I can’t let my boss find out about me from his security team.
“Mr. Rex?” I say in a shaky voice.
“Yes, Vanessa.”
“I need to tell you something.”
To be continued in “Embargo.” The second installment in the “Hot Off The Press” trilogy.
