Saving Face

Chapter Six: Lawyer Guy

Lawyer Guy led Sarah through the plush halls of the facility to the administrative offices, situated in the rear of the main building. They took the elevator to the fourth floor where the senior officers worked. Sarah had never visited that part of the facility.

What could possibly have happened? She thought of the terrible damage done to Tawnya’s body just a couple days prior. Could it be something like that? The thought filled her with dread and left a foul taste in her mouth worse than the old crone’s daily medicine cocktail. All she wanted was to be herself again and leave forever.

Lawyer Guy took her to the office of Michael Fleischer, CEO. The secretary stationed outside the office immediately waved them through the wide, wood-paneled door.

Sarah paused in the doorway, taking in the view. A full fireplace took up part of the right wall, with several overstuffed chairs and two couches facing it. A complete wet bar lined the opposite wall. On the far side of the room, Mr. Fleischer’s huge mahogany desk squatted before full-length windows that offered a spectacular view of the sprawling corporate facility with its many interconnected buildings and beautifully manicured grounds. The facility perched atop one of Maryland’s forested hills, with sweeping vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Mr. Fleischer rose from his overstuffed leather chair to meet them as they crossed the cavernous room. He was an overweight middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a clean shaven face. He wore an expensively tailored gray suit that matched his eyes.

He took Sarah’s hands in both of his and said warmly, “Sarah, I’m glad you came.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said, her discomfort at facing the company CEO magnified by the fact that she’d had little choice but to come.

“Call me Michael.” He directed her toward one of several leather chairs situated around his massive desk.

“What’s going on, sir.” Sarah asked as she gratefully settled her aching old bones into the soft chair.

While Lawyer Guy seated himself, Mr. Fleischer leaned back against the desk and fixed Sarah with a grave expression. “Sarah, you may not know this, but your renter is a very influential person. She couldn’t be happier with the rental experience. She’s a tremendous asset to Alterego in helping promote the work we do here.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

He smiled. “You have helped our efforts more than you know, and now we have an unexpected opportunity to achieve one of our principal objectives. With your help, we can do it, and in the same stroke we can silence some of our most dangerous critics in the legislature.”

Sarah could not help but be moved by his words. She sat a little straighter despite a twinge in her back. “I’ll do what I can to help, sir.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

Lawyer Guy passed the contract over again.

“I don’t understand.” She did not reach for the papers.

“Your renter has elected to exercise the permanent corporal transfer clause in the contract.”

His words confirmed her worst fear. “With all due respect, sir, I did not agree to that clause. I’ve made it clear that I am not interested in —”

Mr. Fleischer interrupted, his smile harder, less friendly. “I understand this is a shock, Sarah, but your renter has agreed to pay a substantial settlement, from which you will receive a generous bonus.”

“Thank you, sir, but I am not interested in a bonus. I just want my body back.”

“Listen, Sarah,” he said, frowning now. “You can help make history here. All we need is your cooperation.”