Sleeping On The Glass Ceiling

Chapter 4

Morning rush hour was in full swing. Cars packed the streets. Marcy passed the bus that she could have taken, and never saw it again, figuring it had gotten stuck in traffic. The only thing that slowed her down were the traffic lights. She had to wait for the walk signs, and even then, she had to make sure there was no traffic turning. It felt more dangerous walking than being in a car. Drivers made the right-hand turns regardless if the light was red or green and if there were any pedestrians in the way. There seemed to be safety in numbers. She learned to keep other people between her and the turning traffic.

She arrived at the Basil building with five minutes to spare. It looked like the typical steel and glass building. A huge sign alongside the double glass entrance doors showed her that there was more than just the Basil Corporation using the building. She could see a dozen other company names listed.

She entered to find a clean and modernistic foyer with narrow chairs and a coffee table off to one side as a waiting area. A huge receptionist desk spanned a back wall. A staircase came down from an open second-floor balcony. Behind the stairs were the elevators. No one followed her into the foyer, which was empty. She wondered how employees came in unless they were already at work.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm here to see Lois."

"Your name?"

"Marcy Albright."

"One moment, please."

"Thank you."

Two receptionists worked at the desk. They were both well-dressed, and she thought they had on as much makeup as Crystal used. The receptionist who helped her spoke briefly into the phone in a low voice. But Marcy could hear that she was letting Lois know she was here.

"She'll be down in a few minutes."

"Thank you."

Marcy went over to the waiting area. She didn't sit, taking in the view out the window. Traffic was heavy.

Another man came into the building.

"May I help you?"

"Marcus Fullerton to see Adam Rory."

"One moment, please."

Marcy thought the man looked over confident. She pegged him to be a salesperson and decided he was trying to do a cold call. The receptionist hadn't gotten on the phone, but stepped away, like she was letting him wait. Marcy thought he looked impatient, like he was too important to have to wait.

"Marcy?"

She turned to find an older woman who had stuffed herself into a stylish blue suit. Her waist was bulging out. Her shoes were red.

"Yes. Lois?"

"Nice to meet you, this way."

"Thank you."

She followed Lois past ten elevators to an eleventh where Lois used a key to open the door. Marcy followed her in and noticed there were fifty floors to choose from. Lois hit the fiftieth floor.

"Basil is on the top four floors. We use this elevator exclusively. It's faster that way." Lois smiled.

Marcy thought her perfect white teeth were probably dentures.

"I doubt people use the stairs to go up that high."

"Oh, definitely not."

The ride up felt long. Lois just stood there, staring at the door. Marcy didn't know if she should make any more conversation or not.