Extraordinary Mistakes

35. We outnumber you here

"Welcome to our special program for this month: powerful women. Our episode today features Madeleine Clark. Madeleine has made it to the top 10 most influential women in the United States of America for five years in a row. Madeleine, welcome!" The presenter smiles widely.

Madeleine smiles back and waves at the camera. They are on Madeleine's office, facing each other, and the rest of the camera crew stands around them.

"Madeleine, you are the CEO of Clark Industries and the president of the Institute, a position that you hold since January 2018. For those at home that aren't aware of your story, you were an orphan until Hunter David Clark adopted you.... and here you are today! One of the most influential. Making that list every year."

"Yes, thank you! I'm the living proof that you can reach your dreams if you work hard enough. Little girls everywhere can dream!" Madeleine claps.

When the show airs in a few weeks, surely little girls everywhere will wonder how exactly they can work hard enough to become orphans that are adopted by billionaires.

"You are such an example of resilience! Your father died when you were only six, and all your other seven siblings are also dead. You are the last one standing." Martha smiles while facing her.

"Martha, I think you were misled by some source. One of my brothers did die on the same day as my father, both brutally murdered by a burglar, but all my other siblings are alive and well. They just don't care much about the boring business!" She laughs.

"I was guaranteed some killed themselves and others died of overdose," Martha checks her tablet.

Why the difference? Isn't an overdose just the means to suicide?

"As I said..." Madeleine smiles, "you were misled."

"Moving on, then, how do you deal with the criticism that Clark Industries doesn't have a single deviant employee?"

"I deal with it perfectly well. It's true that we don't have deviants working for us, but it's only because we have the same employees for decades, they are happy to work for us. And the latest jobs we opened are for graduate and post-grad degrees. In our country, and in our neighbors, a deviant can't go to university, and even on Eurasia it's only a reality for 3 years now. How can I employ deviants if they don't meet the requirements? Should I make an exemption for them? Is that equality?"

Martha tries to interrupt her.

"But the biggest reason that I won't accept that criticism is because I work for free as the president of the Institute. As you said, for ten years now. Making sure that deviants are well taken care of."

"Deviants with abilities. Deviants without it can't apply to study there."

"Obviously. It's an education that specializes on teaching deviants to properly use their abilities. It's not discrimination, it's the purpose of it. Now, I'm terribly sorry but I do have to cut this interview short. My CFO has called me too many times already," she checks her phone and stands up.

The camera crew leaves. Martha packs her things and rushes to meet Madeleine.

"Madeleine, I'm sorry if I pushed a bit too hard! You know how audiences work! They'll love this and I knew that you'd deal with it exceptionally."

"Of course, Martha." Madeleine brushes her shoulder. "You are a wonderful reporter, it's a shame that you are stuck on this sort of interviews, you are far better than this. But you are what, 29? A few more years and the opportunity to show all your talent will appear. I'm sure. I must really go now."

"Thank you! I have to go as well. I'm heading to the Roberts' for their interviews."

"Lovely. Take care, Martha."