The Traitors

Chapter 16 - Fi

The Mallard Corporation building was intimidating. It ascended into the sky greater than my eyes could see due to the sun beating down and blocking my vision. I was jostled by bustling people as I stood appalled at the base of the steps which led into the gigantic windowed building.

I was immovable based on fear alone. To be honest, I was too chickenshit to enter, but if I decided to go inside, I had to commit. A jolt of heat shocked my veins, reminding me I wouldn't be going alone.

I wanted answers and what better place to do it than the building that held all the secrets.

I took a deep breath and released it slowly, allowing the air to take my anxiousness with it. I inhaled one more time for good measure and then finally forced myself to move. I walked with purpose because if I faltered, there was a high chance I'd turn around.

The lobby of the building was more crowded than I expected. The tours Ray had mentioned the other night were in full swing as guides chatted to large groups of people following closely behind them. It was surprisingly warm which had to be from the sun streaming through the windows, making the room brighter than the lights above could provide. I headed toward the information desk straight ahead continuing my confident stride.

I greeted the woman behind the desk and simply asked for my father's office. She asked to see my I.D. which I handed over with a trembled hand. Her eyes widened with shock as she checked a laminated sheet next to the phone. She dialed the respected numbers then notified my father I was here to see him. She reached up to her ear where a Bluetooth piece was situated. She uttered for someone to come to the desk then looked up at me with an apprehensively forced smile. 

A security guard approached the desk as the receptionist informed me that the guard would escort me to my father's office. He gestured for me to follow him as we headed toward the elevators.

I hated elevators almost as much as I hated running. If given the option, I'd always pick the stairs before I'd subject myself to an elevator ride. I've always been freaked out by them in fear of getting trapped in one, but I also hated being confined into a crammed space with complete strangers. Plus, the box always moved so painstakingly slow which made the uncomfortable journey longer than it needed to be. 

The doors to the awaiting box opened and the two of us boarded. The guard inserted his employee card into the slit above the buttons and highlighted the one for the seventh floor. A sudden pressure weighed onto me as the elevator climbed to the third floor. The door stuttered open as a few employees piled in, performing the same ritual as the guard and choosing their new destinations. 

I already felt suffocated while I was in there with just the guard, but now with more people, I was borderline claustrophobic. 

We stopped again on the sixth floor, unloading just one employee, but she took the strong stench of perfume with her, making me feel slightly better. Plus, I was the next stop so this insufferable ride was almost over.

The guard looked over his shoulder at me once we rose to our floor. We hopped off together and casually walked down the barren hallway. I nervously kept up on his heels, put-off by the lack of people. Not a soul was in sight which gave an eerie atmosphere to the area. The only noise was the echo of our footsteps on the floor. I tucked some of my hair behind my ear as we came to a halt next to the fourth door on the right. 

The guard did his best Vanna White impression, gesturing to my father's office door. His name in gold lettering on a black slate which was slid within a gold holder fastened to the door. I thanked him for his time and assistance as he did an about face and marched back to the elevator. I raised my fist to knock on the door, but froze before my knuckles made contact with the wooden slab.