Big Corp Inc. (G/T)

Part 42: Call in the Cavalry

When Mr. Hardon was done having his way with Candy, he tossed her back inside the drawer and locked it, then returned the key to its hiding place. Candy retreated to her flimsy paper nest and sobbed. She felt disgusted, mortified, and violated. She missed Martin. She realized, with a sinking dread, that she might never see him again. There was no way Mr. Hardon would let her come into contact with her beloved, especially if he stole her away to his house. She was doomed.

There was a knock on the door to Mr. Hardon's office. "Come in," he called. From inside the drawer, Candy heard the door creak open. "Oh, Martin. What can I do for you?"

Candy's pulse quickened. She slammed herself against the wood, projecting her voice as loudly as she could until her throat was hoarse. "Martin! Help me! I'm here! Martin!"

Her words couldn't reach him. "Here's all those reports you asked for," he stated in a dreary monotone. Candy could hear the defeat and exhaustion and despair eloquently expressed in his voice. He had given up. No. Not yet! She needed him more than ever! She pounded her fists on the inside of the drawer until they were red and raw.

"Oh, thank you," Mr. Hardon uttered with a saccharine smile. "Good timing, actually. I have more work for you right here. This big stack."

"Actually, sir... I'm not feeling well. I was going to ask you if you'd be okay with me leaving early. I just want to go home and lay down." Martin sounded like he was about to collapse.

"No! Don't leave me!" Candy shouted, kicking the wood hard enough to hurt her toes. "Martin!"

"Of course. You can use your sick time. Take the rest of the day if you need," Mr. Hardon said smoothly, concealing his malicious glee at Martin's obliviousness. With Martin absent, it would be easier for him to sneak Candy out at the end of the day.

Candy's legs buckled underneath her and she slumped into a heap. Any hope she had of rescue drained out of her. She was done for. Her fate was sealed, as Mr. Hardon's prisoner—his little sex doll. She was overcome with a revolting combination of nausea and grief. Her stomach heaved and she vomited bile from pure revulsion.

Martin turned to go and trudged to the elevator in a daze, massaging his temple. Before he could push the button, the elevator sprung open, and Martin was surprised to see two cops standing there. They stepped out and addressed him brusquely.

"Is there a Richard Hardon that works here?" one of the cops asked. He was a shorter Giant with intense chocolate brown eyes behind a pair of glasses.

Martin was taken aback but answered in the affirmative. "Uh... yes, sir. His office is right over there." He pointed to the corner of the third floor that every employee generally avoided like the plague. The cop that spoke motioned stiffly to his larger associate, a burly Giant with a mustache, and the two officers marched down the hall with authority. The mood in the office was suddenly electric as nearby employees watched with curiosity. Martin exchanged glances with Bianca and they both followed the officers down the hall. Martin was too inquisitive to leave now, despite his fatigue and broken spirit.

The cops stepped boldly into Mr. Hardon's office without knocking or being invited in. "Are you Richard Hardon?" the cop with glasses asked, flashing his badge.

"Yeah. Why?" Mr. Hardon responded defensively. He tried to maintain outward calm, but tension was creeping into his body.

"We received an anonymous tip that you've been keeping one of your employees locked in your office," the cop recited coolly.

Mr. Hardon was starting to sweat, but he attempted a bluff. "Why, that's ridiculous! Look around you, gentleman! There's nobody here but us!" His face drained of color, ever so slightly.