Silver / clay

⊱ 28 ⊰

When Caleb entered the room, six heads turned in unison. They were already seated at the meeting table, and when he made to sit down, one interjected:

"The one at the end. That's where our last boss--" She paused, and let the word stink the room, "--sat."

He stood and looked around at the experienced faces, the incredulous faces, the demanding faces. She was right, he wasn't worthy of being her boss, or the boss of any of them. They'd been at the company longer, were smarter, and knew more about compliance than he'd ever know.

Caleb swallowed, falling into the head seat. "Thanks for coming," he said, collecting his thoughts. "Obviously I'm an unusual pick for this role, and I appreciate some -- many -- will think I'm unworthy, and that I'm only here because of a few political ads. That's OK, you're free to think that, just like you'll be free to do your job without me getting in the way."

A few stern faces lightened. A few rapid blinks suggested his words were an unexpected exordium.

"The way I see it," he continued, "you know what you're doing, you know what needs to happen, so my job is to let you do yours, unencumbered."

The scattered nods kept him going.

"Our team has marshalled this company's fastest growing division within the regulations, not an easy task when that means taking potential money off the table from a cash-cow."

A positive murmur accompanied the nods. Not all were satiated, but in time he hoped to win them over with is actions.

"And, if the company pushes back too hard..." Caleb snatched at a banana and jumped onto the table. "...we'll just get the monkey to come out and distract them, while you continue to hold them to account."

He ripped off the skin with his mouth and took a wide bite while chuckles, hidden behind polite hands, percolated the room. They were stopped dead by a heavy wrap on the glass wall.

Damien, the source, nodded to the door. While it wasn't an order, it also wasn't a request.

Caleb hopped off the table. "See," he said, to the group, "now the monkey distracts while you finish off the meeting yourselves."

Outside, Damien stood close, waiting for the door to close before speaking. "How are you enjoying the new position?"

"Good, I think," said Caleb, making for the door. "I've only just started, so..."

"It wasn't that easy, you know," said Damien, "to convince the others that you were the right person, even with a vacant spot. I talked up your potential, and what you've done for the company already."

"Thanks so much," said Caleb, realising what the man needed. "I really appreciate you backing me."

"I hoped you'd say that," said Damien. "I've got another opportunity." He handed Caleb a folder. "Another secret mission. And you're just the man to pull it off."

Caleb stole a look through the reflection of the glass wall to his new team. This was the type of thing they'd want to investigate, so any spot checks in the future would need to be blocked.

The psych evaluation also flickered across Caleb's mind, his propensity to follow authority, his agreeableness.

"OK," he said, gripping the folder.

But Damien didn't let go. Not yet. "It's a bit larger, so you'll need help," he said. "Not someone from compliance, of course, maybe one from your grad intake. Xifeng?"

"No, that would be a mistake," said Caleb.

He scanned the open office. Patch loved to gossip, so he was out, and Riley was far too opinionated to go along with the required changes, whatever they'd be. He considered Seb, but there was no way that man would risk losing his savings, or risk anything at all. That only left--

"Drishti," he said. "She's good but also quiet, and she likes me."

Damien raised an eyebrow.

"For helping her get her foot in the door, here," said Caleb, quickly clarifying. "She owes me."

That was language Damien understood. "Good," he said, releasing his grip on the folder.