The Executive Lie

Chapter 2: The Corporate Soldier

​I slept for just 4 hours. When I woke up, I felt ready. I put on my black suit over a well ironed white shirt, and a decent pair of black heels. I looked exactly like the corporate soldier my new job would need to be.

​My final thought before leaving the apartment was about the man I was going to meet. Elias Thorne. The Ice Man. I had practiced my calm, unreadable face for the mirror. I had to be perfect, or I could lose everything.

​The taxi dropped me off outside the Thorne Building. This wasn't any building. It was a skyscraper of money and power. A glass tower that looked like it stretched forever into the sky. I felt so small just standing there.

​I walked inside the lobby. It was very big, and there was marble everywhere. I checked in, got my visitor badge Just then an assistant came to meet me. "Miss Lane! Thank you for being right on time. Let me take you right up."

​The elevator took us up to the 70th floor. It was much quieter here. There was a thick blue carpet on the floor. ​The assistant led me down the hallway toward the conference room. And then, I saw him. Elias Thorne.

​He was standing outside looking out the window while talking on his phone. He looked exactly like the legend the media described him to be in his suit. As I watched, he rubbed his temple hard with his free hand. It was a small sign of tiredness.

​The assistant stopped me a few feet away. She waited until Elias hung up, sliding the phone into his pocket. Instantly, the tired look vanished. He turned, and his eyes snapped to mine.

​The assistant stepped forward. "Mr. Thorne, this is Miss Clara Lane, Head of Financial Operations in Vance Publishing."

​Elias gave the assistant a quick nod, implying that she's dismissed. His attention immediately returned back to me.

​"Miss Lane," he said, his voice deep and measured, but without the cold edge I expected.

​"Mr. Thorne," I replied, giving him a nod, trying not to stare at the tired spot he had just rubbed away.

​He walked toward me, slowly. "You're right on time. Good." He paused, looking down at my serious suit and folder. Then a tiny smile touched the corner of his mouth before it was gone. He leaned in just slightly, dropping his voice to a low murmur so only I could hear me.​

"We have a moment, Miss. Lane." He straightened his shirt sleeve. "I have a small request. The meetings here waste time, often going in circles. If you hear people say things like 'let’s go over this again,' please help me move us to the next point. It'll just save everyone time."

​The instruction was surprising. It wasn't mean, but a polite, focused request for smart help. He was treating me like a helpful tool he valued.

​I looked at him, giving a quick nod. "Understood, Mr. Thorne. I'll make sure the meeting keeps moving forward."

​He returned the same nod, his intense look softening only a little. "That's exactly the kind of clear focus I need. Thank you."

​He pointed toward the conference room door. "Let's go, Miss. Lane."

​I took a deep breath. The meeting was scary, but the man in charge was a leader who showed his strict standards in an unexpected, polite manner.

​"Yes of course, Mr. Thorne," I said.