The Executive Lie

Chapter 4: The 70th Floor

The next morning, my old Vance office felt so different. The energy had already shifted along with the new management. It wasn’t the bright atmosphere I worked in for the past few years. I found a small box taped to my desk. Inside was a black keycard, a Thorne Industries phone already set up for all my necessary communications, and a small printed note from Mr. Hanson which read:

Welcome, Director Lane. Your suite is ready.

I didn't waste time. I packed the few personal items I had. I tried to speak to my finance team, but they were already so busy with Thorne's integration materials. Ben, my colleague, just shook my hand. "Go get 'em, Clara. Show the Ice Man what Vance is worth."

I smiled. “Thanks, Ben. Don’t worry. I’ll be in touch”, I reassured.

I took a cab back to the Throne Building, this time feeling less like a terrified visitor and more like a highly paid prisoner. The elevator took me to the 70th floor again. The assistant from yesterday met me and led me to the private wing. She stopped at a door marked Suite 7002.

"This is your office, Director Lane," she murmured. "Mr. Thorne's private suite is just across the hall. He requires no formal interruptions unless you have secured his direct line first."

I nodded, "Understood."

When she left, I slid my new keycard into the reader and stepped inside.

The office was so big it was stunning. The entire wall facing the city was solid glass, giving me a view that made the world look small. There was a dark wood desk, a small meeting area, and even a private coffee machine.

I walked over to the windows, looking down at the city. My old office had been a cozy brick space. And this was a fortress in the sky.

I looked across the hall to Elias Thorne's door. He was just a few feet away, working behind that door and I’ll be working right here with him.

I began setting up my new desk, trying to focus on the technical details of the job. I logged into the Thorne network for the first time to see the work I had ahead of me. The depth of the accounts and the volume of data were just so much. I immediately understood that this was why he needed someone with my financial background close. The complexity of what we were going to be dealing with was no joke.

Just as I settled in, my new phone buzzed. It was a text message. Not a formal email, but a simple text from an unsaved number.

Welcome, Director Lane. I trust your movement here was seamless. Please report to my suite in 10 minutes to discuss the first priority. We'll be going over recent Vance Publishing accounts.

I stared at my phone. He didn't use an assistant to call me. He texted me directly. And the first thing he wanted me to audit was my own company’s history.

I quickly stood up, smoothed my suit, and grabbed my notebook. The forced proximity had officially begun.