To most people, he was no more than a name and, even then, perhaps just a brand. To those who knew better, he was a very real, immensely powerful incarnation, although one that was manifest only in voice. As a physical presence, he appeared only to a very select few. His tall, brooding demeanour was unsettling and intimidating, but then he seldom appeared when things were running well. Ellen knew this man better than most, but hardly considered that she had any real knowledge of him. He trusted her almost completely and relied on her to a large extent. But it was clear that they were not colleagues; she was very much the employee.
Two things she did know about this man were crucial. Firstly, he was an intensely private and secretive man, obsessed with the secrets of others. Secondly, he h
