Chapter 9 - Definitely Not Zombies
1683 Words
For several seconds after Elsie's volunteer offer, nobody moved.
The silence inside the conference room was so complete that Elsie could hear the faint ticking of the wall clock.
She looked around the table.
Daniel was staring at her as though she had just announced that she intended to walk into a burning building.
Clara's mouth was slightly open.
Nora looked genuinely concerned.
Even Evelyn Hart, who usually appeared impossible to surprise, was staring at Elsie with an expression somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion.
Elsie slowly raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
Nobody answered.
She glanced at the others.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Daniel finally leaned toward Clara.
“She actually doesn't know.”
“I know,” Clara whispered.
Elsie frowned.
“I'm sitting right here.”
Evelyn finally exhaled.
“All right.”
She gathered the documents from the table.
“That's enough for today. Everyone, back to work.”
Chairs moved.
Papers were collected.
Nobody seemed particularly eager to leave.
Elsie remained seated.
Evelyn looked at her.
“Elsie, stay behind for a moment.”
Elsie's stomach dropped.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Because everyone is looking at me like I accidentally volunteered to diffuse a bomb.”
Daniel stood.
“That might actually be easier.”
“Daniel,” Evelyn said.
He immediately picked up his folder.
“Leaving.”
The others filed out.
Nora gave Elsie one last sympathetic look before disappearing through the door.
The conference room became quiet.
Evelyn waited until the door closed.
Then she looked at Elsie.
“Come to my office.”
Elsie nodded.
“Yes, ma'am.”
She stood.
And immediately caught her shoe against the leg of the chair.
The chair scraped loudly across the floor.
Elsie froze.
Evelyn stared at her.
Elsie slowly straightened.
“I meant to do that.”
Evelyn's lips twitched.
“Of course you did.”
Elsie followed her out.
Evelyn's office was considerably quieter than the rest of the department.
Large windows overlooked Newhaven.
A neat desk stood in the center of the room, surrounded by shelves filled with files, awards, and framed photographs.
Evelyn motioned toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Elsie sat carefully this time.
Evelyn took her place behind the desk.
For a moment, she simply looked at Elsie.
Then her expression softened.
“First of all, welcome to Westbridge International.”
Elsie's face brightened.
“Thank you.”
“I know your first morning hasn't exactly gone according to plan.”
Elsie smiled.
“I was expecting paperwork.”
“So was I.”
Evelyn gave a small laugh.
“Unfortunately, you've managed to volunteer yourself into something considerably more complicated.”
Elsie's smile faded slightly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“They're not entirely wrong.”
Evelyn opened a drawer.
She removed a thick black folder and placed it on the desk.
Elsie looked at it.
“That looks serious.”
“It is.”
Evelyn pushed it toward her.
“This is the project file.”
Elsie reached for it.
“What exactly is the cooperation between Westbridge and Veyr Group?”
Evelyn leaned back.
“It's a strategic international cooperation agreement.”
Elsie waited.
“That sounds very official.”
“It is.”
“What does it actually involve?”
Evelyn gave her a patient look.
“Multiple international projects, commercial negotiations, logistical coordination, security protocols, and long-term strategic planning.”
Elsie's eyes widened.
“Oh.”
She looked at the folder.
“How long is this project?”
“Potentially several years.”
Elsie looked back up.
“Several years?”
“If the cooperation continues successfully.”
Elsie swallowed.
“And I'm supposed to represent Westbridge?”
“Provisionally.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Elsie's eyes widened again.
“Tomorrow?”
Evelyn nodded.
“You'll go to Veyr Group's headquarters tomorrow morning.”
Elsie stared at her.
“I'm going there?”
“Yes.”
“As the representative?”
“Yes.”
“By myself?”
Evelyn paused.
“You won't be completely alone.”
Elsie looked relieved.
“Oh, good.”
“You'll have the necessary documents and security clearance.”
Elsie's relief disappeared.
“Security clearance?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Standard procedure.”
Elsie narrowed her eyes.
“Everyone keeps saying things like that.”
“Because they're true.”
Elsie looked down at the folder.
Something about Evelyn's voice was bothering her.
It wasn't fear exactly.
It was something closer to sympathy.
Evelyn was looking at her almost like a mother sending her child somewhere unpleasant.
Elsie noticed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Evelyn blinked.
“Like what?”
“Like you're about to send me into war.”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“It's not war.”
Elsie relaxed.
“Good.”
“Probably.”
Elsie's eyes widened.
“Probably?”
Evelyn immediately corrected herself.
“I'm joking.”
Elsie wasn't convinced.
Evelyn reached across the desk and gently tapped the folder.
“Read everything tonight. Familiarize yourself with the project. Pay attention to the names, terms, schedules, and protocols.”
Elsie nodded.
“I will.”
“And Elsie?”
“Yes?”
“Don't be afraid to ask questions tomorrow.”
“I won't.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You're going to do fine.”
Elsie smiled back.
“Thank you.”
Evelyn's expression softened again.
“I mean that.”
Elsie stood.
She hugged the folder against her chest.
“Then I'll do my best.”
“I know.”
Elsie reached the door.
Evelyn looked at her one last time.
“Good luck, Elsie.”
Elsie smiled.
“Thank you.”
She opened the door.
Then turned back.
“Evelyn?”
“Yes?”
“If Veyr Group turns out to be some sort of secret organization of highly trained assassins, I'm coming back here.”
Evelyn stared at her.
Elsie smiled.
“I'm kidding.”
She left.
The door closed.
Evelyn slowly lowered herself into her chair.
Her expression changed.
The sympathy returned.
She looked toward the closed door.
“Poor girl.”
Elsie had barely stepped into the department when everyone descended upon her.
Nora reached her first.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Daniel appeared beside her.
“What did she say?”
“About what?”
“The project!”
“Oh.”
Elsie held up the folder.
“This.”
Clara walked closer.
“You're actually going?”
Elsie nodded.
“Tomorrow morning.”
Daniel stared at her.
“She's going.”
Nora sighed.
“She really is.”
Clara looked sympathetic.
“Elsie…”
“What?”
“You don't understand what you volunteered for.”
Elsie smiled.
“I understand.”
“No, you don't.”
“I do.”
Daniel pointed toward the folder.
“You're going to Veyr Group.”
“Yes.”
“You're going to meet their people.”
“Yes.”
“You're going to represent Westbridge.”
“Yes.”
“And you're completely calm?”
Elsie thought about it.
“No.”
Daniel nodded.
“Good.”
Elsie continued.
“But I'm not terrified.”
Everyone stared at her.
Elsie shrugged.
“It's a company.”
Clara blinked.
“Yes.”
“A very large company.”
“Yes.”
“A very rich company.”
“Yes.”
“So what's the problem?”
Nora exchanged a look with Daniel.
“The problem,” Nora said carefully, “is Veyr Group.”
Elsie sighed.
“You've all said that about twenty times.”
“Because you don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Silence.
Elsie looked at them.
“Well?”
Daniel folded his arms.
“They're powerful.”
“Lots of companies are powerful.”
“They're ruthless.”
“Lots of companies are ruthless.”
“They're intimidating.”
“People are intimidated by my grandmother.”
Clara tried not to laugh.
Elsie continued.
“And they operate with extremely strict security.”
Elsie stared at her.
“So?”
Daniel looked defeated.
“Why are you so calm?”
Elsie lifted both hands.
“Because Veyr Group should consist of human beings.”
Nobody answered.
“It operates on Earth,” she continued.
Still silence.
Elsie looked around at their faces.
“You all sound like you're describing some supernatural science-fiction organization.”
Daniel's eyebrows rose.
Elsie pointed at the folder.
“What am I supposed to find inside?”
She lowered her voice dramatically.
“Ancient vampires?”
Clara covered her mouth.
Elsie continued.
“Werewolves?”
Nora started laughing.
“Zombies?”
Daniel finally laughed.
“Definitely zombies.”
Elsie nodded seriously.
“See? That's what I'm saying.”
She hugged the folder tighter.
“At this point I'm starting to think I'm going to walk into Veyr Group tomorrow and discover that I'm actually being sent to battle monsters.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Elsie.”
“What?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes?”
“I wish you were.”
Elsie laughed.
“Everyone is being ridiculous.”
She turned toward her desk.
Then immediately caught her foot on the edge of the chair.
She stumbled forward.
The folder flew out of her hands.
Papers scattered across the floor.
Everyone froze.
Elsie looked down.
Then slowly looked at her colleagues.
“See?”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“You're definitely going to war.”
Elsie pointed at him.
“Not helpful.”
Clara laughed as she helped gather the papers.
Nora shook her head.
“Tomorrow is going to be interesting.”
Elsie picked up the last document.
She glanced at the thick Veyr Group file in her hands.
Her smile faded for just a moment.
Tomorrow.
She would walk into the world everyone else seemed afraid of.
She had no idea why.
She had no idea what awaited her.
Elsie closed the folder.
“Well,” she whispered.
“How bad can it be?”
Nobody answered.
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