Boardroom to Bedroom

Chapter 2

STORMING THE CASTLE

The Gates Technologies lobby had this over-the-top vibe that gave Andrea the creeps. The floors were so shiny, they acted like mirrors, bouncing light all over and making her feel like she was walking on a super-sterile skating rink. Even the air reeked of money and some high-dollar cologne, pumped in by a ventilation system that probably cost more than she made in a year.

Her boots echoed way too much in the big space. She’d been to fancy places before; her ex, Joseph, used to schmooze clients in spots just like this; but Gates Technologies felt wrong. Colder and more calculated. Everything, from the black granite desk to the security guards with their blank faces and earpieces, just screamed control. This was Davies Gates' world, and she was barging in.

“Can I help you”? The receptionist’s smile was too perfect, her hair and makeup screamed expensive, the pretty, blank face of the company. Her name tag read Jessica.

Andrea walked up, faking confidence. “I need to see Davies Gates”.

Jessica’s smile didn’t budge, but something flickered in her eyes. Maybe amusement or raw pity. “Do you have an appointment”?

“No, but I have something he needs to see”. Andrea slammed her portfolio on the desk, startling Jessica. “Gates Technologies bought the place at 847 Valencia Street. I run the community center there. He’s making calls about my project without knowing the whole story”.

“I see”. Jessica started typing. “And you are”?

“Andrea Lin. Lin & Associates Sustainable Design”.

More typing followed. Then Jessica looked up, a little more cautious. “Ms. Lin, Mr. Gates is swamped. If you want to set up a meeting the normal way, I can give you the contact info for…”

“I don’t have time for the normal way. Andrea leaned in, her voice trembling with nerves. He’s going to shut down a community center that helps three hundred families. The least you can do is to let me speak to him, so that he can see the reality for himself”.

For a second, Jessica’s mask slipped. She almost looked like she respected Andrea. Then she glanced at the security station, and Andrea knew she’d messed up.

“Ms. Lin, I get that you’re upset, but Mr. Gates doesn’t do walk-in meetings. If you’d like to…”

“Is he here? Andrea asked. “Right now, in this building?”

Jessica didn’t answer but her silence was enough for Andrea to decide her next move.

“Then I’m not leaving until he sees me”.

“Ms. Lin…” Jessica stammered.

“Andrea”. A friendly voice broke the tension. A woman came over from the elevators, in her mid-twenties, wearing a tailored navy suit. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and she looked genuinely concerned. “Andrea Lin?”

Andrea turned, unsure. “Yes”?

“I’m Alexa Park, Mr. Gates’ assistant”. She shook Andrea’s hand. Alexa’s grip was firm, her palm a little rough; odd for a billionaire's assistant. “I saw your name on the Valencia Street file this morning. Sorry you had to find out about the purchase like this”.

Alexa being nice almost made Andrea c***k. “Then you get why I need to see him”.

Alexa’s face was sympathetic, but firm. “I do. But Mr. Gates is in a long board meeting. His day is booked solid until seven tonight, then he has dinner with investors. I could try to squeeze you in…”

“No”! Andrea said, louder than she meant to. “No appointments, no waiting. He’s tearing things down now. I’m not leaving this lobby until he sees me”.

“Ms. Lin, I can’t…”

“Can’t, or won’t”? Andrea challenged. “Three hundred families depend on that community center. Single moms need childcare so they can work. Kids need a safe spot. Old folks have been forced out of everywhere else. They can’t wait”.

Alexa stared at her, thinking. Then she checked her watch and made up her mind.

“The board meeting is on the forty-seventh floor”, she said quietly. “If you happened to get to Conference Room A, and walked in during a break…” She looked at Andrea. “I wouldn’t know a thing”.

Andrea’s heart skipped a beat. “You’d do that”?

“I’m not doing anything”. Alexa stayed neutral, but she handed Andrea a visitor badge. “Just so you know, the elevators on the left need a badge, and board meetings usually have a fifteen-minute break after two hours. Which is…” another glance at her watch, “…in about eight minutes”.

Andrea looked at the badge, then at Alexa. “Why”?

Alexa smiled for the first time; small, sad and knowing. “Because five years ago, my community center was torn down for something fancy. Maybe things could have turned out differently if someone had made them pay attention”. She nodded toward the elevators. “Make them pay attention, Andrea”.

Andrea didn’t need to be told twice. She grabbed her stuff and headed for the elevators before Alexa changed her mind or security stopped her. The badge worked; the doors opened smoothly.

As the elevator went up, she got out her tablet and looked over her presentation. Numbers, facts and money talk. All the stuff Davies Gates might care about.

But her hands shivered as she swiped through the pages. Because under those numbers were the faces of the people she was fighting for. Mrs. Cardenas, who’d struggled with businesses before. Sixteen-year-old Marcus Jr., who said the center was the only place he felt secure. Grace Wilson and her husband Mark who invested everything into it.

The elevator stopped on the forty-seventh floor.

Andrea stepped into a hallway that was even colder than the lobby; clean lines and gray everywhere, designed to keep you focused on that million-dollar view. Big windows showed San Francisco, all shiny in the morning light, looking pretty until you remembered all the people forced far away from the city.

Conference Room A was right ahead, its glass walls showing the meeting inside.

Andrea stopped, breathing fast.

There were maybe twenty people in the room, all in expensive suits, sitting around a huge wooden table. Screens showed data she didn’t understand. A man stood at the head of the table, with his back to the door, making a point with total confidence.

Even from behind, he seemed like a big shot. Tall; over six feet, with broad shoulders in a tailored suit. Dark hair, perfect cut. He stood like he owned the world.

Andrea’s heart pounded.

This was insane. She was about to crash the board meeting of a huge business. She’d be thrown out, arrested maybe, and never get another job in the city.

But then she thought of Mrs. Cardenas' pastries, Marcus Jr. 's shy smile, and Grace's vision.

Andrea pushed open the conference room door.

Twenty heads turned to look at her. Everyone stopped talking.

The man at the head of the table; Davies Gates, it had to be; turned slowly, like he was used to being looked at.

Andrea thought: The Iceman was wrong. Ice was cold, but clouded. Davies Gates looked like glass; clear, sharp, and probably able to cut.

He was younger than she thought he’d be. His gray eyes looked her up and down.

He didn’t look angry. He looked… curious. Like she was a problem he had to solve.

“Security will be here in thirty seconds”, he said, his voice smooth. A British accent, just a touch of it, making him sound even colder. “You have twenty-nine seconds to tell me why I shouldn’t have you arrested”.

Andrea raised her chin. “Because I run the community center you just bought, and you’re making decisions that will ruin three hundred families’ lives without knowing the whole story”.

Something flashed in those gray eyes. “You’re Andrea Lin”.

He knew her name. “And you’re Davies Gates. The neighborhood killer. The man who OKs every building project”.

Some of the board members whispered. One guy; who looked like Davies, asked, “Where did she get the guts”?

But Davies didn’t look away from her. “Ms. Lin, I buy residences all the time. They all have people who will whine about being affected. I don’t owe them anything”.

Maybe you should. Andrea walked forward, slamming her portfolio on the table hard enough to make some people jump. Maybe if you saw how your choices hit people so negatively, you’d make different ones.

“And maybe”. Davies said, his voice getting dangerous, “if architects understood money, they wouldn’t build projects that need charity”.

His words stung. But Andrea had been stung before.

She opened her portfolio, spreading papers on the table. “Then let’s talk numbers. This center helps three hundred families with childcare, job training, and health. It makes $2.3 million a year. Property values nearby have spiked 15%. Crime is down 23%. School attendance is up 31%”.

She looked up at him. “Your fancy building will make money for a few years, then become another boring waste. My project builds real community. So tell me, Mr. Gates; which one makes more sense”?

Davies didn’t respond for a long time. Those gray eyes watched her, making her skin feel hot even though the room was cold.

Then, he almost smiled. He’d been surprised. And Andrea guessed that Davies Gates wasn’t often surprised.

“You have impressive guts, Ms. Lin”. He looked at his board members, who looked stunned. Everyone out. Fifteen-minute break.

They rushed out, except for the guy who looked like Davies. “Dav, you can’t be serious…”

“Out, Steve”.

Steve looked angry, but he left, slamming the door.

Now it was just Andrea and Davies, and her heart was still pounding.

“You have five minutes”, he said, walking around the table toward her. “Give me one good reason”.

And Andrea, despite all she planned to say, couldn’t speak.

Because up close, Davies Gates wasn’t just intimidating; he was something to look at too. And she was putting all her faith in him caring after all.