Trouble in the Vortex (Mr Quixotic and darjeeling)

[darjeeling]

"No. I said to have them contact me directly."

The voice of a woman still in her youth drifted through the door of her office, radiating frustration and disappointment though her otherwise cool, impassive tone suggested otherwise. "Mr Travers, if I do not see a flashing light on my pager in the next five minutes, I will be most distressed." It was code for do it if you value your job and the poor man named Travers seemed to stutter a reply through the phone before the brunette ended the call with a single press of a button.

Felicity Milton was twenty-seven years of age when the position of being the head of the media buying department had all but fallen straight into her little lap. To those who worked under the previous superior who went by the name of Andrew Delton, it certainly seemed that way. Felicity, or Liss as she was more commonly known to the employees of Vortex, had only been employed at her cubicle for two years whilst some had been slaving away over numbers, long corporate names and even more numbers had been there so long they had replaced their cubicle plants too many times to count. When news of her promotion came, it had fallen on outraged but quiet ears. Delton had been relieved of his job and fired, for reasons the employees were not privy to and he had named Felicity as his successor. He had not been present to give the news, which only seemed to make it that much more strange.

Yet, life at Vortex continued on and it had been six months since Delton's departure. She and Delton were not close it seemed, and Felicity was hellbent on making sure her employees did exactly as they were told. The women feared her, but it was not the gossip of rumor that made her worry. It was the men who seemed more sullen than their female counterparts about her promotion; many had been furious, she had overheard them speaking none-too-loudly about that bitch and how Delton had passed over them. Many retained their positions at Vortex without budging a single inch for years, yet she had managed to jump an entire solar system in rank. The congratulations she had been offered were sour and, while not loathing, it did not lack in bitterness. Still, Liss also seemed to care little for that. She was only interested in maintaining her position at this present moment and perhaps move up the proverbial ladder a little more at a later date.

She checked her mail and dealt with yet another client who was determined to remain firmly seated on their original cost. The asses. Felicity had not yet been successful in budging them to lower their rates; Vortex was not particularly lacking in finances, but it was her job to get the best deal and to make sure that the company was not paying any more than it needed to for the required quality. Their advertising agency was a local but popular choice for the companies situated around these parts and Vortex found themselves dealing with repeat clientele more often than not, though higher-end companies were fought over by their rivaling company.

Felicity would have to deal with them at another time. She exited the office quickly, making certain she had locked the door - it would not do to have her employees snoop around in classified directories - and made her way to the bathroom. It was around lunchtime and many were at the cafeteria, across the road for a sandwich or lingering in their cubicles. Liss spent the next couple of minutes freshening up: reapplying her makeup and tidying her rich, dark brown hair, long with side-swept bangs. She wore it now in a high ponytail, the very end of it brushing against the nape of her pale neck. Her lips were painted with a light shade of red, not vibrant enough to pop out but enough to accentuate her comely features. Standing at a modest height of 5'5", or 5'7" in heels, and petite, Liss was far from intimidating and her bright hazel-brown eyes gave her a sweet, almost innocent look. That assumption could not be further from the truth.

She left the bathroom, whispers abound and heads turning as she stalked back to her office with her head held high. They were beneath her now and her attention was not on what the employees might hav to say, but on what the clients did.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

"Damn it."

David Myers slammed down the phone after the connection at the other end went silent, then leaned back in his chair, and lifted his piercing blue eyes to the door of Felicity Milton's office, which lay in line of sight of his cubicle. Another potential client had pulled out of negotiations, and it was that bitch's fault. "Damn it." He repeated the phrase, this time to himself, as he imagined how she'd react when he relayed the bad news.

Intuitively, David was aware that Felicity wasn't to blame, it was just how things were. The competition between Vortex and their largest rival meant that potential clients knew if they played the two off against each other for long enough, one was more likely than not to eventually meet their asking price. However, that fact wasn't going to stop David from cursing his immediate superior, or justifying the anger directed at her. Wasn't it Felicity's responsibility to convince Upper Management to increase their budget, so that business wouldn't be lost? What the hell did she do all day? If Delton had still been here this wouldn't have happened. If David had been in Felicity's position, this wouldn't have happened.

Six months ago, with no warning, David had come in to the office to find Delton gone. No warning, no rumours, no explanation. Delton's desk and personal possessions had been cleared out, and the smarmy bitch, as most of his male colleagues now thought of Felicity, had been introduced as his replacement. David had been robbed of his opportunity. He'd joined Vortex directly after graduating from College with a Marketing Degree, and at thirty-three years of age, had given ten years loyal and dedicated service to the Company. Andrew Delton had assured him that he was the next in line for promotion.

However, not only did David never receive an opportunity to apply for that promotion, the job had apparently been handed to Felicity on a silver platter, and the staff hadn't even been advised of who had made the final decision, or why. David had found the whole experience - to be first overlooked, then expected to take orders and directions from someone his junior, both in age and experience - humiliating. Many of his colleagues who'd committed themselves to the company, just as he had, felt the same. And to top it off, she was a woman. "Who'd she sleep with to get the job?" was the first question which had come to most of his male (and some of his female) colleagues minds, and was one still often asked six months later, out of Felicity's earshot.

What worsened matters was that David found her looks appealing, and Felicity a woman he'd love to bed, if only to show the bitch who was boss. At 6"1, with short-cropped sandy-brown hair, piercing deep-blue eyes, and a runner's body kept slim and toned by regular exercise, it wasn't David's moderate good looks which were the cause of any success with the ladies, but instead his arrogance, and refusal to take no for an answer. However, as much as David was not a man used to being denied when it came to the opposite sex, neither was he stupid, and the situation with Felicity was different than any he'd encountered previously. She held the upper hand, and if he attempted anything untoward, his job would be at risk. All David could do was deal with things as they were, and hope that he'd be there to one day witness Felicity receive her comeuppance. Little did he know that by the close of day, he'd be able to see light at the end of that particular tunnel.

"Felicity." David jumped from his seat as she stepped into sight, preceded by rumblings and murmurs of those in the cubicles which surrounded his. Without preamble, and in a tone which suggested accusation, David Myers followed her to her office. "We've just lost another frigging account. Holograph Industries has ended negotiations, and gone over to the dark side. When are you going to do something about having our budgets increased?" You could have heard a pin drop as everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing to eavesdrop on the conversation.

 

[darjeeling]

'Not a moment's peace...'

Felicity did not even have the chance to shut the door or say she was too busy, with the man's voice carrying across the entire office and probably two floors down too. David Meyers was one of the many men who looked at her with clear contempt; his just so happened to also veil what Felicity liked to imagine as something akin to a burning passion - whether it was a desire for her or to see her toppled from her throne, she only saw that as an opportunity. She did not know who David had been, barely exchanging a few words with the lighter-haired male before her promotion, only that he was a long time employee of Vortex. She had only really done her research after Delton had mentioned him as one with 'potential', though Felicity had seen to it that the list would never come to light.

She pointedly ignored the frustrated male as she maneuvered her way around her desk to drop her purse back onto the ground gently. It was lunch time, not annoy your superior time. Yet David was one of the few employees who seemed to never take no for an answer. Fortunately, Felicity was the same way. The brunette picked up her frame-less, square-shaped glasses and pushed them up her nose before making a great show of shuffling about the papers on her varnished desk. She knew that David was like to get impatient with her and as most people seemed to get when they were impatient, he may be more inclined to shout. Normally she would do all she could to refrain from making a scene but if the man raised his voice against her in the ears of witnesses, they could not claim she had been unjust towards him later.

After dawdling for no less than five minutes, Felicity finally stopped straightening the around neat stack of letters with names and numbers jotted down. "Why don't you take a seat?" She peered at the man, her eyes betraying nothing of importance, the only expression visible was the slight crease of her brow as she frowned. "Holograph Industries have always been fickle. They do whatever possible to tighten their belts about their waists and even if we give in to their demands, it is not a sure thing that they will come to us again in the future."

She drummed her fingers against the desk, her manicured nails clicking as her frown increased in severity. Holograph Industries was still an important business partner and it did not surprise her to know that they had turned to their rivals. On the other side of the coin was Immerse, the dark side, as David had stated so poignantly, a company born from a partnership gone sour between the brains behind Vortex. Immerse enjoyed a great growth in popularity during its conception, with businesses quickly floating back in forth, and with Vortex no longer holding a monopoly on advertising, the competition was fierce between them. Some employees even saw loss of business as a personal attack against them, so loyal as they were to Vortex.

"Besides, the people up at account services have yet to get back to me on that matter. You know I have no real control over where our finances go, Myers." Despite her shorter stature, Felicity was very much looking down at David in her mind's eye. "Our department isn't exactly the highest on their agenda right now. In case you weren't aware, Immerse had acquired a new production manager just last year. Buvelle, he goes by. Some French immigrant, no doubt." Felicity was nonchalant, though her hands had begun to straighten out the sheaf of tax returns and logo prototypes. "He's been the one boosting their business so accounting has decided to pour the extra into finding one for ourselves." She was never really the kind of woman to talk to her underlings with much professionalism, somewhat prone to gossip even if she didn't know she was doing it. It was further evidence of just how young she was, despite her above average intelligence.

With that said, she waved her hand at David then to the door, a silent gesture that meant the conversation was over.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

David could feel the eyes of his colleagues upon him as he called out to Felicity. He really didn't know why he bothered, the man didn't expect to receive any acknowledgement, assistance or empathy from his so-called superior. Possibly he did it because none of the other staff ever had the balls to state their opinion, or offer any disagreement. Maybe it was just a matter of male pride? However, attempting to keep pride intact wasn't an easy thing to do with someone who deliberately ignored you, and instead spent five minutes tidying their desk before they even acknowledged that you had spoken. Not when there wasn't anything you could do about it.

His hands had clenched into fists, and his body trembled with repressed fury by the time Felicity turned her attention to him, however he attempted not to let his anger show. As much as he desired to yell, or possibly walk in and slap her across the face, for the satisfaction her reaction would provide, he forced himself to remain calm, and fell back against the door jamb with arms crossed over his chest. Someone had once told him the best way to piss people off was to act as if you didn't care, and he hoped it would work with Ms Milton. As she finally deigned to respond, David deliberately unfolded his arms, and lifted one hand to stifle a yawn. He wasn't expecting to hear anything from Felicity that he hadn't heard before.

As she suggested he take a seat, David lowered his hand, and his gaze drifted to the proffered chair. He assumed his presence wouldn't be required long enough for any level of comfort to matter, so decided against accepting the proposition. Rather than respond with words, David stifled another artificial yawn, crossed his ankles one over the other, refolded his arms over his chest, and slouched casually against the door-frame. If he wasn't to be seated, he wasn't going to stand to attention for the bitch either.

So much for pretending you didn't care. His posture straightened of its own accord when she finished speaking, and he acted on instinct rather than with thought. "Holograph industries may be, as you say, fickle, Ms Milton, but they're a leader in their field. To have them as a client offers us prestige and leverage. Even if we need to offer slightly more than we think they're worth, the benefits in the long run outweigh the risks. We just can't allow Immerse to continue to walk all over us, and this is the third major account we've lost out on to them in the past six months." He left unsaid that six months was precisely the amount of time Felicity had been in her job.

By the time he finished, David's voice had risen in anger, almost to a yell, and he'd slapped both palms firmly on Felicity's desk, and leaned forward so that his darkened and narrowed pupils bored right into her. The passion hadn't just been caused by his dislike for the woman in front of him, and the way she'd so blithely responded and waved him off, but also by loyalty to his employer, and concern for the company's future. As one of the Vortex's long-standing employees, David was aware of the history between it, and Immerse, and the fact their rival took pleasure in stealing Vortex's clients. How they appeared to know who Vortex were negotiating with, and how much they'd offered, so they could sneak in under their guard with a counter-offer, was beyond David's comprehension, but somehow they did.

Whatever the reasons for his reaction, David quickly realised that to be seen disrespecting or intimidating his boss in full view of witnesses was not a good career move. He clamped his mouth shut, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. When his eyes re-opened, David's torso had straightened, and he'd stepped away from the desk. The man's demeanour became more relaxed, and his tone tinged with sarcasm rather than the previous anger. "Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, Ms Milton, However, in my humble opinion, we shouldn't be following Immerse's lead, we should be the one's leading. The Accounting Department does not simply give out money because you ask, you need to fight for it. That's how Delton used to work, and"- David Myers paused to shoot his superior the sweetest smile he could muster - "it's why he had the respect of his staff". David then turned his back on Felicity Milton, and walked out.

He tensed in anticipation of a backlash as he exited, but all-in-all felt rather pleased with himself, particularly when he noted smiles on the faces of some of his colleagues. Any concerns he held about being dragged back in by Felicity for a dressing down were momentarily forgotten when he heard a familiar voice call his name. Eric, from the IT Department, stood by David's cubicle, and immediately their eyes met, held up five digits, then jabbed excitedly at his watch with an index finger. "Five O'clock. Pig and Whistle. We need to talk." The man's expression was one of a cat who'd just found the cream, however before David could ask what had so excited him, Eric scurried off.

David was still pondering what was going on with his friend, when he suddenly realised that he'd come to a halt directly outside Felicity's office, and he began to move quickly away.

 

[darjeeling]

In truth, Felicity was rarely bothered by the staring of others, be it out of admiration (rarely), envy (commonly), loathing (mostly) or a combination of them all. Whichever one stood at the forefront in their prying gazes, if there was one thing that could be said of Felicity Milton it was that very little seemed to phase her. Her honeyed eyes gazed over the top of her spectacles as David put on a show that proved to be mildly entertaining for the manager. It was not unlike the man to do so and rather than irritate her, it only served to make her smirk beneath her stone-cold visage. If he thought to play her at her game, he was sorely mistaken. Nevertheless, Felicity allowed the farce to continue knowing that if it came to who would hold out the longest, she would most certainly stand as the victor. The way it was going, David was like to internally combust where he stood.

When her thoughtful offer that the man might sit was rejected, Felicity merely shrugged. At least the man was smart enough to realize that he would not be here much longer. When he spoke in return, all she heard were words blaring from a recycled trumpet, their subtle meanings not so subtle to one who had heard it all. "As I have said, Mr Myers, I do not have the necessary strings to pull in order to make it reality." Her brown eyes turned sharp as David had brought his hands down loudly against his desk. Not in fear, but in anger that he had almost made her jump in surprise at the sound. She could practically see the gazes burning holes through her door and into her office and if it were possible, the eavesdropping employees would have set it aflame too. "Holograph is playing us." She replied curtly. "The fact that they have returned for a third time means they still think to drag us down into the mud where Immerse sits to eat their mud pies. Let them have Holograph." Felicity ignored the male's implication; again, of no surprise and certainly of no concern. What was one ant in the grand scheme of things?

Felicity was unflappable under David's rage. It was palpable and she would not be surprised if her plants withered away and died in that very moment from the amount of heat she could feel radiating off him. His suspicions were not completely unfounded, nor were anyone else's. Felicity had worked briefly at Immerse having followed a close... friend of hers right out of university. Truth be told, though it was not a truth anyone in this company knew save for Delton and it was one of the many secrets she kept well guarded. Heaven knows the Hell that would break loose if anyone came across this information. She did not have the same undying love for Vortex as her subordinates did and she most certainly did not sing its praises so sweetly though Felicity had learned how to fake a tune very well the past few months. But to her delight, Meyers finally remembered his place through the haze of frustration. She had seen it many times though none got quite so far as David did.

She watched curiously as he went through some sort of change, a meditative chant perhaps as the heat simmered away. When he straightened, so did she just so she did not seem so much shorter. Her quip was held back, away from wriggling tongue and shadowed frowns. Immerse did not lead and neither did Vortex. That was more than enough for David and his fellows, Felicity thought. They wanted Vortex to be the pioneer of their own ship, not scrabbling for scraps as fish fell through their nets. But Felicity knew that there were bigger fish out there, yet her crew was too blinded to see it. Their pride kept them in the zone they were most comfortable with, where Delton had last left them.

"Delton may have worked in that fashion, and he may have commanded the respect of you lot, but..." Felicity made a show of looking around even as David turned his back on her. "Delton is not here. I am." That was all she needed to say as the male exited her office with finality riddled with an air of self serving accomplishment. Felicity had no intention of calling him back; feeling exhausted, she moved to close her door, shielding her from the peepers before collapsing into her chair. A finger went to her temple, rotating in a slow massage to ease the sudden throb. She had not seen the last of him but she knew that the next time he showed his face, it would be a lifetime too soon.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

David had his back turned to the woman when she uttered her last words, and he didn't bother to acknowledge that he'd heard them, let alone respond. With his body tensed, he nodded at Eric before his friend scurried off, and then sighed in relief, as instead of being called back into Felicity's office, the door shut behind him. As usual the arrogant bitch had spoken to him as if he were nothing but a piece of dirt, and confirmed in his mind that the opinions of he and his colleagues mattered for nought. Even when they were provided with the Company's best interests at heart.

The relief wasn't because David was intimidated by, or feared, his superior, but a result of the exasperation and frustration Felicity Milton's seeming ability to never lose her cool or composure caused him to feel, and the thought of what he may have done to try change that if he'd re-entered her office. David would have been tempted to give Felicity a piece of his mind in a manner in which he doubted she'd ever been subjected to before. At least not in her professional capacity. How it would have ended up, David wasn't certain. Most likely with him being escorted out of the building by Security.

He forced a smile at his colleagues, but avoided any conversation as he returned to his desk. What had Eric wanted? David fell into his seat, and checked for emails and phone messages, but there were none. That his friend had taken the time to come down to speak to David personally, rather than phone or email, was unusual.

Whatever the reason for his obvious excitement, it couldn't be bad news. Eric had recently been installed as Acting Manger of the IT Department until a replacement could be found for Bryan Kirk, who'd resigned unexpectedly a few weeks prior, and David thought that he may have heard that he'd won the position permanently. After two attempts to call his friend, both of which went unanswered, David shrugged off his curiosity as best he could. He find out later, and for the moment he needed to get back to work, and ensure no further clients were lost to Immerse.

**************************************
"Over here."

The Pig and Whistle was a dark, dingy, British-themed Pub, located two blocks from their office building. It wasn't the usual drinking hole of choice for the majority of Vortex's staff - that honour went to the much classier Burbury Wine Bar a short distance away, where the suits hung out and tried to pick up -, so here they weren't likely to run into other colleagues or have a conversation overhead by anyone who mattered.

That Eric had selected it, instead of the Burbury, was something else which had perked David's interest. Unable to wait any longer, he'd slipped out a few minutes prior to the official closing time of five o'clock - without a goodnight to Felicity -, only to find that Eric had made it before him. Obviously the position of IT Manager wasn't as stressful or demanding as he'd been led to believe. Two fresh beers sat on the small high round-table Eric had commandeered in one corner of the bar, and David thanked him as he slipped into a stool opposite his friend, and reached for a glass. "What's going on?"

Patience had never been one of David's virtues, and that was evident in the tone of his question. However, what was just as evident was that Eric took enjoyment in making his friend wait for whatever information he had to impart. He lifted his beer from the table, swirled it around a couple of times, pulled the glass to his mouth to take a long, slow sip, sighed theatrically as if he'd just savoured the nectar of the gods, wiped foam from his lips with the back of his hand, then ever so slowly lowered the glass back to the table. Finally, he looked at David Myers. And smiled. "So, do you want to know why Delton was fired, and what naughty things your friend Felicity Milton has been up to?"

Eric was aware of precisely how much David despised his superior, and as her name was mentioned, David's eye's widened, and his knuckles began to turn white with the force with which he gripped his beer glass. He lurched forward, and his free hand shot out to grab his friends wrist, not caring that he lost half his drink in the process. "Stop fucking around Eric, and tell me what's going on."

Eric laughed as he pulled his arm from David's grip. "Okay buddy, but you're going to owe me. Your delightful superior, Ms Stuck-up Bitch, is sleeping with the enemy. Or at least she was. She's also the one responsible for Delton being fired. It should have been her."

Myer's was all ears as Eric began to expound on what he'd discovered.

Finally. Felicity Milton was going down.

 

[darjeeling]

Her fingers tapped a familiar pattern on the number pad glowing brightly on her phone, but Felicity hovered over the final 6, pausing as she wracked her thoughts. Her employees didn't know anything, of that she was certain. She was also certain that she had covered her tracks relatively well and that the data would be untraceable unless one would actively look for it. She had no friends in her department but surely she had no enemies in the other branches of Vortex either. It was not completely improbable that her employees would be completely separated from others. Theirs was a mockery of a family business; it was far too large for her to remember everyone's name though she knew their faces all too well. Paranoia seemed to heighten her memory at the very least though it did little more than ease her fears into a territory that was borderline delusional. Especially when it came to the more leech-like underlings of hers that followed her every movement, waiting for that one moment where she might accidentally breathe in the wrong direction.

Felicity sighed, shaking her head in frustration. Her finger landed on the final digit and the recognizable dial tone played gratingly as she placed it to her ear. It seemed to ring on and on, the brunette on the verge of hanging up before a low voice answered with an irritated growl of "What?" Felicity only frowned at that, but she was glad the man was not present to see it. He was her secret as she was his and even the phone she used blocked all numbers, either outgoing or incoming and disposable to boot. She didn't know how many she had purchased, only that she had to be more than careful. She did not know what possessed her to call this number when she knew the man who answered held more regard for an insect on a wall. Nevertheless, she greeted him cordially enough.

"Marduke. Always a pleasure to hear your voice."

"Get on with it, I'm busy."

"Busy stealing away our clients, I know."

"You are in no position to belittle me." Marduke chewed on his words like they were sour little pieces of candy. He spat them out one by one. "What do you want?"

Felicity hesitated only for a split second. "Some may be suspect."

"That is none of my concern."

Therein lay the problem. Marduke was not the man she wanted. There was another, who spoke in kinder tones but far easier to wrap around her little finger, her middle finger and possibly all her fingers. Marduke was a hardened man who seemed to hold a taste for his young, male employees at Immerse, if rumors were to be believed and Felicity was privy to said rumors for one of those very same young employees. She kept that to herself and merely shrugged, though Marduke could not see it nor the way she rolled her eyes at his tone. There was a tense silence that spanned at least a full minute and a half. The reputation of the clientele Immerse was now signed with had only boomed within the last six months and to Felicity, the signs could not be any clearer.

"Let me talk to Finnigan."

Marduk snorted, the sound clanging through her ears like an ugly bell. "Not bloody likely."

Then, she was left with the white noise ringing and the end of a dial tone blaring. Felicity slammed the phone down with another soft groan of frustration, her mask slipping for a fraction. She was hoping to talk with Immerse's accounting manager, a man she had shared some sweet words with and sweeter kisses. Unfortunately, it was not likely she could get into contact with anyone useful. It would have to wait, even if the gnawing at her gut did not want to. There were other matters to consider, a quick glance at her seasonal calender told her as much. The date was circled neatly in bright red marker, a dinner slated for Friday and it was already Tuesday. It was less than a mandatory event as it was one employees attended if they hoped to get anywhere in the business. Felicity herself had attended a grand total of one during her time at Vortex but the number was soon to be doubled by the end of this week.

Another glance at the clock ticking away on a white-washed wall also informed her of the time - nearing five, Felicity knew that she had to remind her employees of the dinner, otherwise they could claim they were unaware of the event to the mighty beings resting a top Vortex's golden ladder. Her chair skidded back as the brunette got up, her glasses tucked away neatly into its case and left on her desk as she made for the door to do just that. She left notes at the empty cubicles, written in her tell-tale meticulous writing and made quick mentions to it to those that were present. Some had the grace to thank her for the reminder, some grunted something incomprehensible and the others ignored her entirely.

David Myer's cubicle was among the empty and normally that would not have bothered her in the slightest. The man was as patient as a child on Christmas Eve. She would not be surprised if David made it his goal to leave a few minutes early if only to grate on her nerves but for some reason, it made her hesitate. Perhaps it was because of their conversation prior and David's tones and words of accusations. His temper made it seem as if he did not know anything he should not, or perhaps it was Marduke who bore the ill omen, but the familiar bite of paranoia continued to saw away and Felicity had to force herself to finish delivering her reminders. When she returned, she left a message for David. The note she left on David's desk was different, the words in black rather than red and the way in which the letters were writ would leave no doubt as to who had held the pen.

Report to my office immediately on Wednesday morning.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

The next morning, for the first time in months, David entered the office with a swagger in his step, and a smile on his face, even though his head throbbed, and his throat was parched. He and Eric had consumed numerous beers the previous night as they'd chatted about Felicity Milton and her transgressions. After the first, David had paid for the rest, and was delighted to do so. Eric had gained enough evidence on Felicity to bury the bitch so far under that she'd never resurface. However, just how Myer's intended to use what he'd discovered, he wasn't certain. He'd need to be careful.

There was a chance if he openly dropped the bombshell on Upper Management, that he might be also be the subject of questions and mistrust, and find himself on the unemployment queue right beside his former superior. But use it he would, even if it had to be done anonymously; whatever it took to get Felicity fired. Once that transpired, David could take pleasure in advising the woman of precisely who had been responsible for the situation she found herself in. Eric had promised to drop by that night with hard-copies of the relevant information. They wouldn't make the same mistake Felicity had, and communicate through Vortex's email system.

David cheerily greeted his colleagues as he walked to his desk. Some returned his good morning, others only nodded, and the remainder averted their eyes. Those were the ones who'd been there at five o'clock the previous day, and snuck a look at the note placed on his desk.

Report to my office immediately on Wednesday morning.

David picked it up, and turned to his colleagues. "Anyone know what the bitch wants?" He held the paper in the air, raised an eyebrow, and glanced around the room. No-one answered, until David's gaze landed on the man in the cubicle directly across from his; Mark, a 6'2, broad-shouldered male approximately the same age as Myer's, with a head of short, sandy blond hair and green eyes, and one of David's confidantes. He and David often worked together on some of the more complex negotiations, and if there was someone who disliked Felicity as much as he, this was the man.

"Probably the Corporate Dinner on Friday. She came around late yesterday afternoon, after you'd left, to remind us to attend. Better hustle on in and grovel before she throws a fit."

David tilted his head to see if Felicity's door was open - it was -, then shrugged. "She can wait, I need caffeine." He heard a few murmurs as he paused by his friends desk on the way to the staff kitchen. "Corporate dinner, you say?" David's lips pursed, his brow furrowed, and he nodded towards where their superior was located. "And she's going?" It was a rhetorical question, and asked as he clapped Mark on the back before he continued his journey to the staff room.

He'd intended only to ensure Felicity was fired her from position, but the mention of the dinner had given him pause for thought. Just how far would Felicity Milton go to save her reputation and career? David was aware that with the evidence mounted against her, not only would Felicity lose her job, but that she could also face possible criminal charges, and that would terminally derail any further ambitions she held. The bitch would be lucky to find work pumping gas at minimum wage, and David judged Ms Milton's ego wouldn't view that prospect with great enthusiasm. She'd never displayed any mercy or empathy for him, or to the rest of her staff, so why should he to her? The idea which had started to form in his mind was becoming more attractive by the minute. He could have some fun before he took the bitch down. What was there to lose?

The concept still in it's formative stages, David, with coffee mug in hand, sauntered into Felicity's office without knocking. "Morning Liss". Myer's placed his drink on her desk, pulled out the chair he'd refused to take the day before, and dropped into it, with Ms Milton seated across the desk. "You're looking attractive today, is that a new outfit?" Myer's eyes slipped down to appraise Felicity's attire, and a smirk played across his lips when he lifted his gaze back to hers, nonchalantly reached for his beverage, and changed tack.

"The guys said something about a Corporate Dinner on Friday. Count me in. I hope you'll be attending? We've never really socialised out of work hours, and with how tense it's been around here the past few months, it'll provide a chance to us to relax, and become acquainted. We may have more in common than you suspect." David shot her a friendly smile, planted both hands on the arms of his chair, and commenced to push himself to his feet, as if to indicate he thought the conversation over, though he'd not yet even given Felicity an opportunity to speak. If an explosion was to come, he'd welcome it. Felicity may not be aware of the fact, but David was in control now, and he wanted to leave her pondering the reasons for his new-found change in attitude, and cockiness. "Anything else, Liss, or shall I get back to work? Time is money, and I'd hate to provide Immerse with an opportunity to steal any more of our clients."

 

[darjeeling]

Something is wrong.

Felicity sensed it before David had even entered and when he did, he stank of misplaced confidence and courage and all previous signs of anger or frustration were gone. The brunette half rose from her chair when the man burst into her office with nary a knock or any sort of excuse me or pardon me to be heard. Her eyes flashed beneath her glasses, the dark circles under her eyes most prominent and made evident that her night had been spent mostly awake and pondering. She had arrived early so that David would have no choice but to attend her yet it seemed as if he didn’t care a whit. The cheery good morning set her on edge, but it was the use of her nickname that made her shoulders tense as she seated herself and hoped the man did not notice. Felicity did not return the greeting, merely watching hawk-eyed as David plopped himself into the chair in front of her. Her eye twitched: he had placed the steaming cup on her desk without a coaster.

An unnecessary complaint, to be sure, especially since David was acting in this manner, something was definitely very wrong. Felicity forced a smile on her face, making it clear that it was not a kind expression and merely one born out of politeness. “No it’s not, but I appreciate the compliment nevertheless.” Any passing employee would have heard the amiable conversation but inside the office, the air was heavy with unspoken words and buzzing paranoia. David, with his easy grin and coffee and Felicity with her shuffle of papers whom also pointedly ignored the fact that the man’s gaze was wandering where it should not – that is, anywhere but her face and the floor. She should have known that calling him in was a bad idea, and Felicity had almost forgotten why she had done so. It was late and she had been stressed and now it had come to bite her. But Felicity Milton was not so easily dissuaded.

“Corporate dinner, yes.” The brunette confirmed as she slid her hands along the sides of the stack of paper, straightening them out as she was wont to do. “Of course I will be there…” Her voice trailed away, her suspicions mounting higher and higher as David put on an almost obvious show of faux friendship. There was absolutely no way Felicity would believe that the man had a change of heart overnight while she lay in bed unable to sleep. There were two ways she could go about this now: either humor David or call him out. It wouldn’t be difficult to be polite; she had done it many times before with the other departments, with Immerse and… other such things. On the other hand, this was David Myers she was dealing with. Not a particularly dangerous man on his own, but he wouldn’t exactly be short of volunteers in this department if it came to pulling some nasty prank. Felicity made a mental note to herself to speak with Alphonse in the I.T department at a later date, preferably alone and unseen.

But for now, there was this matter she had to deal with. She came to her decision quickly and stood when David meant to leave. “Actually, I would just like to… apologize for snapping at you. I know you have Vortex’s interests at heart, as do we all.” Felicity smiled sweetly and it may have been believable too if it were anyone else the expression was directed towards. “I also called you in to say that I will be speaking with the people in accounting, perhaps to see if I can do something more for you. I assure you Immerse will not have the opportunity to take from us again.” She never considered herself a motivational speaker or a very charismatic person but if she did have something, it would be that she thought herself rather convincing all things considering. Whether or not David would buy it, she highly doubted it but there was no harm in trying and anyone eavesdropping would most certainly find their jaws touching the ground.

“See you Friday… David.”

 

[Mr Quixotic]

“See you Friday… David.”

Myer's pushed the seat back against Felicity's desk, somewhat confounded by her response. David had expected anger, sarcasm, or a possible threat to his job, but Milton actually being pleasant? That was unheard of. In the six months she'd been in the position, David couldn't recall her having spoken to him as she just had - as a peer, not just some bug to be ignored or stomped on -, or remember a time when she'd displayed any concern for his opinions. David didn't believe the words to be sincere, not for an instant. One eyebrow raised quizzically as he rested his palms on back of the seat, and attempted to read her expression. "Did she suspect something?" Slowly his lips curled to form a cocky smile, and he nodded. "Apology accepted, Liss, I look forward to positive news about those additional funds. Friday it is." Myer's left the dirty coffee mug for Felicity to take care of.

"You made it out alive?" Mark laughed as Myer's returned to his cubicle.

David grinned, and motioned towards Milton's office with a jerk of his head. "Oh sure, She's not too bad if you know to deal with her. Quite pleasant actually." He winked at his friend's raised eyebrows, and 'you have to be fucking kidding' expression, but said nothing further. Myer's contemplated confiding in his colleague, but decided against it. The walls had ears, and he was also still pondering Felicity's change in attitude. It was safer to keep everything between he and Eric for now. Anyway, all would be revealed at the dinner, and David was sure Mark would be easily persuaded to join in the entertainment.

The more he mulled over it, the more assured David felt that, even if Felicity's suspicions had been raised, she could not be aware of the extent of the dirt obtained on her dealings with Immerse. It was possible that Eric's investigations had triggered alarm-bells, or set off a booby-trap that Milton had placed, but gauging from her demeanour in the office, she didn't seem to know anything with certainty. But really, what did it matter if she did? As far as David was concerned, there was nothing Felicity could do now to cover up her transgressions, and it'd be nice to keep her on her toes. Particularly if that meant she'd do her utmost to gain extra funds from accounting, and put a stop to any further underhand dealings with Immerse for the remainder of her - shorter than expected - career with Vortex.

Regardless, now that the seed had been planted, David considered it best to avoid Ms Milton for the next day or two, so that he wouldn't be tempted to further bait her, and make things too obvious. He'd hate for Felicity to suddenly come down with an illness, and be unable to attend the function. The rest of his day was spent on the phone with clients, and in meetings out of the office, and he didn't have the pleasure of running into his superior again.

Eric dropped around that night as promised, with a thumb drive full of incriminating information. David made a copy, hid it away in his apartment, and kept the original to take with him. Initially, Eric was shocked with what David intended, but soon came around, and even began to offer suggestions. Felicity Milton was an attractive woman women, after all - that was, if you didn't account for personality -, and Myer's assured his friend that he'd take the lead. David thought Felicity so egotistical, narcissistic, and arrogant that she'd do whatever it took to save face, and could be convinced that submitting herself to one night of humiliation was a more agreeable proposition than being forced to endure an entire lifetime of it. Which, potentially, was what would she'd be exposed to if her underhand dealings became public knowledge. Who knew, the uptight bitch might even enjoy it.

David wasn't quite as sanguine as he made out - Felicity had an attitude, and had already displayed how deceitful, manipulative, and, he admitted begrudgingly, intelligent, she was, and didn't seem a woman who would submit without a fight - if at all. Still, he entered Vortex's office on Friday morning with a great sense of anticipation

 

[darjeeling]

Felicity’s irritation had almost been palpable when David had left her office, leaving his cold coffee mug to sit and stain her wooden desk. She had even grabbed it when the door clicked shut behind the man, but the barest hint of a circle was there and for some reason, that had angered her more than David’s smug mug. She had considered throwing the cup away, but the fact that it belonged to the company had her begrudgingly set it aside atop a pink post-it note. She spent much of the afternoon glaring at it, only looking away to fire off some emails that radiated a chill that might have been felt even through the safety of a computer screen. The calls passed through to her phone remained unanswered, though Felicity listened to the messages left on her answering machine either way. They were matters of no importance and her work day ended much like every other day; the only difference being that Felicity had made her way to the I.T department rather than drive back home.

It was seven in the evening and the office usually closed at five. She noted that Vortex liked to design their departments practically the same, as even the location of the head office was in the same place, with a few aesthetic differences. There were more computers and the smell of coffee was much stronger here. For some reason, it only reminded her of David so it was no surprise that Felicity had slammed the door shut behind her with a loud bang before stalking her way to Alphonse’s cubicle. The man himself was a sweaty, nervous mess, sitting stiffly in his chair and fiddling with his green-and-yellow tie and almost jumped right off the seat when Felicity rapped her knuckles on the thin wall of his little booth. “M-ma’am, I… found… I mean, they left…”

Felicity could only roll her eyes as she slipped into the cubicle with Alphonse all but shoving his chair in the opposite direction to make room though there wasn’t much to begin with. She seated herself on his desk, pushing aside wires and a keyboard and crossed her legs. If it were possible, the man would have drowned himself in his own sweat as the brunette leaned forward, the buttons on her collar popped open for more than obvious reasons. She’d much rather sleep with a gorilla than touch this man, but he needn’t know it. Alphonse was her little mole, doing all the digging where she couldn’t and in return, her whispers and promises were sweet and covered in honey. He was nervous and lonely and whether or not he knew that she would never make do on her words, he was still ready and willing to comply.

“Start from the beginning,” Felicity instructed. “Be quick about it.”

Alphonse stuttered and stumbled his way through the information he had gathered, about Eric looting through old files and previously accessed users and even older emails Felicity was sure she had scrambled into less than dead pixels. Technology had never been her strongest point and as the man continued to ramble, the curses roiling about her head grew in volume and intensity until a loud sigh crossed with a growl escaped her and she pushed herself off the desk. Alphonse didn’t know what Eric was looking for, and he didn’t need to know either. But she was certain now. David was the one who was in the know, and to what extent, she needed to find out. This rodent would be of no help to her. She thanked him plainly for his time; smoothed down the back of her skirt and her heels clicked as she walked away with Alphonse’s eyes trailing after her but her mind was on other things by now. There was no limit to what David could use that information for. There was no doubt that he would look to get her fired and taint her reputation forever. If she didn’t do something, she might even be forced to change her name or move out of the country entirely. She could even be incarcerated, and the reality of her situation dawned on her as Felicity spent yet another night fully awake and unable to sleep.

Thursday came and went without much happening but Felicity was on edge nevertheless. Every time someone knocked on her door, she half expected it to be David or even the police and if it were possible, her snappishness seemed to intensify. She could only be thankful for the sleep she had gotten that night with the help of a gratuitous amount of alcohol. Friday thundered forward in the form of a raging hangover which she successfully soothed by lunch time but the corporate dinner was looming over her like an executioner’s axe. David had yet to pull anything suspicious apart from being incredibly friendly but if there was ever a time to expose her, the dinner would be one. She contemplated faking ill or even falling and breaking her ankle to avoid going, but the thought of cowering away made her somewhat ill. She had always been a sore loser and handing David the trophy without putting up a fight was a possibility she should have never considered in the first place. There seemed to be an air of anticipation about the office when it neared closing time – the corporate event was always rather grand; after all, an all-expenses paid dinner was nothing to sneeze at. Felicity herself slipped out of the building before anyone could see her.

---

Despite her trepidation, she found herself behind the wheel of her car and dressed up for the occasion. There was no point in making a fool of herself and arriving in sweatpants and a bulky winter coat. She had on a black, strapless dress which cut off just above her knees, and heels to elevate her height. Her hair had been let down and curled at the ends and Felicity had even applied on slightly darker red lipstick and minimal amounts of mascara and blush. Never let it be said that for all her habits and cold demeanor, she was still a relatively attractive woman when she tried. If one could look past her biting tongue, that is.

Once inside the grand hotel, she smiled sweetly at the waiter and gave him her name, following him as he led her to the large room Vortex had reserved for the dinner and gestured at one of the tables. A couple of people had already arrived but she knew that many preferred to be fashionably late. Of David there was no sign, but she managed polite greetings here and there to her employees. The dinner didn’t change much, only that the situation called for a little more cordiality on her part and a little more sucking up on theirs.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

Friday passed quickly for David, without a hint of trouble from Felicity. Not for him, anyway. According to those that had spoken to Ms Milton, she appeared to be in an even more snappish and foul mood than usual, and Myer's wondered if that had anything to do their tête-à-tête in her office the previous day. He considered popping in for another friendly chat, and seeing if he could do anything to assist - the idea of taunting Milton was attractive - but quickly decided against it. In his enthusiasm, he might reveal the extent of his knowledge, and arouse her suspicions further, and he didn't want her to question why he hadn't already moved to have her fired. As much as David desired the removal of Felicity, he also wished to see her put in her place, and be made to pay for the manner in which she'd treated him, and other Vortex staff; for his so-called superior to be humiliated and forced to grovel on her knees. Literally. David busied himself with finalising the arrangements for that night.

He Eric, Mark, and another colleague, Ryan, had each worked for Vortex for a number of years, and formed a strong bond. They generally used company functions as an excuse to prop up the bar after the formalities were over, and get roaring drunk. For Ryan and Mark, the two married men of the four, it was a rare night out with the boys, and they enjoyed it to the fullest. Occasionally they'd book a hotel room rather than take the risk of driving home drunk, which is what David had done for that night. Eric was the only one aware of his plans, however he'd thrown enough hints at his other two friends to spark their curiosity, and advised them to tell their wives that it may be a late night. One thing they all had in common was their dislike of Felicity Milton, and graphic descriptions of what each would do to her if given the chance were a regular topic of discussion at Friday nights drinks. Tonight they'd hopefully be given that opportunity, and David was confident it would be accepted with glee.

He departed the office at a quarter to five, and showered and changed at his apartment. As the day had gone on, David's eagerness had grown. Although arrogant, and not one to take no for an answer, Myer's wasn't usually a violent man who routinely humiliated or degraded women for his own enjoyment. Then again, he'd never had such an appropriate victim. David had no intentions of physically forcing Ms Milton, or allowing his friends to do so; that would be no fun, not to mention it could end up with all them behind bars for a very long time, but to allow her a choice. Consent to his demands, whatever they may be, or face the alternative consequences.

Attired in a pair of black dress pants, a buttoned up white silk shirt, and a white and mauve tie, over which he wore a dark sports coat, David arrived at the event location at six o'clock, checked into his room, then headed down to meet Eric in the hotel lounge for their arranged pre-dinner drinks. Mark and Ryan would arrive in time for the dinner.

As he walked into the bar, conveniently located across from the function room, and saw Eric reclining on a stool, he thought the IT Manager looked snappy in his gray woolen suit, and light-blue dress shirt, sans tie, which matched the colour of his eyes. As with the majority of Vortex's male employees, his friends blond hair was cropped short, and he was clean shaven. Apparently, according to 'Management', it gave off a more professional appearance. "Hey buddy". David greeted his friend, and held up two fingers to the barman, to indicate a refill for his friends' beer, and one for himself. "You ready?"

"Are we really going to do this?" Eric's eyebrow raised as David dropped a twenty on the bar to pay for the drinks, and seated himself next to the IT Manager.

"Can't back out now." He attempted not to let any of his own nervousness and self-doubts show as the two men locked eyes for a few moments without speaking. Eventually Eric smiled, nodded, and turned to collect their drinks. They raised their glasses to Felicity Milton.

The men chatted amicably for the next half hour, until David's body suddenly lurched forward. He'd spotted Felicity. In a rush, he gulped down the last of his drink, set the empty glass on the bar, and stood. "Why don't you go inside and grab a table." He'd scoped out the dining area from his stool. "Far, right, back of the room." David gripped his friend's shoulder and squeezed, then took a deep breath, turned, and headed for Felicity.

Myer's ignored the waiter, and ensured he remained unseen until he'd reached Felicity. "Well, hello Liss." David placed a hand on the woman's arm from behind, and slipped in beside her. "I wasn't sure you'd make it, I haven't seen you all day." His eyes met hers and he smiled, then deliberately lowered his gaze to appraise the outfit she wore, and what lay underneath it. "Love the dress. Our table is just over there." David's attention returned to her face, and he inclined his head to indicate the table at which his colleague had seated himself. His tone was nothing but friendly, even as his fingers released the grip they held on her elbow, and his hand came to rest on the small of her back. "Do you know Eric, the new IT Manager? We'd be honoured if you joined us." He used his palm to nudge her in that direction.

 

[darjeeling]

Felicity sighed to herself; there was no peace to be had anywhere. Whilst she wasn’t actively trying to avoid a certain obnoxious employee of hers, she was admittedly trying to avoid the bar area or any such places he might show up. But as it was, her luck had abandoned her quite readily and had whisked its way over to David’s side. She berated herself now for not getting Alphonse to dig up some potential dirt on Myers; there was no point in knowing that he knew something – that was only half the battle, after all. The nickname that floated from the alcohol coated breath of David rung sour and she made a mental note to dispel any and all associations with it.

The touch on her arm made her start slightly; out of all the things she was expecting, the fact that the man actually had the nerve to touch her almost made Felicity take her drink and upend it over his head. But there were people watching, so she forced herself to smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she replied, her tone sickly sweet as she politely attempted to move away from him but it was to no avail. She’d either need to pull herself away or elbow him in the stomach and neither seemed like good ideas when there were pairs upon pairs of eyes trained on the duo. The way he spoke offered no room for any queries, however pleasant he sounded, Felicity could just hear the warning tones beneath; whether it was her mind playing tricks on her or not, she could not afford to take any chances.

“You’re looking quite fancy yourself.” Felicity commented elusively, giving no sign that she had heard about the seating arrangements. She hadn’t given any real thought to where she would be seated, only had assumed that she would be somewhere up front. Given that she hadn’t attended a dinner event as someone of importance, she had forgotten to do the research necessary. Felicity knew that she needed to act professionally, even if David was not. He was pushing his luck, however, when she felt the man’s hand slide down to the slight inward curve of her back. She moved forward pointedly, arching a delicately plucked eyebrow as her eyes wandered to the back of the room. Eric’s name rang a bell, and it wasn’t as sweet a tune as she would have liked.

Alphonse had mentioned this new manager of theirs. He was the one responsible for all the digging and strange activity across their web and this fact only made Felicity frown. She didn’t offer a response to that either, but she did wonder if she could decline even if some part of her knew that her current circumstance gave her little room to work with. The barest hint of a sigh escaped her and she walked forward to create further distance between her back and his wandering hand. “It would be my pleasure.” She replied, her voice almost dripping in a quiet sarcasm meant only for David as she walked towards the back, greeting the other man smoothly and indifferently as she slipped herself into the seat at the head of the table. Regardless of what David or his little friends had planned, Felicity had no intention of being belittled; besides, she felt a little more confident seated where she could see, and keep an eye on, everyone down the length of varnished wood.

She didn’t look nervous. In fact, Felicity remained impassive, though she did allow a smile to grace her face whenever someone should look her way. The sooner this dinner started, the sooner it would finish and the sooner this strange, queasy feeling would leave. She did lean over to speak to Eric, speaking in a much friendlier tone than she had with David, with the very tip of her finger circling the smooth lip of her champagne glass as she offered polite conversation, sometimes steering it towards the topic of his work. If she could get him on her side as she had done with Alphonse, she was hoping he would let something slip. She even called over a waiter to deliver another glass of wine to his hands and if possible, ignore David as much as she could.

 

[Mr Quixotic]

The sarcasm was obvious in Felicity's tone, but David didn't mind at all. Nor did he mind the way she'd pointedly moved away from his touch. Any bitchiness on her behalf would be repaid ten-fold by the time the night was over, and when it was, a light brush of a hand against her skin would have paled in comparison to the memory of where and how else she'd been touched, and fucked senseless, by he and his colleagues. The fact that Liss didn't create a fuss, or attempt to excuse herself as he directed her to the table only increased his confidence that would indeed occur. If she wasn't concerned about what information he may have obtained, or what use it could be put to, he wouldn't have expected her to so readily agree.

He left Felicity's side as Eric rose from the seat to introduce himself, and his head shook when she placed herself at the head of the table. Typical Felicity; attempting to act as if she was in control. Well, they'd see about that. David almost directed her to take another seat, but then decided to leave things as they were. It was possible the bitch was surprised to find herself here, and not placed at the front of the room where the 'important' people, mostly Senior Management and their favoured underlings, were, but the night's function wasn't one of great significance. Unlike the annual convention and awards ceremony where you were forced to listen to self-aggrandising speeches for hour after interminable hour, this was simply a company get together, with no formal hierarchy in place in regards to seating arrangements. It was intended to be a way for colleagues to get to know each other, and improve relationships, which would hopefully flow through to the work environment. David inwardly chuckled at the irony as he drew out the chair at the right corner of the table next to Felicity, dropped into it, and listened to her and Eric's chatter.

At any other time David would have taken insult at being deliberately ignored, but at this one he found himself too amused at how charming Felicity could be when she tried, to care. If she'd only been that way more often, Liss might not have ended up in the predicament she was soon to find herself in. Myer's gaze drifted between the two, and he scanned both faces. Obviously they must have run into each other around the office from time to time, but he was unsure if they'd ever previously had a conversation. The majority of Eric's dislike for the woman came as a result of David's bitching, and office rumours, so he hoped his friend wouldn't be fooled into believing this Felicity's usual demeanour, and that Myer's hatred was caused by nothing more than bitterness from having missed out on promotion. As she ordered Eric a wine, leaving David to request his own beer, he caught his colleagues eyes, and the men exchanged a look; one that told him that his colleague wasn't falling for Felicity Milton's charm. Not that he'd really expected Eric to be so gullible, the evidence the IT Manager had acquired on his own had provided independent corroboration of just how duplicitous and cunning she could be, but still David felt a sense of relief.

He'd just leaned forward to join in the conversation, when he noticed a shadow, then a second, loom over the table. He quickly twisted his head, and his gaze landed on Ryan and Mark. Both were dressed in dark suits, and stood with beer in hand, staring at Felicity Milton with surprise. Mark's mouth opened and closed, as if were attempting to speak, but no words came out, and his eyes darted to meet David's, before they flicked back to his superior. It wasn't like their boss to join them for convivial conversation, but he was afraid to query what she was doing there. To be rude could come back to haunt him in the office.

"Hey guys". David inclined his head to two empty chairs, and motioned for them seat themselves. "You look surprised?" His watched as they responded to his direction, Ryan placing himself next to Eric, and Mark beside David, and spoke about Felicity as if she weren't there. "Our illustrious superior has decided to honour us with her presence, in the hopes that we can all get to know each other, and potentially resolve any problems we may have with her Management style." David held back a laugh at the bewildered expressions of the two new arrivals as he made reference to his conversation with Mark the previous day. "I told you she wasn't too bad if you knew how to treat her." Myer's casually lifted his beer, then turned and locked his gaze on Felicity to address her directly.

"Isn't that right, Milton?" David heard the intake of breath from the trio of men seated at the table, brought forth by the disrespectful use of only her last name, and sipped his beer. He sighed, wiped the froth from his lips with the back of his hand, and, nice as nice could be, smiled at Felicity. "Why don't you start with telling us how won your job, we've all been wondering." David cocked an eyebrow, and his smile widened. "I'm guessing your time with Immerse wasn't mentioned on your résumé when you applied to replace Delton?" The gasps were audible as four pairs of eyes narrowed and focused intently on Felicity Milton. David took another slow sip of his beer.

 

[darjeeling]

Against her better judgement, Felicity gestured for another glass of champagne even when the bubbles had yet to settle from her previous one. She had let the liquid slide down her throat far too quickly and a light, rosy blush dusted her cheeks comfortably as she took another sip from the new glass. Eric was amiable enough and she might have enjoyed conversing with the man was she not acutely aware that he was one of David’s closest friends, and also the man responsible for igniting the fire in the first place. Not that she showed any hint of it, as the alcohol played a relatively large part in loosening her tongue and also the way she leaned forward to accentuate her cleavage. She could feel David’s eyes on her, who had seated himself by her side, and for one reason or another, the fact that he had not said a word about her obvious cold shoulder made her feel a little more confident.

She and Eric had just gotten past the formalities of sociable chatter when the presence of another two approaching the table had Felicity distracted. The men were making a beeline through the crowd and when they finally stopped, she offered the pair a smile as they stared at her. Now, these two she was wholly familiar with. Mark she knew as one of David’s acquaintances, if not friends but he was one of the quiet, shy types and one Felicity had not really bothered with. The other she faintly recalled, or at least recalled the general location of his cubicle but his name escaped her at this moment. They looked full to bursting with questions, their eyes belaying their curiosity as David motioned for them to take their seats.

Felicity merely swirled her drink in her hand lightly as they spoke amongst themselves. Rather, their ring-leader did. While Eric had brought the fuel to the fire, David was clearly the initiator of this little campfire and the poor, befuddled men had been brought along for the ride. She chuckled to herself as David spoke as if she was not even present; that didn’t bother her. The alcohol was buzzing pleasantly in her head though she liked to think that her thoughts remained as sharp as her tongue, though that was feeling a little fuzzy too. She set her drink down carefully as David directed his attention on him. Felicity didn’t trust herself to not throw it at his face, an urge she had been fighting with for most of this night and she had no doubt that it would remain as such.

“Correct,” she said, seemingly undeterred by the casual use of her surname. It did make her bristle but she would never allow herself to show it. Felicity knew that David had been waiting for this. The perfect time to throw in the kindling and intensify the flames; her hands remained loose as she absently regarded the men. Myers looked complacent, assured that he had her on the ropes. Eric didn’t look too surprised, but Mark and… Ian, or Ryan, or whoever it was, looked as if David had just revealed he had nudes in his possession. Which, judging by the circumstances, Felicity would have highly preferred. Nevertheless, she was outwardly unaffected by Myers’ accusation.

“Won is not the word I would use,” she said slowly, pursing her lips. Felicity pushed back a stray strange of chocolate hair behind her ear, continuing without missing a beat. “In fact, I did mention Immerse on my résumé. As I understand it, coming to work for Vortex after their so-called rival company would have been looked in approval rather than suspicion.” She smiled brilliantly. “After all, Vortex is clearly superior. Why would I stay working for some dogged down, shady characters when I can work with you lovely gentlemen?” Felicity’s glance took her around the table of four as she lifted her slender shoulders in a smallish shrug and sighed. “It is a pity about Andrew. Media buying may have a pretty name but marketing isn’t about pushing the numbers, is it? I suppose it was all too much for poor Delton.”

 

[Mr Quixotic]

The room had filled, and the majority of tables were now occupied. David had heard the cacophony of noise as Vortex staff greeted each other and took their seats, but most of the chatter was indistinguishable. The table he'd carefully chosen was placed far away enough from the centre of the room so that their conversation couldn't be overheard. Not unless someone screamed, which always a possibility, but even then, with the lighting dimmed, they'd have trouble making out from whom it came. The location was also not part of a main thoroughfare, and they were unlikely to have visitors wandering past on their way to the bathrooms, or to visit other colleagues. Perfect for David's purpose.

He'd appraised the surroundings as Liss responded, then once she'd finished, glanced at his friends to gauge their reactions. David himself hadn't taken too much notice of her words; it wouldn't have mattered what lie she'd come up with, it would still be a lie. A smirk played across Eric's lips, whilst Ryan and Mark stared at Felicity without speaking. As they felt David's gaze, their eyes flicked up to meet his, and he received the feeling that they'd been at least partly fooled by Felicity's apparent sincerity, and calm demeanour. He didn't intend for them to retain that impression for long.

Slowly, David's attention returned to the woman, and his fingers circled the stem of his glass. "You're good, Ms Milton. However, I don't believe you for a second. I think you're a lying bitch." David gripped his mug, lifted it to his lips, and drained the remaining contents, as another surprised gasp was heard from across the table. On this occasion, it only came from one man. Mark. Obviously Ryan had been quicker to realise that David was unconcerned with the possibility of any repercussions for the manner in which he'd addressed his superior, and that there must be a reason for that confidence. He'd chuckled instead.

"And I'm positive you didn't mention you're still working with them." David's voice lowered and his tone lost any hint of friendliness when he placed his empty mug on a coaster, and spoke again. The fingers which had circled his glass drummed now against the wooden table top. "Still sleeping with the enemy, too?" That information hadn't been obtained by Eric, but was pure guesswork on David's behalf; apart from money, what other motivation could there be for Felicity to have sold out Vortex? "Maybe that's how you won the position; spreading your legs for someone in Management? Because you sure didn't win it on merit." Myer's smirked, then his head jerked around as Mark interrupted.

What the hell's going on?" The two men locked eyes momentarily before Myer's shrugged as if to say 'don't worry, you'll find out', and Mark appeared to relax a little. David nodded, then moved his gaze to Ryan, whose expression was one of curious amusement - the sound of his mind ticking over as he attempted to figure out exactly where this was to lead were almost audible. A quick check of Eric told David that there was nothing to be apprehensive about there, the IT Manager had the look of one who was enjoying himself immensely.

David's focus returned to the woman just as a waiter approached to deliver their appetizer. After the food had been set down, Myer's requested a beer each for the guys; nothing for Felicity; then collected his cutlery and waited until the man departed before he picked up the conversation with Liss. "There'll be a copy of your resume stored on the company server." David cut into his meal; a volevaunt; popped a piece of pastry into his mouth, and chewed as he talked. "Why don't we ask Eric to locate it for us, so we can discover who's telling the truth? Apparently nothing ever disappears completely, no matter how hard you try to erase it." The first bite down, David lifted his napkin, wiped his lips, raised a quizzical eyebrow, and waved his fork at Felicity. "Poor Delton indeed, if only he'd known what Eric was capable of, he'd still be employed. I hope he at least got to fuck you before you stabbed him in the back?"

 

[darjeeling]

It took much of Felicity's willpower and an impressive display of restraint, which without it she would have most certainly snapped the thin stem of her champagne glass in half. David was beyond just overstepping boundaries. He had taken a flying leap, feet first, ready to grind her into the dirt with the cheers of his friends right behind him. But she would not allow herself to be taken in so easily by his provocative statements, and she was silently grateful for the dim lighting hiding away her tell-tale irritation of skin stretched taut over bone-white knuckles.

"You seem to be under the impression that I care about what you think." Though her voice held traces of some of her previous cordiality, there was also a cool apathetic weave interwoven into the syllables that her employees knew her so well for. Felicity set her drink down as the buzz slowly faded into a throbbing drone which consisted of droll background noise and the light gasps that sounded about the corners of the table. For all intents and purposes, she ignored the other men, dropping her faux interest as fast as one might drop a dirty serviette. Felicity had no delusions about making friends with these people - clearly David had won them over and it would take more than just charismatic smiles and polite conversation to sway them. Their surprise was of no concern to her, though her stomach roiled in a potent mixture of insult and alcohol.

At David's accusation, she offered a look of offense which displayed plainly how she felt though for completely different reasons. "Why would I mention that which is clearly a lie? I've always been loyal to Vortex." It wasn't David Felicity was trying to convince, but the rest of them. Even if there was no love lost between her and any of the men at this table, she still held her position of superiority and judging by their looks of bafflement, there was a chance that they would still back out on whatever Myers was planning. Felicity very much doubted that he would call his merry gang over just to leer and jeer.

"I suppose it's to be expected. I understand that you would question Delton's decision, and I was just as surprised as the rest of you." She glanced around. "But such comments are unnecessary." There was a pause as the men shared a look; David reassuring the other in silence and the other's tense shoulders becoming a little less tense. Felicity did not turn her gaze to Eric, whom she was certain was the ignition to what was about to be an explosion she was eager to defuse. The speed in which the other male, Marth or Mark or whatever, had been calmed by their ring-leader should have been some cause for concern but as it was, the alcohol made her both a little less wary and a little more paranoid at the same time.

Felicity barely registered the smell of food as the plates were set down in front of them. She didn't recall ordering anything, but a set menu would have made sense. "As I've said already, I worked for Immerse for a brief time before being employed at Vortex." There was no sense in denying that at least. She knew that if an employee got an interview, their resume would remain firmly in the database. Felicity had even searched up some of her own just to double check if they were actually qualified for their jobs. She didn't know what David was driving at - she had already admitted to working for Immerse, but he seemed to be hellbent on having her admit the fact over and over. However, at the mention of Delton, she could not help but bristle slightly. "I have nothing to hide. I told Delton that surely there must be others who are as well suited to the position as I and yet, his decision remained firm. As such, I will not apologize for what is essentially Delton's last request."