The Boardroom
Holly looked at El-Jane, Mike shook his head. He was really confused.
"We will fix the problem Miss Ives. I promise."
El smiled at his sister, and said "Max, make sure Miss Wheeler-"
"Um, It's Mrs. Henderson."
El's eyebrows went up, "Max, make sure Mrs. Henderson and her team have everything they need."
"Yes, Miss Ives."
"Mike, let's go get a coffee. We have a Starbucks in this floor."
"Uh, shouldn't we be heading to the boardroom." Mike asked.
"They can wait. I want to confirm something first. I also want to explain myself."
"El you don't have to explain anything to me."
"Yes I do. Mike."
They sat with their coffees at a corner booth. Mike leaned closer to her to whisper. "Don't call the cops on us but I think we just stole two coffees."
"Coffee is free here. Starbucks wasn't too pleased I was doing this, but I told them I was. I also told them if they didn't like it, I would just buy them, and do it anyway."
"Um, El, Starbuck's market cap is over $80 billion, that's not exactly piggy bank money. You can't just buy them."
El looked at him with her eyebrows raised. "And I would have plenty left over for a movie and a popcorn.
"Holy shit! How come I've heard of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet as two of the richest people in the world but have never heard of you?"
"You've heard of Comcast right?"
Mike nodded, "Of course."
"But you may have never heard of Level 3 Communications, or CenturyLink who bought them. They provide Tier 1 backbones. They are so far above Comcast they aren't even on the radar for news. Ives Neuro Kinetics is the same way."
"And speaking of Ives?"
El turned red. "Yes. About that." She sighed. "Ok, TL;DR version?"
"What's TLDR?"
"Too Long; Didn't Read. Kind of an internet meme for explaining things."
"Ok, I'm listening to the short version."
"My mother's name was Terry Ives. I was born Jane Ives. She wasn't fit to raise me, through no fault of her own, I was given the name Eleven. My dad rescued me from a horrible situation. He adopted me as Jane Hopper, but he called me El for short. I keep my business name to Jane Ives, but I'm El to my friends."
"Um, Max called you Miss Ives."
"Yes she did. She's my best friend and calls me that in front of clients, people she doesn't know. She keeps it very professional."
"She works for you?"
"She's my PA."
"PA?"
"Personal Assistant. She keeps me grounded, she's a lot like that guy from the TV show M.A.S.H"
"Radar O'Reilly?"
"That's the one. Mike, call me El." She began to twirl her fingers through her wild curly hair.
"Ok El." Mike gave her a heavy sigh. "When should I expect the paperwork?"
"I'm not going to sue your company Mike."
"Why not, it's in your best interests, it sets an example, and I know it's probably not personal, it's just business."
"Mike. I'm not going to sue. Do you want to know why?"
"Yeah, I do." Mike was confused again.
"A girl name Holly, who I just found out is married to one of your friends, made a promise to me. And I know for a fact what a promise means to her and her brother." She gave Mike a wide smile.
Mike cleared his throat. "Whoever calls you a ruthless bitch is an asshole."
Mike was looking down at his coffee when Max came up to the table handed El a sheet paper from her clipboard. "Just as I suspected." She handed paper over to Mike and Max took a seat beside them.
Mike read over the sheet. "Ok, that makes sense."
"Does it mean what I think it means?" El said.
"Yeah," Mike said. "The redundant safety systems were deliberately made non-functional. Oh, do you think it was industrial sabotaged."
"In a manner of speaking. Max can you-" Max handed her another sheet of paper from her clipboard.
El looked it over. "Yeah, just what I thought." Ok. El started gathering her hair back, pulled a black hair band from around her wrist and put her hair into a tight bun.
"Excuse me Mike." She got up promptly and left the booth.
"Whats going on?" Mike looked at Max.
"You are about to see Jane Ives. The all-business version."
"Oh."
"Don't worry, you aren't going to be on the receiving end. I have to go make some arrangements. Maybe we'll meet again later... Um, ok, this is a little embarrassing, but is Lucas Sinclair… is he seeing anyone?"
"No… um, he's a really nice guy Max. Don't hurt him."
She looked at him, smiled and nodded. She got up to leave just as El came back to the table.
She had on a pants suit. "Severe looking aren't I?"
Mike was intimidated. "Um… uh."
"Ok that's what I wanted to hear. Mike. We are about to go into the boardroom. I'm not going to be the scared girl you helped in the elevator. You are not going to see that girl."
"Um, ok."
"But Mike… this is important… I am that scared girl. I have to put on my bitch hat for a few minutes. I hate that you are going to see that. You have no idea how much I'm going to hate this. Let's go."
El led him into what Mike thought was the largest boardroom he'd ever seen. She whispered to him. "Stand over by your chart."
The easel with a graph showing was off to the side.
Men were looking at El as she stood at one end of the table. He head tilted forward, he gaze was menacing.
In a loud, demanding voice she said, "Do. You. Have. ANY. Idea where I have been for the last two hours?"
Mike couldn't be sure but he thought the lights flickered, he half expected another power outage. But the table shook a bit also and this state wasn't really known for earthquakes
A voice that was meant to be heard said, "screwing that guy?"
Another said, "probably in that new elevator" there were snickers.
"If you thought that was funny Mr. Walsh, you guys are gonna piss your pants over this." El signaled towards the door.
A uniformed police officer walked in.
And another.
And then another.
It continued until there was one for each member in the boardroom.
The Chief of Police also walked in.
"What is this shit?" Troy Walsh said.
The police chief spoke up. "I have reviewed the engineers assessment of the damage done to the elevator in question. And the minutes of the board meeting that you tried to bury. I've already talked to a state prosecutor. The entire board is being arrested on the charge of attempted murder of Mr. Mike Wheeler and Miss Jane Ives."
The clinking and clicking of handcuffs filled the room as board members were arrested… each was led out of the boardroom.
Mike's eyes widened he looked between the door everyone had left and El Hopper.
"Can you do that?" He asked.
"I didn't do anything. The chief of police did. I suspect that before the investigation is complete more charges will be laid. Take a seat."
El was working the hair band out of her bun. Mike felt more relaxed when she shook her curls loose.
"I'm going to have to burn this suit."
El looked at him, "why? It looks… really good… on you."
"I'm sweating buckets, I'll be leaking through any minute. A really expensive scotch right now would be perfect."
"Are you serious?" She asked.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you if you don't drink."
"Not a lot, but one of my vices is not a glass of wine while taking a bubble bath… it's drinking a really expensive scotch."
"Are you serious?" Mike asked. "You never hear of girls liking scotch. They just think it's a mouth full of chemicals. I wonder if there's a whiskey bar around here?"
"Hmm. Follow me." El got up grabbed Mikes hand.
Mike found himself in another elevator standing beside the same pretty girl from earlier. "One very important rule before we step out of this elevator." Her voice had that no bullshit tone Mike was beginning to recognize.
"Um, ok.."
"No shop talk. I don't want to talk about work. Yours or mine. Ok?"
"Ok."
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. The first thing Mike heard was jazz playing low in the background.
"You have a whiskey bar in the building? Isn't that a big liability?"
"No. You can only buy a drink with your car keys. When they take this particular elevator to the main floor, leads to a taxi stand. Taxi's are on permanent retainer by the company. It's not a building of alcoholics, but sometimes you need to unwind. We take all the precautions. We are smart about it."
"I came here in a cab, figured regardless of how my presentation went, I'd want some kind of drink afterwards."
"I'll vouch for you," El smiled at him. They headed towards a booth, they could see that Lucas and Max were talking very close to each other.
El leaned over and whispered to Mike. I think my best friend likes your friend."
"It looks like the feeling is mutual." They sat down across from the two of them.
Lucas said to Mike, "you know the rules?"
"I know. No shop talk. Um, but where are Holly and Dustin?"
Max smiled, "those two geniuses were given a night on the town. They are going to be the main witnesses in court."
Mike frowned. El said, "Mike, our lawyers will keep them out of the courtroom. They will give video depositions only."
"Thanks El… and you too Max."
"Mike… I need you to prove one thing to me."
"Ok, El… if I can."
"I need you to prove your knowledge of scotch to me." She laughed.
"Ok, I think it's appropriate that we try Talisker Storm as the first one. I think you'll like this particular storm."
"Ok, I trust you."
XXXXX
Mike had never seen a redhead, or any girl for that matter and loaded as Max was. Finally Lucas pulled her up and said, "I'm going to make sure she gets home." And he was off before El could say anything.
Her eyes were wide as she looked at them go, "Mike?"
"You will find few honourable guys like Lucas… I mean I'd like to include myself in that group, but he won't take advantage of Max. Not even if she prances around naked in front of him."
"Are you sure? Because Max is impulsive… she doesn't sleep around, but if she really likes Lucas… um, clothes will be optional as soon she a she gets into her apartment."
Mike was starting to feel the effects of the few drinks that he had. He immediately regretted it when he said, "what about you? Clothes optional?"
"You want me to take my clothes off for you." She giggled… "oh, sorry I shouldn't have said that, no matter how much I want to… oh, I shouldn't have said that either."
"Miss Hopper, I think I need to take you home… I mean get you home… I mean your home."
"Yessss… you are right." I live in the penthouse of this building.
"Ok, let's go."
When El stood up she immediately fell forward into Mike's arms. "Oops, I'm a little tipsy."
"It's the weekend, and today hasn't been the most fun. Like you said, it's ok to unwind." He put his arm around her waist and took most of her weight.
They gotten to the door on the top floor of the building. There were five locks on the door. "Hmm. Ok I think I'm still coordinated enough to open them with keys."
He heard the sound of all five disengaging at the same time.
"Electronic?" He said.
"Something like that. Want to come in for a coffee?"
"I'm not sure I should do that El."
"Mike…" She looked at him with eyes he could not resist. "I won't prance around in there wearing sheer panties and nothing else. No matter how much I want to."
"El…"
"Sorry I only half meant to say that. Mike. I promise. No shen...shenan"
"Shenanigans?"
"That's the word."
They walked in and Mike thought he'd just stepped into a log cabin. "Whoa."
"Different isn't it? I had it modeled exactly like the cabin I grew up in with my dad. Reminds me of home… makes me feel like I'm home." She gave a soft sigh and smiled.
The door closed behind them and Mike heard all the locks engage.
"I"m going to change, make yourself at home."
Mike looked around admiring how cozy it felt. El came back out in a few minutes dressed in a sweater and track pants.
"You look comfy."
"I am comfy. And you are still wearing a suit." She went over to a breakfast nook and starting tapping on her phone. She held the screen to him. "Will this work?"
"El, I'm not sure-"
She cut him off, "will this work, Mike."
He sighed. "Yes, that will work." El showed him a list of clothing articles and the contents of a shaving kit.
"Ok, I mean this in the most polite way possible… but you need a shower Mike. There's a bathrobe on the door, but your new clothes will be up before you are out. I'll put them in side the door.
He was just finishing his shower when heard the door open, he looked through the glass shower doors and watched El putting clothes on the side of the vanity. She looked up at him, and her eyes went wide. Then she quickly looked away. "Sorry Mike, that glass is more see through then I realized."
She quickly left the bathroom.
Mike finished and got dressed in the track pants and sweater, and went out to meet El in the small living room.
"Feels a lot better doesn't it?"
Mike nodded. "Yeah, I didn't realize how bad I'd gotten."
"You have a very nice natural scent… so… oh sorry. I'm not used to censoring myself."
Mike chuckled, "yeah I got that."
"I don't really want coffee. I don't want to lose this buzz. Are you interested in another expensive scotch? No panties will be harmed if you say yes."
"Ok, then. Yes." He laughed.
"Lagavulin 10 year?"
"You like them smoky?"
"I like them smokey."
El brought over two glasses, they were easily more half full.
"Um, El. that's not an ounce."
"I know, I want to sip this for a few hours."
El handed Mike the glass and turned on the tv.
"I wanted you thank you for the help in the elevator. I was have been paralyzed that whole ride. You are not like any girl I've ever met." Mike said.
"And I would have been a mess after a panic attack. I would have been useless for the rest of the day." She sat very close to Mike.
"Why did you have to be so nice?" She turned to him.
"What?"
"Spend the night with me Mike."
"I can't do that El. You've had a bit to drink. I do not want to face Jane Ives in the morning. I'm a little disappointed you even asked." He frowned.
She cast her eyes downward, "I'm sorry. I really thought if you spent the night with me you might task me out on a date."
"El, my love life has been on the back burner for so long, I wouldn't even know how to ask a girl out on a date… especially not one that has a stupid amount money like you do."
"You just ask her, Mike."
"It's that easy?"
She looked at him, "yes."
"Ok El, do you want to go to dinner tomorrow night?"
"Yes." She smiled at him. "Nothing fancy ok? I'm tired of that kind of wining and dining."
"Ok, then pizza it is then. How about this. Do you want to spend the day with me going through used book stores and second hand vinyl shops?"
El pointed Mike to her shelf of books and a turntable sitting across the room. "My dad taught me to appreciate vinyl. That sounds like a fun day. Thank you for not letting me make a fool of myself."
"How about a compromise?"
"How do you compromise on not spending the night with me? That doesn't make any sense."
"We watch an old movie together, we keep watching until we fall asleep here on the sofa. Does that work for you? "
"It's not so bad a way to start a relationship… and that's what we're doing isn't it?"
"Yeah, El, I think we are."
"Good."