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A/N: Sorry about the delay. Partying hard for the New Year. Man, where did 2007go? Anyway, here's the next chapter. I think that this chapter is probably the funniest of chapters. Its very creep and funny…well, you just have to read to find out. Hope you like and reviews are crucial here people! If you like what you see, write a review so I can continue. Thanks to those who have. You guys seriously rock! Now, on with the show…

8:46 pm

Michael and Paul stopped in front of the Scranton Business Park. They arrived again within seconds of leaving Kenneth Road. Michael and Paul got off the motorcycle. Michael did with more ease than before.

Michael shook off the little jitters he had from the quick trip when he looked around the parking lot. Everything seemed to be in its usual place but one thing was strange. The parking lot was full to capacity. With the late hour, Michael couldn't understand why there were so many people still at the office. Michael looked over at Toby, "Is there some kind of party here, tonight?"

Paul shook his head, "Nope."

Michael scratched his head and shook, "Is there a convention –

Paul answered again in the same monotone, "Nope."

Michael turned around, "So why –

Paul beckoned, "Come on. I'll show you."

Michael and Paul went into the building and noticed a security guard, who hadn't noticed them.

Paul motioned, "Can't see us, remember?"

Michael nodded as they went towards the elevator. Michael was about to push the button when Paul stopped them, "Wait! You don't have to do that."

Michael looked confused, "But how we gonna get up there. Fly?"

Paul winked, "Almost. C'mere, hold on to my jacket."

Michael winced, "I don't know…"

Paul rolled his eyes, "Are you coming?"

Michael giggled, "That's what she said."

Paul chuckled, "Nice to hear you're a little more up in spirit."

Michael nodded as he walked up to Paul and held the arm of his jacket, "Yeah, whatever."

Paul looked down to make sure that everything was ready, "Okay, now just think of the

office."

Michael tensed up, "What?"

Paul rolled his eyes, "Think of the office. Very clearly think of the office and we will be in the office."

Michael nodded and closed his eyes. He thought of reception and the couch and his office. When he opened his eyes, he saw the door of the office. He noticed that the lights were on inside, as if they were never turned off for the night. Paul beckoned Michael to follow him through the door and led him to reception.

Michael was shocked when he didn't see Pam. There was another woman sitting at her desk. She was talking on the phone, "Bonjour, merci d'appeler Dunder Mifflin, ceci est Tiffany, comment peux je vous aide." She nodded as she transferred someone to another salesman.

Michael looked confused, "Was that –?

Paul nodded, "Yep, French."

Michael looked around the office and noticed that Tiffany the receptionist wasn't the only person who was different. Everyone was different. There were different salespersons and accountants. Different customer service and different HR reps. Even the surroundings were different. It seemed more austere and bleak. There were new and more high tech equipment being used by the staff. Everything was uniform and militant. The desks were silver and cold. It seemed very distant and desolate. "Why is everything so different? Why are these people here? Why is she speaking French?"

Tiffany answered the phone again, "Ciao, grazie per la chiamata del Dunder Mifflin, questo è Tiffany, come posso li aiuto." She nodded and finished, "Arrivederci."

"And Italian?!" Michael raised his hands in the air, "What the hell is going on?!"

Paul took hold of Michael's shoulder, "Take a breath." Michael shoulder lost some tension. "Okay, let me explain. You see, Michael. This is the work of one employee of yours. He figured that this branch could sell as much paper as humanly possible. So, this was the first branch to sell paper internationally. I welcome you to the night crew. They work here from 6pm to midnight. The day crew works your usual 9am to 5pm. This crew is part-time and they also work on Saturdays."

Michael looked around at the strange new faces, taking in this information. They seemed to be nice people, but they could never replace his Phyllis, Kevin or Stanley. No one could replace them.

Paul continued, "This branch is the top branch amongst the four branches. They have been for the last seven years."

"Seven years? But who's been with the company that long?" Michael scratched his chin, wondering who would replace him, when the answer walked into the office.

Dwight walked out of his office with a pinstriped suit on, which fit his frame. He had his usual glasses on, and his hair was the same, but he held an air of sophistication and confidence that was unparallel to his usual tone. He walked out and went right past Michael to reception. He leaned over on the desk, "Tiffany, did Mr. Lucino call about his order yet? It's nearly ten o'clock over there."

Tiffany shook her head, "No, Mr. Schrute. He hasn't called yet."

Dwight nodded curtly, "Well, if anyone calls from Florence , patch him directly to me. Got it?"

Tiffany nodded vigorously, "Of course, Mr. Schrute. Anything else I should know about?"

Dwight looked stern, "You tell me?"

Tiffany looked terrified, "Um… well…"

Dwight looked sterner, "I don't pay you for 'ums' and 'wells', do I?" Tiffany shook her head. Dwight nodded, "I didn't think so. So… do I have to go over anything for you, again?" Tiffany shook her head. Dwight turned from her desk, "Very good." He walked over to the conference room, "Meeting in five minutes."

Michael was prepared to hear the usual groans and bellyaching, but heard only the creaks of chairs being moved and shuffling of feet across the carpet into the conference room. Michael and Paul followed.

As everyone settled down in his or his seats, Michael looked around the room. There were slight similarities from the usual staff to the night crew. Tiffany was talking with a salesman, who was making her laugh. There was a larger man in the back who was talking to another heavyset man that reminded Michael of Kevin and Stanley. They were two women talking in the back that reminded Michael of Phyllis and a black version of Meredith. Michael chuckled at the comparable traits of these people in the conference room, "They look like lamer versions of my crew."

Paul chuckled, "Yeah, they do."

Dwight interrupted their banter, "Okay people, we need to concentrate on getting more clients in South America. We had a good response from Spain last quarter, but I still think we could have done better. That's right; I'm talking to you, Devon ."

Michael turned to look at the crowd at the sound of a familiar name, finding out that it was the exact 'Devon' that he fired on Halloween. "But I –

Paul shook his head, "You're forgetting –

Michael rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. I don't exist… yatta, yatta, yatta."

Dwight spoke to the group again, "So, I would like to see some increase in sale. Now, I like to differ your attention to this board." He pointed to a poster that entitled: 'Knowledge of Paper 256: Photosynthesis'. He cleared his throat, "Okay, now where do we leave off last time. Anyone?"

No one seemed to take the initiative. Dwight cleared his throat loudly again, "Ahem…"

Everyone hands shot up in the air. Dwight nodded, "That's better. Okay, Agnes."

A short blonde who reminded Michael of Angela stood up, "We left off when the elections are charged and mutate into chlorophyll."

Dwight nodded, "Very good. Okay, so I like to talk about how –

Michael looked confused, "What is all this shit?"

Paul nodded, "This is how Dwight teaches his employees how to appreciate paper and all of its worth. He doesn't believe in ethnic celebrations or appreciation of one's employee, he cares about the paper."

Michael looked flabbergasted, "No parties? No fun?"

Paul shook his head, "Absolutely nothing of the sort. It's strictly business here at Dunder Mifflin."

Michael shook his head in disbelief, "But how did he become Regional Manager? How did he do all this? Who allowed him to?"

Paul nodded, "Well… you see, Michael, Dwight was hired here at Dunder Mifflin by Ed Truck."

Michael nodded, "He hired me… but Dwight…"

Paul nodded, "Dwight was hired here a few years after you were supposed to be here. He quickly learned the ropes of the trade and quickly became the top salesman in the branch. Eventually he became the top salesman in the company. It was inevitable that when Ed Truck retired, the title would be past along to Dwight, who was more than happy to reign the position."

Michael still looked confused, "But all this? I still don't get…"

Paul nodded, "Yeah, Dwight brought in more money than ever before for the company. Taking away clients from the bigger competitors like Staples and Office Max."

Michael looked intrigued, "But how?"

Paul shrugged, "Well… Dwight's tactics aren't always the best ones. Many of them are out right illegal. He hired different spies to get information from the competition, stealing leads and making more competitive offers than Staples and the other competitors were willing to do. In the end, it was Dwight's unparalleled art of persuasion that redeemed him with as many clients he has, which now includes clients from all over the world."

Michael shook his head in disbelief, "But doesn't have all these morals and stuff. He's a volunteer sheriff or deputy or something like that. He would never steal stuff from other people. He worships all that do-gooded stuff like that. All he reads is Harry Potter and Lords of the Rings shit. And than with his martial arts –

Paul shook his head, "Nope, not anymore. Not ever. With his high position, he doesn't have time to devote his life to volunteer authority figures. He doesn't waste his time with reading fantasy tales. He does wish that he had more time on his hands to practice martial arts and be with people who enjoy the same things, but time is money. He with so much time on his hand –

Michael nodded, "He started this shift."

Paul nodded, "Precisely. The high demand overseas for the paper was so unprecedented that Wallace gave permission for Dwight to open up a shift strictly for the international sector of the company. And he had plenty of time on his hands, so he could put as much dedication on the day crew as this one."

Michael scratched his head, "I still don't understand why they just didn't hire him to run that branch alone."

Paul nodded, "He was given a similar offer, but he declined. He said that he rather run the Scranton office instead of going to the city. But he said he still needed to be here with the farm and his family."

"Oh right, he's cousin Mose." Michael crossed the room to get a better look at Dwight. "I still don't get it though, Dwight seemed so happy before."

Paul nodded solemnly, "He was. You see, Michael, Dwight had engrossed himself completely into work, never truly experiencing life. He missed out on his true happiness, his life aspirations, out on love."

Michael looked confused, "Love? Dwight was never in love."

Paul nodded, "Yeah, he was. He was only in love once, but with his image of himself and regards to those around him, he missed out on his one chance at true love."

"But with who?" Michael looked around, "Anybody here? In my crew?"

Paul shock his head, "That's not my place to tell. I feel that's Dwight's secret to keep. He deserves that much."

Michael looked at Dwight with new eyes, "Wow, I didn't know Dwight had so much… depth."

Paul looked over at Michael with contempt, "You wouldn't would you. You don't take the time to consider other's feelings. You consume yourself with your own troubles and never take the time to truly appreciate what you have and how you affect others."

Michael looked at Dwight and shook his head, "I'm… I'm sorry…" He stepped closer to Dwight and tried to put his hand on his shoulder.

Paul stooped him, "C'mon, we have others to see."

Michael looked at Tiffany, who was laughing with the tall salesman next to her, "I wanna see Pam."

Paul nodded, "Alright. It's nearly ten. We better get going than."

Michael nodded and looked at Dwight one last time, "That suit looks way better than it did on me."

Paul turned around, "What was that?"

Michael shrugged, "Dwight liked a suit I wore on my birthday a few years ago. It looked just like that one. It looks better on him."

Paul smiled, "C'mon. We better go." Paul lifted his arm and Michael held on. Both men closed their eyes and opened them up in the parking lot.

Michael put on his helmet, "I have to wonder, why don't we just travel like that to different places. Why do we have to ride in this thing?"

Paul shrugged, "Cause it's cool."

Michael got in the buggy again, "If you say so, buddy."

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More to come. In the next chapter, Michael gets to see how his receptionist has been doing in his absence. Thanks for the reviews, guys. They help me improve my writing and encourage me to continue.

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