I've just finished gathering the last of my things when a pair of polished black shoes descend the stairs, stopping just before my cardboard box. I glance up and recognize the face almost immediately. Michael Sullivan. He's not exactly the welcoming party I'd expected to run into. More like the welcoming party I'd expect to run away from.
"Elise!" He beams. "Pierce told me you'd be joining our team today. Transferring over from the research division at the sandbox, I've heard?"
I shrug.
"Nikolav always did sing your praises." The smile disappears from his face, and there's a sigh in his voice as he looks me over appraisingly.
"Better be careful, your true colours are beginning to show already." I smile at him innocently as I pick up my box.
"What are you talking about? I've never attempted to hide my dislike of you." He wrinkles his nose at me before he turns to climb the steps. I laugh out loud at his honesty. At least there's one redeeming aspect about him.
I follow him into the building. High ceilings, glass and chrome detailing… not much different from the Triskellion. It's quieter here though, and there are far fewer people bustling about. A lone secretary greets us at the desk, and I raise an eyebrow at Michael when he identifies himself as the "interviewer".
"Don't give me that look. You're working under my team here, didn't Nikolav tell you?" He shoots me an incredulous glance as we step into an elevator.
"No, everything is classified. How could he tell me that? And why would you of all people select me to join your team? How could I believe that?" I snort in derision at his suggestion.
Michael hates me. He's hated me ever since we completed our PhDs in the Nikolav lab. To expect him to give me some credit now was like asking me to believe that oranges are purple.
The doors open to an executive suite which is too glitzy too look remotely like the psychology research labs I'd spent time in over the years. Not enough clutter, no computers from the dark ages, no claustrophobic hallways lined with research posters.
"Don't get comfortable yet, you won't be working here." As if he's read my mind, Michael chimes in with his derisive tone.
"I figured." I reply flatly as we stop before a wall of glass. Behind it, there's a conference room. In it, a large table, chairs all around… and a lie detector? On the table.
"Are you kidding me? A polygraph?" I actually have to laugh out loud at their audacity, "You know as well as I do that those things are phony for lie detection. There's absolutely no scientific evidence supporting-"
"Yes, well, I told them that it was never going to fool a neuroscience student, but you know how they are with formalities at Shield. Just do it for protocol, alright? Don't make my life more difficult than it is." He glares at me as he swipes his card and opens the door.
I roll my eyes and follow him into the room.