Thread: Trouble in the Vortex (Mr Quixotic and 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.