"Do you really have to go to work today? I'm already bored and you haven't even left yet." I pout shamelessly.
"Yes, I do. Aren't you tired of asking this already? You've been asking me the same thing for over a week now. Besides, with the amount of time I've spent off work in the past few months, I fear my employees will start a coup or something."
I throw my hands in the air like a child and stomp to the couch in the living room, landing on it with a puff.
"I'll be back before you even realize it. Love you." Korra places a kiss on my head before heading out.
As soon as the door shuts, I run to the kitchen and set the timer for four minutes. Taking the timer with me, I head into the bedroom and quickly throw my clothes on. Black suit pants, a red ruffle sleeve blouse and heels. There is no way I am letting Jennifer tower over me today.
The timer starts to ring and as I look out the window, Korra's car zooms out of the underground parking and unto the street. I grab the first purse my hand lands on in the closet and stuff my phone, wallet and the key card I snagged. I turn off the lights and start to head out.
Was the timer even necessary?
No, I just felt like using it.
At the door, I stop and go through my purse for the third time.
"Flash drive, check."
"Wallet, check."
"Key card, check."
"Phone, check."
"Glasses, check."
"Keys, check."
Everything seems to be in place so I step out of the apartment, not forgetting to hug Sam on the way out.
Taking the elevator to the basement, I scan through my purse again just to be sure that I have everything. A wave of nostalgia washes over me as I mentally prep myself for the day. The thrill of being on a 'mission' again brings cold shivers down my spine.
Do you really think what you're doing makes sense? To some degree, it's considered illegal!
I know, but I'm really bored and if I don't do this, I won't be able to handle not fully understanding everything I watched yesterday.
Why are you acting like you're some sort of spy? This is ridiculous.
I turn up the radio to drown out the voice in my head who seems to wants to talk me out of this little escapade of mine. I know that none of this has anything to do with me but I'd rather get caught and arrested after getting what I want than just sit back and let my curiosity eat at my brain.
I enter the office address in the map and start the journey. I'm pretty sure I don't look like someone who's on their way to work with the car roof down and the radio blaring country music I don't even know. But it's fine, I'm not going there to work anyways.
I reach the office quicker than I had expected. Instead of parking by the side of the road, I take the car to the back of the building, where the staff park. I put the roof of the car down and roll up the windows as I approach the security gate.
Bringing the car to a stop at the gate, I put on my glasses and stare straight ahead, wondering what I needed to get past the gate; I didn't think this part of the plan through too well. A knock on the tinted windows startles me.
"Your ID card please." Right.
I fumble around in my purse before finding Jennifer's key card. With the window rolled down just a crack, I pass the card to the security.
"Oh good morning Ms. Dickson. I didn't recognise the ride. Is it new?"
He hands me the card and motions to someone to open the gate.
"Yes it is. Thank you." I answer in a very high pitched voice as I zoom past the open gate.
"You have to get it together Ree! Stop being so nervous and get this thing over with." I rub my sweaty palms on my pants and get out of the car, locking it behind me.
I walk to the only elevator around and step in, trying to figure out where Jennifer's office might be. She's in the same department with Asher so it must also be on the fourth floor. Pressing the button for the fourth floor, I put the ID card around my neck and go over the plan.
Ding.
The doors open, pulling me out of my thoughts and I step off. Realizing that I have no idea where her office might be, I ask the first person I see.
"Excuse me. Sorry. I'm here to see Ms. Jennifer. The receptionist told me to go to the fourth floor but she didn't say exactly where on the fourth floor I should go. Could you help me?"
The lady looks up from the papers she's frantically flipping through and smiles back at me as she listens.
"Ms. Jennifer? Oh you mean Ms. Dickson, our supervisor."
"Yes, Ms. Dickson. I'm a friend of hers. She told me to meet her in her office today."
"Okay, her office is just down the hall, on your right. It's the only office there so you won't miss it." She walks away again before I can thank her.
Following her directions, I turn to the right at the end of the long hallway and there's only one door at the end of the corridor.
'Jennifer Dickson MSc.'
'Chemical Inspection, Supervisor'
I slowly open the door and find that the office is empty. Thankfully I don't have to go with the plan of lying to her that I accidentally dented her car so she'd leave the office. I quickly make my way to her desk, leaving the door ajar.
I take out the flash drive in my bag and plug it into her desktop computer before turning it on. As the screen comes to life, it requests a password.
Shoot! Did I really forget that she'd have a password?
I try to guess. 'Jennifer' doesn't work, neither does 'Dickson'. I give up guessing and search her desk for any clues. Nothing on the desk works so I open the first drawer and find my saviour sitting right there.
A sticky note with 'Computer Password: pa$$word' written in poor handwriting is peacefully stuck to the top of a stack of papers. What did I expect? In middle school, she literally had the words 'password is 23-34-13' written on her locker in permanent marker so she wouldn't forget.
I type in the password and the computer unlocks. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for but I scan through the computer for anything I might find useful. I come across a folder named 'Berlin office' tucked away. I click on it and copy it to the flash drive. A window pops up asking for a password to decrypt the folder before it can be copied to the drive.
Seriously?
I try 'pa$$word' again but it doesn't work. I scan through the sticky notes in the drawer again. On the back of the note with the computer's password, 'Berlin code is Schulze' is scribbled. If she's going to write the password in such an obvious place then what's the point of even encrypting the dang folder?
I type in the password and the folder instantly starts its transfer. As the computer does its job, I take a look around the office. She has a trophy case and it's only filled with 'Employee of the Month' medals. They give medals for that here? What is this, a school marathon?
Three of the four walls of the room are covered in huge portraits of Ms. Jennifer Dickson. Is this her office or her studio? A few other photos are scattered around the portraits. One picture in particular catches my eye and I walk over to the corner of the room where it's hung.
I'm guessing it's from an award ceremony. Jennifer is in front with a medal around her neck and a smile on her face but someone's behind her, Asher. He's also wearing a medal and seems to be giving a speech with a microphone in his hand.
"Yes, a friend of yours arrived a few minutes ago. She said you told her to wait for you so I just let her in."
"What friend? I didn't tell anyone to wait in my office."
I rush to the computer. As soon as I sit back down, the transfer completes and I quickly pull out the drive and shutdown the computer, trying to look as calm as possible as the door swings open.
"You? You're my 'friend'?" Jennifer scoffs as she folds her arms across her chest, sparing me her signature condescending look.
"Well duh. Would your enemy come all the way here to give you back the ID card you ever-so-foolishly lost?" I flash her an innocent smile and she motions for the lady behind her to leave the room. She slams the door behind her.
"Where did you get my ID card?"
I stand up from her seat and slowly make my way to her. Her smug look fumbles with every step I take, until I'm right in front of her, towering over her. Towering may be an exaggeration but you get the gist.
"I wanted to say this last time but the mood just wasn't right."
I take the card off my neck and wear it around hers, with my grip still firm on it.
"Dickson, I don't like you, you know this. I've been wanting to hurt you for a long time but unfortunately I couldn't. Now that the only person that was holding me back is gone, I will come for you. And I will hurt you."
Her expression turns to a frightened one and I smile to myself. I walk back to her desk to pick up my purse before leaving the office, offering her a "Toodles" as I do.
"Wow. Even I was scared of what I just said." That should keep her stunned for a few minutes. Off to my next destination – the top floor.
I take the elevator to the top floor, gathering the little courage I have left on the ride there. The doors open and I quickly spot the secretary on her seat.
Crap. Guess I'll have to go with plan B2.
I exit the elevator and walk straight ahead, not sparing the secretary a glance.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Daulton?" I turn to look at her but still keep walking.
"Oh hi. I just need to check something, I'll be right out." She quickly stands up from her desk and races after me as I push the doors open.
"Mrs. Daulton you can't be in here. You don't have an appointment and Mr. Matthews is in an emergency board meeting right now. He's not here."
Even better.
I enter the office and walk to his desk on the left side of the room, looking at the ground like I'm searching for something.
"I'll be out in a jiffy. I just need to look for something. I think it fell off when I was here yesterday."
I crouch to the ground in front of his desk and slap my left hand all over the floor while my right hand goes into my pocket.
"Ma'am what exactly are you looking for?" She's starting to sound irritated.
I finally find what I'm digging my pocket for – my last mini-mic. I quickly take it out and stick it under the desk so it's not visible unless you're under the table. I stand up and turn to the secretary with a sad look on my face and one earring in my hand.
"It's the last thing my husband gave me before he passed. I got home and realized I only had one ear on so I had to come find it quickly. I apologize for the trouble." Her expression softens, pity evident behind it.
"Oh I'm sorry. It's alright, it was no trouble at all." She leads me out of the office and I take the elevator back to the parking lot.
I enter the car and slump in the driver's seat. My brain and body are still on edge from everything I just did. I put the key in the ignition and my phone rings. I pick it up without checking the caller ID.
"Riona Edan Prescott-Daulton! Where the heck are you?"
Korra?
Oh crap.