Chapter 16: Corporate Team Building, ACME style.

Chapter 16: Corporate Team Building, ACME style.

Billy was looking forward to a day off from the game and getting some time in the real world. He knew it wouldn't be a 'day off.' ACME didn't think you needed them and any manager that wanted to stay in management didn't take them. But he'd be in his apartment and out of his pod. He could do paperwork while streaming 'The Perils of Pauline.' Have a steak dinner while going over project numbers. And sleep in his own bed while his pillow whispered all the current office gossip to his subconscious.

The last was important. It wasn't enough to do your job. You also had to know what other people at your level were doing; what the other corps were up to; the latest developments in technology. So it was a 'working day off' - but still a day off. He logged out of the game, expecting to hear the hiss of releasing gasses, the smell of a steak dinner coming out of the auto-delivery tube, and the sound of a hot shower turning on.

But Billy didn't even make it out of his pod.

As soon as he disconnected from the game he was moved to a virtual meeting room. Looking around, he knew it was going to be bad. He and the twenty-four other people competing for the Regional position were all there, and most looked surprised. Surprise meetings were always stressful.

They all had a similar look dressed as filthy serfs that would have fit right into Billy's crew in Sedgewick. The burlap was scratchy and had some very bad odors attatched to it. Billy hadn't minded that his workers had to wear this stuff and wasn't going to develop any empathy from having to wear this crap himself. He just hated it.

The building was a barn and it oozed rustic. Cows were mooing in stalls. Rusty tools leaned against the walls. Pigeons were shitting on people from the rafters. Instead of chairs they had bales of hay or overturned buckets. Billy claimed a hay bale not under a rafter full of birds and glared at anyone trying to sit next to him. He had a reputation for being nasty at company parties and didn't like small talk. Those who didn't get seats stood along the sides of the room. The floor was covered in cow pies. This was going to be one hell of a meeting. He wondered what else could go bad?

He really shouldn't have asked that question even in his own thoughts. Warning bells were going off in his head as a woman materialized nearby. "Why, Billy, you saved me a seat, how sweet of you." Layla Vandergilt looked good even in burlap and cow shit, but Billy would rather sit next to a cobra. She managed to take the seat next to him by swinging her hip into him and knocking him over. She smiled as she crossed her legs in front of her. Billy nodded to himself. Layla had always managed to get what she wanted with those legs, hips, and a smile - even from him. Where everyone else was nervous, she oozed confidence. And looked damned good even in wearing crappy serf rags. Admiral Akbar was yelling in the back of his head, but as usual, Billy wasn't listening. Layla did that to him. And somehow every time they went to dinner, or ended up at his apartment, she pulled off some amazing coup; wormed some bit of info from him. Her division would move up a bit, while his division took a nose dive. He really needed to listen to the Admiral someday.

Billy had even paid for a psychiatry program to get inside his head and tell him why he was so attracted to the woman. He didn't like it's conclusions. Billy knew he didn't like most people, despite being able to appear as if he did. Most people were idiots - Layla wasn't. She was as smart and as vicious as he was - and educated. And she hated most people like he did. A desirious combination of smarts, attitude, spite, and drive, all wrapped up in a gorgeous package. Everything he liked in a woman, except the part where she stabbed him in the back every time they started dating again.

Layla started to say something to him when Vernon Throckmeyer strode in. Or rather, the people carrying him strode in. He was seated in a large throne with a handle at each corner. Vern was dressed as a Scottish Lord. The four stocky men at arms sat his throne down in the front of the room and stood back. Stepping up next to Vern was Seth Davidson, his right-hand lackey and head of HR. Today Seth was dressed as a headsman complete with large axe. Not too different from the real world Billy thought. The symbolism wasn't lost on anyone in the room. The initial posting of this chapter occurred via noovelllbbin

Vernon Spoke: "If you're wondering why you're sitting in shit, it's a blunt metaphor for your job security. This is a replica of a barn Acme now owns and it's the biggest building any of you has been able to build, buy, or steal for us so far. And if I have to put my Headquarters in a barn, I'm hiring the cows and sending all of you to the slaughterhouse."

"But sure, remind me about Momco annexing a big chunk of the area near Wolveburg, or the takeover of the Devil's Gate thieves guild by Pentex. Tell me how other corporations have competent managers that get things done, while I'm holding meetings in a barn! I hope you like the taste of groat muffins Sammy, I really do."

Vernon was shouting now, and his face was turning red. The old boy was really in a lather. Glad I don't have his eye looking at me. Billy was already making plans. He needed to really accelerate things. Get more scouting out of the guild he'd hired. He hated paying with his own cash, but that's how he'd get ahead. Find a mine, or quarry, or tribe of rich demi humans to cheat. He'd get started as soon as this shitshow was over, screw taking off a day...wait...why the hell was Layla leaning close to him?

Layla had the impressive ability to say something in that deep, soft voice of hers, and yet get the attention of the entire room. "Billy, tell the boss what you were bragging to me about. Whatever big thing you said you'd found." No one but Billy saw the smallest of smirks on her face as she leaned back, eagerly looking at him and then at Mr. Throckmorton. OH SHIT! Billy knew exactly how this would play out. Vern would turn his attention on Billy, Billy wouldn't have anything, Layla would probably laugh it off as him just bragging about 'the big thing in his pants.' Billy would be Vern's punching bag for the rest of the month. The bitch might even be angling for more. To hell with that.

"Yes Billy, lets hear this wonderful plan. I could use some good news. Or maybe a good laugh. Or do I have to keep you and Miss Vandergilt after class for passing notes."

Billy stood up eagerly and smiled his best smile. "Ok boss, you got me, never could hide anything from you. Yeah, I've got something. I was hoping to keep it undercover. I guess I talk in my sleep a bit. Layla missed me and showed up at my place last night, in game, to 'test out the equipment.'

The room laughed. Layla stared daggers at him. Vern smiled and wagged a finger at Layla, "Naughty little girl. If you have time to chase after Billy for some hanky-panky we aren't keeping you busy enough. But do continue Billy, I'm sure we'd all like to hear what you have to say."

Billy looked Vern in the eye. "I've got a winner. A guaranteed money maker. I've been keeping the serfs busy with crap work to cover my ass in case anyone was spying on me. Hell, it's so big I'm going to do something I'd normally never even consider. I'm going to ask for help. I need Layla and her crew in Sedgewick tomorrow to start on this job and get the money pouring in! She can have 15% of my take."

"Oh Billy, you know how to get me excited, what do you have for me, my boy. Lets not keep Uncle Vern waiting." Layla however, was less than thrilled. This wasn't going as planned and she could feel the knife turning in her back. She knew Billy had nothing. She had three spies working his area and they all agreed. Did he somehow actually co-opt her spies and then make some discovery? The little bastard had it together for once and either way this worked out could be bad. If he had something, she'd have to work under him. In more ways than one. But he might have nothing, and that was worse! He was a spiteful enough bastard to decide to take her down with him. He was the most dangerous with his back to a wall. Hell, he was dangerous all the time.

Go big or go home, Billy reached for the big lie: "My scouts found a dungeon. Huge one, surrounded by ruins. We can build the Regional HQ there. Make a fortune off the players coming to the dungon. Build a trade city. Acme even gets a 'Global First' for finding a dungeon before anyone else. We'll have control of the biggest dungeon in the North."

Vern smiled. Billy smiled back. Layla smiled at Billy. The rest of the twenty-three managers looked very worried. Inwardly, Billy was polishing his resume.