Page 3 of 12 Days

Chapter 1

Alyssa

As I walk up to the building, I desperately try not to show how frantic I am. This is my big break. The FDA is an awesome assignment, and proving myself here is the only thing that stands in the way of making my contractor status more permanent.

And what a cush job they gave me, too. Just a friendly stroll through the files of this conglomerate, and I should have no problem delivering a number of skeletons for the boys at the home office to drill them on.

I look up at the hugely impressive structure before me, and think to myself, You hear that? You don’t stand a chance against me, True Love!

I take a deep, steadying breath and continue on to the door. When I walk in, the first thing that catches my eye is how high the security desk is. Usually, there’s some type of raised platform for them, but this is so tall, I can't tell if the guard is standing or sitting behind it.

Honestly, he could be hiding anything back there. Huh, so right off the bat, they’re trying to hide things. This will be even easier than I thought.

When I reach the security desk, I flash my brightest, most winning smile at the guard.

"Hello, how are you tod—"

The security guard interrupts me, mumbling something, and I have no idea what he’s saying. I'm thrown off for a second by his brusque manner and the fact that he hasn't even bothered to look at me.

"Uh, I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Name." This time there’s a little edge to his voice.

Usually, I have no problem flirting my way into places like this, but this guy isn't even glancing at me. I thrust my chest out, squeezing my arms together slightly to really make the girls pop.

"Uh, Alyssa Morrow. I'm here to see—"

"Look here, please." He points to a spot on the desk.

"Wha—"

"Thank you."

After a moment, I realize there’s a security camera built into the desk. He must be able to see me in a monitor behind the tall counter. That's why he doesn’t look at me. Rude, but intimidating. Okay fine, you win this one, True Love.

They must be taking my picture to issue some sort of ID badge while I'm here. A bit paranoid for a company whose product line consists entirely of fashionable scents, perfumes and colognes.

Part of me realizes I might be just a little bitter because there’s no way this is a flattering picture of me. The guard waits for the printer to finish, then he hands me a badge with a lanyard.

Sure enough, I can tell I'm right in the middle of saying 'what,' in the shot, but to everyone else, I'm sure it looks like me just holding my mouth open, as if waiting for something to come right into it, like food or a drink or…Oh my god. My whole face suddenly feels like it's on fire as I realize exactly what it looks like in this picture.

Get a hold of yourself, girlfriend! There’s a fuck-ton riding on you right now! I can’t be distracted by silly things. I’m here to be professional, efficient, and get my job done.

I look around sheepishly, but the guard doesn't seem to notice and no one else is paying attention as they walk past the desk.

The guard motions toward the row of seats along the wall.

“Please wait there. Owen will be with you shortly.”

“Okay, thank you.” As I walk away I swear I hear something from behind the desk. It sounds like movement, and a wet noise. Must be my imagination.

I walk over to the row of seats and choose one near the inside of the building. I don't want to come across as being too anxious to get in there. Shifting through my paperwork, I check to make sure I have it all there: the public information on the company, its worth, employee count, office locations, anything else I could look up about it.

Then I read through the information provided by the FDA: examples of what to look for as far as hidden files and the like, compounds to look for in the formulas, some of questionable content, others that are flat out illegal. There are notes on how to spot bookkeeping omissions or practices for hiding material or money transfers, and a list of all the suspected illicit activities that the company might be engaging in.

All very orderly. All very neat. All very deadly to this organization, if what I suspect about them is true.

As I finish with my paperwork, I look up to see if I can find this Owen, who my boss said is supposed to escort me to the meeting. That’s when I start to notice the people busily walking past me.

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