Chapter 406: Get Your Hands Dirty

Zara’s POV…

“Ladies and gentleman of the Press, yesterday we showed you how we networked our products through communication. Today, we will be showing you something else. Something I’m sure you would all love to see.”

I’ll tell you what I’d love to see, you pervets! Those parts of Malcolm that I fondled recently. Yep, I’d definitely enjoy feeling him inside of me again, that’s for certain. Oh, you should have seen us go… when we’d been together for that one amazing year. He didn’t know anything about sex when we first met. I had to educate him before we could get to practicals. All he needed was one lesson, and before I knew it, he was the teaher and I was the student. And when I tell you this man can go, I mean GO…

Maybe you’ll get to see what I’m talking about, if the writer decides to go back in time again. However, I’d rather it happen now, in real time, eleven years later. It’ll surely be just as great as I remember. Maybe even better.

“We’ll be leaving the company for this one. We’ve prepared a helicopter that will take us to the Hudson, all the way on the other side of town to our Industrial Greenhouse. You’re about to witness how we make clean energy and market it, which makes for up to thirty percent of our company’s annual revenue.”

Truly, this was a good scoop. This sector of Balogun Incorporated was the least reported since the company was founded. I didn’t mind this. I didn’t mind at all. Malcolm turned and took a step—his assistant right by him, and Jack Gardener asked us to follow. We took several steps forward, when Malcolm suddenly halted, took his cellphone out of his pocket, answered a call, listened to the caller for a few seconds and then, he hung up and turned to face us all.

“I’m really sorry, everybody. We seem to have a little problem. That was aviation. There seems to be a problem with the helicopter we had prepared. And there won’t be one available for six more hours,” Malcolm said.

We all moaned about it. That was almost half the entire day. I watched Malcolm lean into his assistant’s ear, nodding his head as she passed along some information. Then he faced us again. “So, there’s been a slight change of plans. We can’t go to the greenhouse today and my assistant just informed me that of all our offices, only one is ready enough to squeeze in for a tour for today.”

“And which office is that?” The reporter for Inside Edition asked.

I wasn’t listening when they introduced themselves, so let’s just call him Kay, and the other woman… Let’s call her Tee. I have a feeling they’ll be talking a lot today.

“Our other station where we harness power. But this power isn’t as clean. Actually, it’s quite dirty, and I guess you’re all going to see the other side of my company that your networks don’t cover—the side that labors all day long just to make the world a better place.”

The look in his eyes shifted a little, and it was a shift that made me quite curious. He looked at me. Held my eyes, and he said his next words.

“There’s a reason why just the three of you were invited. Your networks attack my company’s intergrity the most, of all the things you report about Balogun Incorporated. Let’s get started then. Please follow me to the van. We’re not flying for this one.”

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Michaela’s POV…

So, although we were dressed to head to the Conference, we had to make a quick stop at Sals Metal Palace first. I seriously did need to head into the office today, have two short meetings and drop off some paperwork. The conference was at three and it was only just twelve thirty now. Cherilyn was fine with this, even eager to come along because she’d never been at the Palace before. Kendra didn’t seem to mind either.

We all took my SUV, from the hotel to the company. It was a smooth ride and we made it with plenty of time still left. When we got out, we went straight in through the entrance and I placed my card on the scanner, and the door slid open.

“Good morning, boss lady.”

The guard by the entrance hollered at me. Ecclesiastes would remain here with him and the others until I was ready to leave.

“Good morning, Shephard! You finally got those new braces for your leg?” I asked, noticing them wrap tightly around his limb.

“Sure did! Feels good as new.” He answered proudly.

“That’s great news. Happy for you. These are my friends. They’ll be with me inside for about an hour, and then we’ll leave together. While I’m in my office, could you find someone to show them around and keep them entertained?”

“Certainly, boss lady. I’ll get Julie on it right away,” he said and was off to use his radio to prepare the attendee.

With that out of the way, I faced the girls. “My office is on the fifteenth floor. Let’s take my private elevator. It’s right this way,” I led the way, and they followed.

We made it to the elevator and I pressed the button, beginning the ride up. One thing I loved about the Palace is the way it was designed. We make our metal ourselves, so as much as we had all the fancy equipment and shiny offices, we also had our worksmith stations. That’s where the blacksmiths make the liquid fire…and pour it. Dangerous work. Grunt work.

As the elevator gets higher, the tube becomes transparent for about five more floors until it reverts. The view for those few seconds is incredible. Giant shacks and enormous gadgets were on full display, and you start to feel like you’re in a military base or even something from a sci-fi film. Anyways, we reached my office’s floor. And we hopped off the ride.

Immediately we walked down the hall into the reception, Julie walked over and was ready to receive my handoff.

“I’ll get back to you girls as soon as I can.” I assured them.

“It’s okay, Mick. Take your time. We’ll be okay,” Cherilyn said back.

I smiled at her and walked toward my office. Just as I was about to reach for the door, the secretary called out to me. “Madam, your first meeting started five minutes ago. I believe they’re still waiting for you in room one.”

I nodded at her and walked over to room one. I opened the door. I saw some members of my board, two of our biggest investors and two of my company’s lawyers, and… to my greatest shock; he was there too. James Worthington.

This meeting surely had something to do with Balogun Incorporated…but what?