And Then There Were Five

^^ Gregor's Work Screen ^^

--- Gregor ---

I woke up slowly, feeling the Dawn, and cracked my neck, sitting up and shedding people. Tina and Tara grumbled at me, and cuddled back into each other, and I stood, carefully stepping around them, and climbed the stairs into my cabin.

I changed swiftly into business clothes, and then gathered as many Portfolios as I could into my bag.

A satchel was tossed onto my bed. "Use that..." Indra murmured sleepily, and then wandered into the bathroom.

I set all of the portfolios, all 93, into the satchel, and my new computer, and then hummed, slipping the giant hunks of Heart-Oak and Silver out of the bag, setting them on the pile of wood, so Indra would see them when he exited the bathroom.

I stepped out, locking the door, and into the elevator. It moved slowly, but I didn't hate that. The faster modes turned my stomach a bit, like I was falling.

The streets were still relatively busy, but nothing like the day before, which confirmed my theory of the city never truly stopping function. My walking around at night would go largely unnoticed, then.

The door to the Troll Market opened silently this time, and I stepped in, then blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dark. The door for the other side of the bridge was directly in front of me, so I stepped through it, then closed it, waited a few seconds, and opened it again, finding the same door as yesterday.

I smiled at the easy process, and walked out, down the street, as the door dissolved from the wall.

The security guard was different, this time. I handed him my ID, and he sighed, nodding. "Pulling a few overtime hours, Mr. Wrothchild?"

"Actually, I have a bet I have to win, so yes." I chuckled.

He nodded. "Well, its none of my business, but steer clear of Ms. Wong, today. She's in a mood for some reason."

I sighed. "She's who I'm here to see... wish me luck?" I grinned sheepishly.

He snorted. "You'll need more protection than luck, but sure, pal. Good luck."

I grabbed my bag and ID, and stepped into the elevator, which moved very quickly. I would have to just take the stairs tomorrow, and the rest of the days I was here.

Lilly was pacing her office, and when she saw me, she crooked a finger swiftly, and sat down heavily at her desk.

I opened her door, and stepped in, closing it. "Hello, Lillian?" I hesitantly greeted her.

"You're late."

I looked at the clock. "It's 5:32... I think I'm doing rather well, huh?" I said dryly.

She sighed. "Anyway, let's discuss this. I'm on three hours of sleep, and very irritable, so just take what I say with a grain of salt."

"Salt?" I asked for clarification.

"What? Oh, uh... damn, I don't know the Russian equivalent. I'm going to be sarcastic, so don't react to anything I say until you're sure I said what I meant, and not just a nasty comment, which you should ignore." She grumbled.