Chapter 9 - The Desperate Encounter At The Corporate Gates
The morning air in Manhattan’s financial district was biting and harsh as Julian Bellandi staggered down the sidewalk, wearing the same wrinkled suit from the night before.
His hair was disheveled, his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and the cheap synthetic duffel bag slung over his shoulder felt like a lead weight dragging him down.
He had walked six blocks from the subway station, avoiding eye contact with passing pedestrians who hurried past him with hurried, preoccupied expressions.
Finally, the imposing, glass-and-steel monolith of Bellandi Global Shipping rose before him against the gray winter sky, its towering corporate logo gleaming proudly in the morning light.
Julian breathed a sigh of relief, convincing himself that once he walked through those revolving doors, his loyal board members and vice presidents would sort everything out.
He marched up the granite steps with desperate urgency, pushing his way through the revolving glass doors into the pristine, minimalist marble lobby of the headquarters.
Before he could even take two steps toward the private elevator banks, two towering corporate security guards stepped smoothly into his path, blocking his route.
“Morning, Mr. Bellandi. I’m afraid you don’t have security clearance to enter the executive floors today,” the lead security guard stated flatly, his voice devoid of any warmth.
Julian stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the guard in utter disbelief as if he hadn't heard the words correctly through the ringing in his ears.
“Are you out of your damn mind? I founded this company! My family’s name is plastered all over the lobby wall!” Julian shouted, his voice cracking with rising hysteria.
“Orders from the new executive trustee and the legal department, sir. Your corporate access badges were deactivated at midnight,” the guard replied professionally, not budging an inch.
Passersby and junior corporate employees stopped to stare at the disheveled, shouting man making a scene in the pristine lobby, whispering behind their hands.
“I want to speak to Henderson! I want to speak to the board of directors right now!” Julian demanded, lunging forward toward the turnstiles.
In a flash of lightning movement, both guards grabbed Julian by his arms, twisting him around with practiced efficiency and marching him forcefully back toward the revolving doors.
“Let go of me! You can’t do this to me! I am Julian Bellandi!” he screamed, thrashing wildly as they shoved him out onto the freezing stone steps of the building.
Julian stumbled forward, losing his footing on the icy concrete and crashing hard onto his hands and knees in front of a crowd of morning commuters.
May you like
The heavy glass revolving doors spun shut behind him with a final, echoing thud, sealing him outside the empire he had spent his entire life building.
He sat on the cold pavement for a long, agonizing moment, the freezing wind whipping through his hair as he realized he had been completely erased from existence.
Related Stories
