Fall From Grace

Daniel sat stiffly in the 45th-floor waiting room, fingers tapping nervously against the chair’s armrest. The fluorescent lights buzzed soothingly but did little to settle his nerves. His phone had died, and he stared at the thick fog rolling past the windows. He’d been waiting for what felt like hours, but his mind refused to settle.

"Mr. Cotrane?" A voice broke the silence.

He looked up. A sleek woman with sharp heels stood in the doorway, her eyes scanning him intensely. “Ms. Verity is ready now.”

“Daniel, is it?” Ms. Verity asked through round, gold-rimmed glasses.

Daniel nodded, pulling at his collar, which felt too tight.

“Well, your resume is… unique. Let’s start with a general question: What part of your experience do you feel is most significant?”

“Thank you, Ms. Verity,” Daniel started, clasping his hands in his lap. “I was told this is not an opportunity to take lightly. In terms of significance, I spent 20 years working for Tetron Dynamic, making major waves in production and sales. I only moved on from them as I got older and wanted to slow down.”

“Hmm, yes, your role required you to facilitate contracts sending military-grade weaponry to war-torn countries?”

Daniel cleared his throat, shifting his weight in the chair. “Well, I oversaw negotiations, but the final decisions were never mine.”

“I see, and yet they paid you quite handsomely? Would you say that salary matches your expectations going forward?”

Daniel rubbed his chin. “Yes, I would say so.”

“You think that income is deserved, even though you betrayed your fiancée with a young female executive after the interview at Tetron Dynamic?”

Daniel stiffened, his heart racing. He opened his mouth, but no words formed.

Ms. Verity smirked. “Yes, we check our references quite thoroughly. Do not worry; that doesn’t change the fact that you were a top performer for many years. Had you no qualms about the innocent deaths at the hands of those wielding your custom, top-of-the-line equipment?”

“Well-” Daniel started, a lump catching in his throat. “We, well, there was no way to control the actions of our, well, our customers-”

“Your customers?” she repeated. “The warlords and dictators?” Her eyes bored into him as sweat dripped down his neck.

Her face softened. “I’m just getting my facts straight.”

“I also worked for Impact Horizon,” Daniel said quickly. “A non-profit benefitting underprivileged villages…” He had to catch his breath as the desperate words tumbled out.

Ms. Verity raised an eyebrow. “Is that how you cleared your conscience? Volunteering at an organization that funnels donations to its executives—including you?”

“Darcy!” Ms. Verity called before Daniel could respond.

Darcy entered, clipboard in hand.

“I’ve made my decision. This one will return as a prisoner of war. Let him see the true fruits of his labour.”

“You bet,” Darcy said, taking Daniel’s arm and leading him toward the open windows.

“Thank you for visiting Judgement Day Incorporated. Enjoy your reincarnation.” Darcy laughed as she pushed him off the edge.