Descent Travel Beginnings
"OMG you are breaking up with me? And firing me? Because I said something about you flirting and cheating with other women? You can't be serious!" fumed Olivia Beckett, now former employee at Lancer Technologies and the former girlfriend of its CEO Cordelia Lance, who was named the rising female executive to watch under the age of 30 by Entrepreneur Magazine.
"I am serious, Ms. Beckett, I brought you in off the street, and I can certainly fire you and break up with you. Nobody, especially you for certain, is irreplaceable- receptionists are available at the click of a button," the confident and wealthy CEO responded. "I did enjoy you, you were cute and spunky until your silly petty jealousy became annoying. This insubordination disqualifies you from any benefits."
Olivia was fuming, her fists clenched into tight little balls.
"Your Lancer technology has been confiscated and your access to anything Lancer has been canceled," The tall, powerful CEO stated calmly. "Security will escort you out, please hand them your badge and office key on the way out. Good luck, Ms Beckett."
"You won't get away with this, I will go to the press," the 23 year-old beauty exclaimed as she pointed her finger at the wealthy, connected tech CEO.
"And do what, Ms Beckett? My well paid image consultants will bury you before you finish your first interview," laughed the statuesque CEO, waving her hand as if swatting away a mosquito. "Goodbye and good luck, Ms. Beckett."
The CEO left the reception area of her top floor office and entered her private office, where she called the HR director, "I have just let Ms. Beckett go, send me a new receptionist ASAP."
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Upon completing the business call, she made a second call to an old college friend, "Hey Jonathan, are things in place for our new venture? I know my software is a go, is everything on your end ready?"
"We are, I just finished up the storefront location, and the jet is ready. I will send you those details, Lancer," the man on the other end of the call said, using the nickname the tech savvy beauty obtained in college based on her last name and her laser focus on details from college. "You know the connections I have."
"That I do, John, which is why I brought you on board in the first place," the hottest CEO of the hottest tech company on the east coast said. "I am careful with who I invest my time and money with, and I know better than anyone what you are capable of doing. I do like the name, Descent Travel. It's fun."
"Yes, it does have that extra meaning, Lancer," the man chuckled.
"I am aware, John," the CEO laughed. " We had that discussion already. I think I have our first 'Spiral Special' employee."
"Oh really? Who, anyone I know, Lancer?" asked the travel agency owner.
"Olivia Beckett," the jet black haired tech owner responded.
"Your girlfriend, the pretty blonde one?" asked the college friend.
"Ex- girlfriend," the CEO said. "I just ended things with her and fired her at the same time, I think a nice long all expense paid trip courtesy of Descent Travel is a very nice parting gift, don't you think?"
"You always had nerve, Lancer," Adler said. "Send me the specifics for her."
"The file has been emailed, John," the CEO said. "She will have an amazing 6 months."
"Damn right, Lancer!" exclaimed the travel agent. "I'll let you know when she calls."
"Great, here's to a long and successful partnership," the entrepreneur said as she hung up.
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"Wow, I can't believe she did that," Jenna ROberts said to her friend Olivia. "What are you going to do?"
"Go to the newspapers, tell everyone what a lying cheating piece of shit Cordelia Lance really is." the spurned employee/girlfriend replied. "Everyone should know."
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" the friend said, "first, she is drop dead gorgeous and everyone literally buys anything she says, and she has a shitload of connections and knows people...like crazy powerful people..."
Jenna was cut off by a ring of the doorbell, and Olivia jumping out of her seat to answer it.
"Package for Olivia Beckett," the messenger said as the door opened, wearing a smart looking uniform with a dark purple long sleeve shirt adorned with a black and white spirally logo reading 'Descent Travel' and black pants.
"That's me," Olivia responded, as she signed for the large letter-sized envelope.
"Enjoy, Miss," the messenger said as he exited the apartment.
"What's in there?" Jenna asked, pointing to the letter sized envelope, "I have never heard of Descent Travel before."
"Oh...shit... it's from Cordelia, it says she is investing in a new travel agency and as the business grows she is thinking about making this the company's official travel agent, she wants me to sample what they do... all expense paid trip for 6 months to various locations... with a stipend at the end of the six months..." Olivia said. "She also said she values my work and feedback, and this is a way to continue working..."
"Sounds like she is buying you off... are you going to do it?" Jenna asked.
"What, accept the lying cheater's payoff? Fuck yeah, free travel and lodging, $5,000 a month spending allowance, and a stipend after the 6 months? Yep, I'm in!" Olivia said laughing. "Who needs payback when I can travel on her expense account and meet anyone I want?"
"Sounds almost too good to be true," Jenna said. "But something about this seems off to me..."
"Oh relax, Jenna- free vacay! It will be fun," Olivia replied. "When else am I ever going to get free travel?"
"I guess, just be careful," her friend said. "When does this start?"
"I have to call this agency and tell them I am in, then I have to go meet with them for the itinerary, then check in with HR at Lancer, guess I am back on the payroll, lol." Olivia said. "They will set everything up once I call them both,'' it says. "They want me ready to travel in 2 days."
"Wow that's fast, are you sure you want to do this?" Jenna asked, a hint of caution in her question.
