"Re: They Have No Reflections"
November 16, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: They Have No Reflections
Hi Giada,
Just curious to see if you've spoken with the new clients yet. I know we're a new start-up, and we need every customer we can get, but... can we maybe have someone run a background check on them? They asked a lot of questions that someone in the industry should already know the answers to, and they have some really strange schematics for the server architecture they want installed. I'm not even sure we can make it function as a piece of technology with the materials requirements they have.
And... okay, I know this is going to sound strange. Believe me, I do. I was actually kind of hesitant to put it down in writing, just in case it turned out to be a trick of the light and I was laying the groundwork for some kind of mandatory work-life balance training. But the more I think back on it, the more sure I am about what I saw. When I was leading that woman Drita on the tour of our facilities, I took her through that big glass causeway between Building A and Building B, and... Giada, I swear she didn't have a reflection. I could see myself, I could see Ben, but I couldn't see her reflected in the glass. It spooked me the hell out, I can tell you.
Now I've talked to Ben about this since then, because I know he's been spearheading this deal and I thought he might have noticed something, and he says Drita's perfectly normal. But the weird thing is, he says it exactly like that. "Ben, did you notice anything odd about Drita's reflection?" "Drita is perfectly normal." "No, of course, but did you see her reflection in the windows?" "Drita is perfectly normal." I'll tell you what isn't normal, Giada - those responses. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if we could get someone local to Albania who knows the tech scene there and can tell us what kind of a reputation this 'Endless Twilight Technologies' firm has.
Anyway, if it all goes south at least I've got something to show the auditors when they start taking heads, right? Talk to you later.
Sincerely,
Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations
November 17, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: They Have No Reflections
Ooooooh, spooky! Guess we've got vampires for clients, huh? Seriously, Lou, maybe don't mention this to anyone else? Telling people you think our foreign clients are sketchy because you don't like their vibe or whatever feels like a pretty good way to open us up to a discrimination lawsuit. Just get their servers up and running, make sure it meets their specifications so they don't have any grounds to refuse payment, and let me worry about their background, okay? Don't worry, I won't say anything to Ben. As far as I'm concerned, this is an office joke that didn't land.
All the best,
Giada Benjamin
Chief Operating Officer, Arkham Imaginations
November 20, 2014
From: louise@arkhamimaginations.com
To: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections
Attachment: Eyes.JPG
Giada,
I know you think you're being smart about this, but respectfully, I think you're a little too far removed from the situation to understand the realities of what's going on. This isn't about prejudices or 'vibes' or anything, this is about some technology requirements that are very hinky and clients that are acting very strange in a way that simply being foreign does not explain. Have you talked to Ben? Have you seen his eyes when he gets out of one of his meetings with Gentian and Drita? They're pale, Giada. The irises are faded and the pupils are milky. That's not 'vibes', that's something you can take pictures of. I attached one for you.
I know the checks have been clearing. I know they've got deep pockets. But I don't have a single person on my team who can actually tell me what these servers of theirs are supposed to actually do once we install them and hook them up, and that's a problem. You know we hire good people, you know this isn't just a case of our group getting lapped by someone smarter than we are. This is weird and it's raising a ton of red flags and I really want you to listen because I don't want someone holding me responsible if we plug this thing in and it blows up a building or something. So you do whatever you're going to do, but don't act surprised when it goes tits up because I gave you a warning.
Sincerely,
Louise Falkner
Chief Technology Officer, Arkham Imaginations
November 21, 2014
From: giadab@arkhamimaginations.com
To: louise@arkhamimaginations.com; benjamink@arkhamimaginations.com
Subject: Re: Re: Re: They Have No Reflections
Attachment: Eyes.JPG
Louise,
Really cute. Is this what you've been doing with company time, photoshopping pictures of Ben? We have a deadline, here. That server has to be up and running by the end of the month, or we stand to lose over three million dollars in completion bonuses. I've checked with HR, and your contract specifies that we can take that money out of your annual performance incentives if something fails due to a technology issue on your end. And you just admitted, in writing, that you don't have the slightest clue how these servers work or what they're supposed to do. That is not a good sign, Louise, and you're going to need to get your ass in gear if you want to keep your job here.
Ben, I've copied you in on this to make sure you're aware of the potential issues with the Endless Twilight contract. Louise has made some very... inventive pictures of you, and she thinks you're somehow being unduly influenced by our new clients. Who, according to her, don't show up in reflective surfaces. You want to maybe tell her she's losing her goddamn mind so we can get past this and collect our money? Thanks.
