Julie never saw them coming. Heels clicking over the marble floor, ass swaying arrogantly inside her beige business skirt, she was oblivious to the quick footfalls of the uniformed guards until one of them put a hand on her shoulder. She whirled around, her shoulder-length brown hair swirling and her eyes full of accusation.
The guards were big men, towering over the young woman. "Julie Pierce?" asked one in an even voice. The patch on his arm proclaimed him to be Synthigen Pharmaceuticals Security.
She raised an eyebrow behind her glasses, looking at him contemptuously. "I'm late for a meeting."
"We're going to have to ask you to come with us," said the other, grasping her arm.
She jerked her arm, trying to shake off his firm hold on her. "Can this wait? I'm supposed to see the Intern Coordinator in two minutes. He doesn't like to be kept waiting."
The guards said nothing, instead guiding her down a short hallway. A few passersby in the hall glanced at the young intern being escorted away. During the past month the college undergraduate had accrued a reputation as a both a brilliant thinker and a haughty coworker. Her attitude seemed less impressive as her small frame was juxtaposed against the guards' muscled bodies.
Julie was led through an unmarked door and into a pleasant-looking office occupied by a well-built man in a suit. Her heart was in her throat; she could guess what this was about. The guard holding her arm released her and ducked out the door. She heard the lock click shut behind her, then turned to face the figure sitting behind the desk.
He looked like he was in his thirties. He also looked like he took very good care of his appearance. Julie glanced at his desk and read the name plate: Tim Reilly, Security Director. As she met his eyes he surprised her by smiling, then gesturing her to take one of the chairs in front of the desk.
"You are Julie Pierce?" he inquired.
"Yes I am. May I ask what this is about?" she asked curtly, trying to reclaim some dignity as she sat primly.
His smile disappeared quickly. "Ms. Pierce, you are aware of the confidentiality agreement you signed upon accepting your internship, are you not?"
She nodded, tightening her jaw.
His expression grew cold as he picked up a remote from his desk, turning on a flat panel TV on the wall. The image on the screen was clearly that of Julie. The young woman searched the ceiling and glanced over her shoulder before quickly thrusting a sheaf of papers into her handbag. Reilly flicked the TV off and folded his hands in front of him, skewering her with his gaze.
She was cotton-mouthed with fear. She could have sworn that she knew the location of every camera in the lab. It had only been an hour ago, too!
"I'm waiting for an explanation," he said calmly.
"I⦠wanted to check over some⦠calculations at home," she stammered, trying to meet his eyes and hold back the tears welling in her own.
He shook his head. "You knew exactly what you were taking. You may be an intern, but you know the value of those formulae to any of our competitors. And you also know that those papers are never to leave the lab."
She sighed once and, summoning her substantial courage, returned his gaze. "Then fire me. This was a crummy job anyway. In ten years I'll bury this company." She managed a sneer, though her fear was still palpable.
He smiled wanly, folding his hands in front of him and touching his forehead with his fingertips. "How can someone as bright as you be that stupid? We aren't letting you to that easily. You're going to jail, Julie, and your college days are over."