| Lighting up a cigar, he sat back in his chair. There was a light knock at the door and then Marcus entered, carrying a silver plated tray with some tea and sugar on it. He placed it down lightly on the table next to the matrix terminal.
"The board is still holding out on the Elecon decision, Marcus" Nicholaus said, with a frown. He ran his fingers through his hair and wondered again if he was thinning more than his age should allow. "Yes, Sir" Marcus replied. "They have to understand, that they cant use the same methods for breaking into the north american and especially Native American markets that they used with Quebec. You know what their problem is, Marcus?" "They have been under the protection of a friendly and influenced isolationist government for so long?" Marcus replied. This conversation was a replay of many previous ones. Marcus lifted the tray after having stirred in his boss's two sugars. "Precisely, Marcus. And now with this new Prime Minister, they might even lose that home advantage. The old fools." "Yes, Sir. Mr. Indolici is here for your suit fitting, Sir." Nicholaus Aurelius grunted. Like most modern executives, there was little need for him to work outside of his home, and infact most that did travel to the office regularly were often candidates for the company family counsellor. Studies had long proven that the office worker that worked from home was more comfortable and productive. A lesser publicised fact was that someone who worked from home never left work, and thus often put in 12 hours a day or more. With the virtual office an actual reality now, more and more of the glistening steel office towers were being devoted to manufacturing, laboratories, computer servers, and living space. An email alerted Aurelius to its presence. He opened it. "Tell him I'll be out in 5 minutes, Marcus" Nicholaus said, "And then call Mr. Jones, and inform him to use Security Protocol B for the Denver Charity Dinner." "Very good, Sir." Marcus excused himself, and thought, Ahh, plan B. * To be continued... |