A Tale of Two Masks

It was no surprise to Ashton that the incident with Mrs. Mcshay marked the end of SI. Especially not after what Mr. Wyndart had told him. He just wished he had also told him what he was supposed to do next. With SI having to close down and sell all their assets, Ashton’s own apartment was facing foreclosure.

With this incredibly perfect timing, Ashton’s phone began to ring. He picked it up expecting Summer, but the number showing on the screen looked familiar for a different reason. He answered the phone as he looked at a certain business card to compare.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, Ashton,” Ms. Gale said from the other side, “I have an offer that I am sure you will find pleasing in this trying time.”

“Are you trying to recruit me now just to spite Mr. Wyndart?” Ashton asked. After everything that happened, he couldn’t help the pessimism from seeping into his thoughts. Nothing good was ever free.

“Not quite, but I certainly wish to recruit you. I wished to recruit you from the very beginning,” she told him, “I honestly expected you to call me sooner.”

“I didn’t think your offer would still be valid once things started going badly for SI,” Ashton admitted.

Amber let out a disappointed sigh. “I didn’t recruit you because of SI. I wanted you, Ashton. I have access to all the confidential information Mr. Wyndart did. I know who you really are, and you are the perfect person for the position.”

“What kind of position is it?” Ashton asked.

“I am afraid I cannot tell you more details over the phone like this,” she replied, “If you are interested in hearing more, visit Gale Research sometime this next week. If you don’t make it by then, I will assume you have chosen another path and give up.”

So she was giving him some time to think, but only the one week. Probably less than that, realistically speaking. How was he supposed to make a decision about a position he could know nothing about?

“I will think about it,” he promised.

“See you soon,” Amber Gale told him as if his fate was already set, and hung up on the call.

That was certainly something. She had been right about one thing. He didn’t have too many choices. Soon he would be without a place to live and Gale Research had very similar benefits to SI. Free housing was certainly a bonus, if it was included in his package. If that could not be negotiated, he would turn her down.

Should he negotiate in the first place? What other options did he have? As he was trying think things through, a text came through from Summer.

“How are you?”

It was such a simple question, but for once Ashton decided to answer it honestly rather than the habitual ‘good’ that was more or less expected in society.

“I’m not sure. I have an idea but I am not sure if I should do it or not.”

Her response was as rapid fire as usual. “Why not?”

Another short message full of a lot of meaning. It took Ashton a while to reply as he thought of how to explain his situation without giving away anything still considered confidential.

“I have received a job offer from one of the companies that had connections with SI. The offer is very good, but I am concerned I will be falling into the same sort of trap as before. Unfortunately, I don’t have long to decide because my current apartment was owned by SI and they are all being condemned. I need a steady job to afford a new place.”

“I am sure my father would be willing to hire you.”

He likely would, but Ashton responded immediately. He could already see the misery in his future if he took that handout.

“I have no interest in being a nepotism hire.”

There was a pause before Summer responded. Had he hurt her feelings? Perhaps he had worded that a bit harshly.

“Is that other offer much different? They probably want to take advantage of your connection with SI’s CEO.”

“It might be,” Ashton typed back, “She scouted me before SI started going downhill. I do have to admit it is suspicious. Either way, I won’t take advantage of your family. I will never be able to shake my image with your peers as a gold digger.”

“Can you negotiate a trial period at this company?”

A trial period? That was certainly better than being contract bound to a mystery job for who knows how long. It would also potentially give him a temporary place to live until he could find something a bit more stable.

“I can try,” Ashton replied, “Thanks for the idea.”

Not one to waste any time, Ashton finished packing all of his things. If he failed this negotiation he would have to move all of his things to storage anyway. He might be able to afford a few weeks at a cheap hotel if it came down to it. Once all of that was sorted, Ashton got into his car. Hopefully Amber had cleared it so he would be able to get into Gale Research. He was fairly certain there was a security gate there.

Gale Research was at the end of a long and windy private road. At the end of that road was a large gate with a security box with a window for the employee to communicate through. The security guard took one look at Ashton and buzzed him through without even asking for ID. It looked like she had things covered for that.

He also found a parking spot with ease, and the moment he entered the building a receptionist greeted him. “We have been waiting for you.”

It had only been a few hours since Ms. Gale had called him. How had everything been set up so quickly? Or had she assumed he would be a man of action? The receptionist led him to a small meeting room with a handful of comfortable looking office chairs around a circular table. No one else was in the room yet, but they had no way of knowing when he would be coming.

Ashton sat in one of the chairs and waited. It was hard to tell if the time alone helped him plan, or only served to make his nerves worse. Either way, he didn’t have to wait long. Amber Gale herself entered the room.

“I knew you would come,” she said with a smile, “Shall we begin with a briefing or a negotiation?”

“Negotiation,” Ashton replied, “I don’t want to hear any potentially dangerous information if I don’t need to.”