Page 24 - Demo

2030-JONE
“Oh well,” he sighed, enough of dreamland.”
At that moment, Tom resolved that the truth was best for this situation. Besides he didn’t have enough energy to fabricate enough lies to prevent his demise. He simply wasn’t that smart.
Fear struck him as he walked in on the ground floor of Corin’ 15-story building. That novice feeling he hadn’t experienced in 25 years came back to haunt. One of the guards stopped, searched, and cleared him while another made a call.
After a few moments, Tom was cleared to the top.” A lump accumulated in Tom’s throat as his gun was removed. He felt a little of the weakness return as he left the security crew heading for the elevator. As the door closed, he pressed the 10 button and wished he were somewhere else, anywhere else. He had only been to the tenth floor once when he was given a special mission; he fought back the fear. He looked into a mirror on the elevator wondering if there was a camera behind it. He looked confident and was ready. A bell ring announced his arrival at the top floor. The elevator doors opened to display high leather trimmed double doors flanked by guards on each end. Tom knew both guards, and neither he nor the two guards changed expres- sion or greetings as he approached. Both men grabbed handles and swung the doors open.
Tom entered Corin’ office and stopped as the doors behind him closed. He knew approaching the boss’s desk without his permission was suicide. The guards flanking him on either side already had their hands inside their coats. He gradually noticed changes in Corin’ magnificent office as his eyes met Corin’ in an unflinching gaze.
“Come closer, Tom,” Corin said.
Moving forward Tom realized he was limping much less now; he felt really strong. He continued forward maintaining his gaze with Corin’s. In the six months, he had helped the kingpin bring Blue Heaven from nothing to a multi-billion dollar empire he knew the score. Corin was watching him for any signs of coward- ice or fear. Tom was determined not to falter.
The Reaction Factor 23