Free Insider X by Dave Buschi Page A

floors.
    Silly though.  Didn’t people realize that the 60 th floor was actually the 44 th floor?  As if skipping numbers meant you could skip your fate.  As if…
    (x_x) (x_x)
    Na listened to the whirr of the conveyance cable as the elevator rapidly ascended.  Pinyin… pinyin... it seemed to say.  On the control panel was the illuminated button showing their destination.
    <60>
     
    THE ELEVATOR DOORS opened.
    The man with her did not step out.
    “Room 6008,” he said.
    Surprised, Na stepped out of the elevator.  She looked back at him as the doors began to close.  His expression was unwavering—no emotion at all on his face—his lips set, eyes unblinking.  He seemed to look right through her as the doors fully closed.
    She was alone.
    (@_@)
    Na walked to the hallway.  There was a directional sign for the rooms, showing which rooms were located where.  Off to the left was a sign for the stairs.  She looked back at the elevator she’d come from.  Her eyes settled on the unlit button.  She could press it.  Or…?
    Room 6008.
    Na bit her lip, considering the number.  60 meant 44, which was very bad.  But then again, it was all in how she looked at it.  Maybe she could change her fate?
    If she added 4 plus 4 that equaled 8, which was very good, because eight was the bestest of numbers.
    Munching munching… She chewed on her bottom lip.  She missed her bubble gum flavored pink lip gloss she’d had on yesterday.  What would Paris Hilton do?
    6008.  60/08.  60=44=bad.  08=good.
    Bad/good.  Yin yang.  Black/white.
    Na went right and headed down the hallway towards room 6008.

 
     
    10
     
    IDF
     
    “THAT COULD HAVE gone better,” Sweetwater said as McKinley Morganfield and Shawn Carter left the building.
    Meade frowned.  “Why wasn’t EMex shuttered before their visit?”
    “It was,” Hu said.  “An oversight, it appears.  Not everyone got the message.  But we are fine.  The engineer revealed nothing of importance.”
    “Except for one big thing,” Sweetwater said.  “We just said we were years away from developing the technology for EMex.”
    “And we were,” Hu said.  “Until today.  Minutes ago we had an amazing breakthrough.”
    “That’s our line?” Sweetwater said.  “We had a breakthrough?”
    “Yes,” Hu said.  “Amazing accomplishments happen all the time.  But please… you two needn’t worry.  Next month each of you will be sitting pretty counting your blessings.  All seventy-nine million blessings for you, Mr. Honorable CEO… and sixty-three million blessings for you, Mr. Distinguished CFO.”  Hu looked at each and chuckled.
    “I don’t see the humor,” Sweetwater said.  “We need to modify the release date in our arrangement.  If those two end up getting chatty at some later point in time, this deal could face scrutiny.”
    “I agree,” Meade said.  “We could be exposed here… from a legal standpoint.  If it comes out we had EMex ready for release before the sale of the company, we’re not going to look good.  We need a year minimum.  Three and a half months is not enough.”
    “Gentlemen… relax, please, we have a deal,” Hu said.  “Everything is going to be okay.  I already have assurances from my contacts that this sale has been preapproved.  It will be a simple formality.  Your government is not even going to review the sale.”
    Meade looked surprised.  “Your contact at CFIUS said the deal wouldn’t face review?  When did you hear this?”
    “Just this morning,” Hu said.
    Sweetwater laughed.  “You could have told us that, Hu, and saved us some heartburn.”
    Hu smiled.  “My apologies.”
     
    HU KEPT HIS smile as Sweetwater and Meade left the room.  Personally, he was disappointed that CONTROL hadn’t listened to him.  These two charges (“cows”) of his would have taken half the payout they were offered to sell out their company.  A missed opportunity with these two.
    No matter.  These