Free Bev: The Interview by Bobbi Ross Page A

Corp. currently owned 857 different luxury businesses all across the Syalantian Empire. Bev had worked many years for their premier honeymoon resort hotel on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. As of five days ago, a certain fabulous Zedrovian had most definitely been promoted to general manager.
    Sure, the promotion was a major increase in responsibility which bit deeply into her already minuscule sliver of what passed for recreational time. Be that as it may, Bev was beyond ecstatic to not be working under that little gray demon Hoofsmear -or orange per her good friend Emery since Bev’s species evolved with retinal cones only capable of registering shades of blue. That puny land crustacean had been a cruel and petty tyrant of a supervisor making everyone miserable under her employ especially her wonderful Terran friend. But not anymore, Bev couldn’t help but chuckle inside.
    More than anything else, Bev appreciated the recognition for a job well done and the salary increase that came with it. A massive salary increase. Which ultimately begged the question why all the hassle of having her visit the home office for an interview with the chairman of the board when she already had the job?
    Absently she smoothed out her confining Vivonian silk, indigo blue pantsuit for the tenth time. On her home world, most of her day would be spent naked. Bev had discovered over the years of living off her home planet that most other species found a naked Zedrovian rather intimidating, especially when they were only face to hoohah height. She worried at a loose thread in her jacket. For the life of her, she couldn't fathom why they had dragged her all the way out here, a day and a half's travel from her hotel, when she had so much work to do.
    Even worse, she barely had a chance to see Emery this past week, but she guessed that was to be expected. Finding your soul mate, getting married, running for your life, becoming a queen, and naked time with Rohn -who almost tipped the hotness scale over- were all legitimate excuses not to see her best friend. Plus Bev's own time had been occupied with meeting after meeting to set the hotel into real working order only to be faced with sitting through corporate's mandatory manager training vids at the end of every workday. Blech. Boring would be an understatement, but this tedium would ensure her freedom from her world as long as she wanted, as long as she was employed. The thought of having to go home gnawed at her insides like a pecanbeast invasion.
    Still, there was a good chance she wouldn't see her good friend for a long, long time. Once the honeymoon was over, the new king and queen of the Syalantian Empire would leave Titan, unlikely to ever return. Bev needed to get back. She needed herself some “Emery” time.
    Scanning the office to settle her mind, she enjoyed the hustle and bustle of people working. Thirty staff members worked behind short cubicles dotting the large open area, where she waited for the chairman. It wasn’t unlike any number of office buildings on Serntia Prime or anywhere across the known galaxy for that matter. And yet Bev’s keen eye noticed something different, something rare and almost magical about the scene unfolding before her.
    The employees danced around their work space with light but purposeful steps. Postures relaxed, eyes gleaming with excitement. Conversations were punctuated by frequent, agreeable head nods, occasional chuckles and smiley faces which helped to ease Bev of any lingering concerns she may have had about her visit. This place buzzed with positive energy. Of course, an atmosphere like that did not happen by chance. Bev knew that all too well. It took a lot of hard work and dedication with a good, caring boss at the helm. An all too rare event in the workforce.
    Then in the time it took to simply blink an eye, everything took on a preternatural stillness. The constant tapping of terminals ceased. The light flutter of conversations died mid