Do You Have a Choice

As you reentered Stillwell's office, taking a seat in one of the small chairs placed in front of her desk, you noticed the tired glare Madelyn was shooting at you.

"What was that!? And don't try and pull some excuse out of your ass, I know perfectly well you weren't needed in that meeting, I don't even know how you found out about that meeting!" Madelyn ranted as she took her seat on the other side of the desk, staring you down with all the authority her position as Vice President gave her.

"Really, because it seemed to me you were getting blackmailed about Compound V, and that isn't something to let slide." You muttered, although whether she heard or not, you didn't know as she continued on as if you'd never spoken.

"You may be capable of keeping The Seven in line, something I'm still personally dubious about, but you have zero experience with business deals like that, so it would be better for everyone if you just stayed in your lane." Madelyn said, pausing as she still glared at you.

"And perhaps worst of all, you started talking about Compound V with him! Inexperienced you may be, but I thought we were all clear on the blanket denial of the existence of V... Please say you at least had some failure of a plan and not that you just blurted out possibly the biggest secret of Vought Industries?" Madelyn took another deep breath, her stare unrelenting but at least she seemed open to a more open dialogue now.

"It was less a plan, and more an observation. Giving a denial of V covers us, true, but he expects us to flat out deny it! By both confirming that Compound V does exist, and that it was a failed medical ****, something Vought as a pharmaceutical company would 100% have, it changes the narrative. Also, by we saying that their were participants, whom are under NDAs, it given credence that my version is correct. After all, rumors can be a problem, but witnesses, and a paper trail, all certified sold evidence is much more believable than mere rumor." You said, keeping your composure although on the inside you were definitely panicking.

Silence reigned for several seconds as you did your best to meet Madelyn's steely gaze before she took a third, and final deep breath, "Fine, you seemed to at least be attempting to keep our skeletons in the closet, but listen to me... if this goes sideways, or backwards, or any other way than the way we want, I won't just throw you under the bus, I'll have the bus thrown at you."

With that, the meeting seemed to com to an end as Stillwell leaned back, closing her eyes.

"So, how's Teddy?" You inquired as Stillwell gave a wry smile.

"He's doing his best to ensure that his Mommy is getting no sleep." She muttered crossly, although you could still see the proud smirk on her face.

"Ah, pulling all those all-nighters pays off in the end huh? Next thing you know, he'll be calling you into his 'office' to tell you how upset he is with your performance lately." We both smiled at the joke as you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket.

Pulling it out, you saw you had a text from an unidentified number: Today works. Have meeting with Seven, then good?

You texted back a quick reply of affirmation before saving the number as Star in your phone book.

"Well, as exciting as getting yelled at by my boss is, I have other business to attend to. Say hi to Teddy for me." You said, rising from the chair as you made your way out of the office.