Workplace issues

"What do you propose we do?"

You looked at the three men across from you. "She's never hidden that from me or from you, that's not a question of impropriety. She's also a very competent researcher and her qualifications are impeccable. Our research team is incomplete without her."

The older man, Griffith, nodded in agreement with you, though the man to his right, Phillip, disagreed. "That being the case, she is infected. She can not only infect others, she is potentially jeopardizing our investment in your research."

"All due respect, sir, we've repaid your money and tripled it, in large part, due to the Mk 3 tests that she helped craft and pioneer. We're looking at the Mk 4 rollout in the next month, she has 55% of the patent rights to its design."

"Which she wouldn't have if the contract you had us sign..."

"Then we wouldn't have gotten her here, sir, that is my point." You looked at the third member, Jacobs, who was silent and leaning back in his chair. "Samantha is an integral part of my team. Along with Gemma and Heather, we four have created a crack team that makes our company the leading pioneer in the research of Cum Addiction. It's our bread and butter, we've grown the profit line 45% since last quarter and over 130% year to date. Mk 4 shows incredible precision, we can get there."

You tapped a button on your screen and brought up the picture of your father. Immediately all three men looked at the tagline next to his face. "I-Is this..?"

"Level 4B, confirmed to an accuracy of 99.999995% certainty. Mk 4 will help us diagnose this. You want to talk about money?" You looked at Jacobs now. "No one has ever had a 4B, there is no research, no papers, no journals. We have one, it is confirmed here in house. She knows it, she is working on it with me, and my team is working on it. There is data, there is information, no one else on this planet is seeing what we have. When it is ready, we can launch an industry on just one person's tests and results."

It was an unfair pitch but you knew it didn't matter. Pitches were made in the boardrooms and in conference rooms throughout the business world and you were right in knowing whom it mattered most to was the one not sitting in front of you but the ones listening to this conversation. You just made the pitch that had a group of people salivating.

"My team is on the ground, we are ready, we built the test, we know how to work it. Samantha is sick, there's no doubt. She's now a Level 2B, likely 3 soon. I will take her in as her donor, there's no one else when the time comes. Still, she does incredible work. We need her."

The phone rang next to Jacob's hand and the room went silent as he spoke into it for a few moments. Then, with a nod, he hung it up and smiled as he stood. "We're done here." He looked at you with a nod before he turned to Samantha who was sitting next to you and fighting to maintain a professional level of composure at the sudden and ferocious display of loyalty from an unexpected source: you. "You're lucky to have such a passionate team leader, Samantha. Continue on your work, we've come to expect great things from you."

"Yes sir," she whispered. The two of you rose and left the room, walking quietly to the elevator. Only when the doors opened did she feel free to try and speak. "H-Hey..."

"We have a lot to do, there's so much time that they wasted on this issue. Told them that it wasn't a concern, that you're the best in our field when it comes to design incorporation." You looked at her and smiled warmly. "I got your back, Sam." You stepped into the elevator and gave her a reassuring wave before the doors closed and you left her standing there, the tears coming down her cheek falling freely.