Be Professional

Apparently, the Ellemont state was technically already under contract. The sellers had agreed to terms, and waiting on financing wasn't an issue. The buyers would pay cash. In fact, the earnest money--usually anything from 1 to 5 percent depending on how serious the buyers were to lock a deal-- was an astounding fourth of the purchase price. Whoever the buyers were, they were either insane, or their funds were practically limitless. Over three quarters of $1 million in earnest money was unheard of. Even in luxury real estate, nobody put that kind of money on the table with no expectation of getting it back if the deal soured.

Scott was beyond asking questions at this point, though. He simply let Marlene — or her construct, rather — explain all the details she wanted to get across. Nothing made sense to Scott at this point, but at least that was the consistent part about the evening so far.

"Now, I think everyone will forgive you for staring," Marlene's construct said, "and they'll likely be delighted or even charmed by your sense of awe...but I'm going to warn you: don't say anything stupid."

As they pulled into the hills, a guardhouse awaited them. Scott saw the telltale hydraulic road blocker and iron gate. The founder of the community was supposedly a defense contractor, and the security measures bought all sorts of money from many important industries in the city. Entertainment, Sports, Finance...Ellemont was part of this exclusive community. There were less than fifty estates on the continuous plot, but it was massive, made up of over 1200 acres. A true rich folks' fortress.

"Marlene," Scott swallowed, "won't they see that you're just...just, um--"

"That heart rate!" Callie said as the driver's side window rolled down. "You're going to have to learn to trust us, darling." Scott leather seat began to massage him again as a guard emerged from the illuminated hut.

"Hello, ladies!" It was a tall, dark-haired woman in a security outfit. "Good to see you again, Marlene." She glanced over Scott, looking at the empty outfit across from him. "And I don't believe we've met..." Just as Scott was about to answer, Callie spoke up as the guard ran her hand over the edge of the open window.

"I'm Callie," Scott's SUV responded. "Marlene brought me along to help chauffeur."

"Nice to see you again, Jaz," Marlene said. "You can put our friend Scott on the guest list. Escorted passage only." Scott felt something digging behind him, and he shifted, putting his hand to his back pocket as he felt something moving in his pants. "Relax, Scott," Marlene said curtly. His wallet pulled itself out from his back pocket and unfolded, hovering in front of him as his jaw hung open.

"You got it!" The guard said, grinning at Scott as she held her hand out. Scott's driver's license wiggled its way out of the clear window in his wallet and jumped into her hand. "We'll just hang onto this for you here," She said, looking at Scott. "Stay safe now."

"Good night, Jaz," Marlene said, waving a sleeve as the darkened window rolled back up.

"Nice meeting you!" Callie squeaked, shifting into gear again as the blocker retracted. The iron gate opened, and they proceeded.

"Uh...es-cor-ted passage only?" Scott asked. Callie and Marlene both giggled.

"Just a precaution," Marlene said. "I mean, the chances that you be able to get away from us would be like winning the lottery...but we've had to learn from past mistakes. It's not so much raw physical strength or brute ****, those we can handle without an issue, but you can be very clever in groups. Ladies we've entrusted to our secrets — my prime counterpart for instance — have a way of unexpectedly taking pity those who beg and plead for their freedom."

"Am I not supposed be — just absolutely terrified by hearing something like that?" Scott asked. His seatbelt tugged at him a little.

"Awww, don't worry, Scotty. I'll vouch for you all the way," Callie said. Scott smiled nervously, patting his central armrest and caressing the leather while muttering an uncertain thanks.

"Were going to be there in two minutes, so just one last rundown," Marlene said. "We're still a sort of a pivotal phase, so while you really don't present an issue — were going to take precautions. You were the one who was ready to drive poor Callie over a parking barrier to get away from me."

"But Marlene, he didn't!" Callie responded. "And he said he was sorry." The construct held a red sleeve up.

"And that's a step in the right direction," Marlene said, "and not making a fuss in front of the guard was another promising experience — but for your fidgeting." The construct sighed. "The point is this, okay? We're aware that all this takes some getting used to, and like I said, we're more than willing to be patient as your poor little mammal brain digests all of it. So be amazed, be dumbfounded, stare like a deer in headlights all that you need to. But for your own sake, don't be uncooperative...and do not — and I mean DO NOT — say anything disrespectful."

"I--" Scott stammered, afraid to say anything back. "I mean..."

"Go ahead, Scotty," Callie said, massaging his back and his rear with her heated seat. "You might not get another chance."

"How do I know what's disrespectful?"

"It's easier than you think," Marlene's construct said. "You think of things as objects, belongings for people to use. Right?" Scott nodded his head. "That's pretty much the only thing that you have to unlearn." Scott sneered a little bit, trying to fathom the insanity of this new reality. "Right. That reaction?" Marlene's sleeve pointed at him, "That is exactly what has to go. Just like back at the office, you have to understand — if something is moving on its own, performing a task, nudging you to do something — it's no longer an object. For your purposes, it's a person. I don't care if it's an outfit, a piece of furniture, a feather duster, a briefcase… If it's doing something on its own that, to your mind, seems bizarre or unreal — it is a person. Are you getting me?"

Scott stared straight ahead as they pulled in front of another gate. They were at Ellemont. He didn't say anything back to Marlene's construct. He watched as the gate opened on its own, looking up at the camera perched on one pillar of the brick and stone archway.

"See, the silence is okay," Marlene's construct said. "Being overwhelmed is okay. Some of us might become a little impatient with you...but enough of us, like me and Callie here, will give you the benefit of the doubt enough to make it through okay." A red sleeve reached out and rubbed Scott's shoulder. "I know this is a lot to handle at once, but if you take these first steps and develop a working relationship — once you gain a reputation for being one of the good ones — I promise the future is going to be a lot more fun for you then it will for most other guys in your position."

Scott just laughed. He looked over at Marlene's outfit and shrugged, legitimately trying to see a face in the invisible person — this Forman-Carbide construct or whatever — across from him.

"I'll...I'll really do my best," Scott said. "Thanks for the advice."

"I didn't mean to get heavy there, but it's so easy to do this right, and there are so many stories about how it goes bad." The construct sighed again. "I shouldn't be saying this, but Marlene prime doesn't want it to go bad...which means I don't want it to go bad." Scott narrowed his eyes, thinking about that last statement. Marlene had some important part of this that he didn't get...and if he wanted to find out what that was, he'd have to learn the new customs quickly. He took a deep breath.

"Go with the flow; be respectful; don't say anything stupid," he said aloud.

"You got it," Marlene replied. "And if it's all too much..."

"I just shut the fuck up," Scott laughed.

"You got it!" Marlene laughed with him, clasping him on the back. Callie put herself in park, and Scott watched as the parking brake pulled itself.

"Good luck, buddy," Callie said as Scott's seat belt undid itself. "Just be as nice to everything as you are to me," she added as his door opened on its own.

"Thanks, Callie." Scott left the car, putting his wallet back in his pocket as the keyless fob drifted into his hand. He could see other vehicles here now, a couple box trucks, and one massive van line in the wide circular drive in front of the gorgeous mansion. Marlene's construct held out its sleeves.

"Ready, Mr. Broker?" Scott nodded his head. "Well, follow me."