Corporate Man is called in to investigate reports of vile, unethical business practices at Great American Business Company. What he finds there just might destroy him (except we all know the ending to The Tragic Death of Corporate Man so it should be fairly obvious that it can't really destroy him, though it can come close).

Enslaved by the Bonus Whores is an all new Corporate Man Adventure Serial. Chapters will post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

After nearly a decade of imprisonment, Corporate Man returns to find the economy in ruins and his deadliest enemies in control of all but a fraction of society's wealth. He embarks upon a quest to set right the wrongs of the business world; a task that will ultimately destroy him.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Chapter 22


2.a.v
“I do not steal!” the manager yelled.  “I worked very hard to get where I’m at.  I’ve got a family to support and… and–”
“A lifestyle to maintain?” Mr. Jones said.
“That’s not fair!”
“To you or the laborers beneath you trying to eek out an existence?”
“Stop it!” the manager shouted.
Mr. Jones set his hand on the manager’s shoulder and said, “I know you worked hard and probably made a lot of sacrifices.”
“I have.  I really have,” the manager said, his voice wavering on the edge of cracking.  “Worked too hard.  She always said I worked too hard.  Now I’ve got alimony instead of a family.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to exploit these people,” Tanya said.  “No matter what this horrible company will allow.”
“And it’s not too late to change,” said Mr. Jones.  “You could be a stand up guy.  A hero to your employees instead of a villain.”
“I…  I want to be the good guy,” the manager said.
“We can help.  What’s your name, son?” Mr. Jones asked.
For a moment the manager could not recall.  When he did answer, the response was more of a question.
“It’s Matt.”
The he repeated his name with more conviction, “Matt.”
“Well, Matt, it’s good to meet–” But Mr. Jones stopped.  The little button on Matt the Manager’s vest, the one proclaiming “America’s Super Store,” was flashing back and forth between blue and red.
“Uh… Tanya?”
“I see it,” she said.  “Looks like someone’s been monitoring poor Matt and didn’t like what they heard.”
“Oh no.  This is bad, isn’t it?” Matt the Manager said.  “Why’s it doing that?  Why’s this stupid button blinking?”
The sound of a helicopter, faint at first, grew gradually louder until it landed on the roof.  A few moments after the rotors went silent two burley men in white, short-sleeved shirts with pale blue ties came walking toward Matt the Manager.  They wore mirrored sunglasses and coarse black hair sprouted from their swollen forearms.
“Sir, you need to come with us,” one of them said.  The other glanced around and fingered his earpiece.
“What?  Where?” Matt the Manager said.
“The CEO is in the upstairs office.  He’d like to see you.”
“That was fast,” said Tanya.
“He’s here?” Matt the Manager asked.
“I believe that was the implication of my previous statement,” the man said.