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.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Chapter 141



5.p.
“Down here!” Fair Wage called out.  He was standing near an open door in the blue-lined hallway.  Inside was a stairwell illuminated by a harsh amber light which stabbed out into the cool, twilight tones of the corridor.  “Oh crap.  I hear something.”
Fair Wage jumped back and closed the stairway door.  Supply rushed forward yelling, “No.  It’s him.  It’s him.”
She pulled the door open and went to the edge of the landing.
“Supply?  Is that you?” Demand said.
“Yes.  I’m here,” she said.  Corporate Man and Senior Executive brought Demand up to the landing where Supply hugged him to her chest.  Instead of wincing at the pressure to his injuries, he stood taller.  He seemed strengthened.  His wounds stopped bleeding.  Supply gasped for breath when they parted.
“Where are we?” asked Senior Executive.
“We’re still on the thirteenth floor,” said Supply, still trying to catch her breath.  “A secondary level though.”
“Any hostiles?” Corporate Man asked.
“None so far,” she said and slumped against Senior Executive.
“Just some creepy photographs,” said Franklin Buck.
There was a loud clanging slam as a steel panel fell from the wall, swung against the down stairwell, and sealed it shut.  A chorus of similar sounds echoed throughout the floor.
“That can’t be good,” said Franklin Buck.
Corporate Man gathered everyone together, advised them all to stay close to avoid getting separated, and moved them down the hallway through the dim, bluish light.
They’d walked for what felt like hours and though the immediate danger seemed a distant memory, somehow the atmosphere of the place had grown more ominous.  They searched various offices, a couple cleaning closets, a break room, and some bathrooms, but found nothing. 
Fair Wage was getting tired.  His aged body was under much strain.  When they found themselves in another break room he marched to the water cooler and said, “I don’t care what they charge me, I need water.”
He filled a small cup and drank deep.
“Oh god.  It’s salty.”
The water cooler gurgled and sputtered then started to shake.
“Everyone get back,” said Business Woman, herding them to the far side of the break room.
The water cooler burst, spouting up like a geyser, boiling against the ceiling, and drenching the room.  Similar explosions could be heard throughout the floor.
The Union fled the break room, but found the hallway equally discomforting.  Water streamed from huge metal grates in the ceiling.  A deep, meaty slapping sound pounded against the grates and the entire floor shuddered.  Then the bolts securing the grates to the ceiling gave way and the whole thing crashed to the floor, pinned beneath the bulk of a large, agitated shark.
“Oh shit,” said Business Woman.
“Is that a Great White?” asked Franklin Buck as the shark flopped and writhed in the six inches of water that had accumulated on the on the hallway floor.
“No,” said Fair Wage as he and the rest of the Union ran in a general “away” direction.  “That’s a grey reef shark.”
Another loud snap and thunderous clang brought down a second ceiling grate and an even larger shark.
“That one’s a Great White,” Fair Wage said.
The water was nearly a foot deep and the grey reef shark behind them skittered and floundered over the carpeted floor, making some progress in the Union’s direction.
“Through here,” said Corporate Man.  He opened the door to a small office.  They raced in, ran to a door on the far side of the room, charged through it, and found themselves in a large, open space with a tall ceiling.