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, December 24, 2012

Chapter 153


6.b.
“Move and I’ll jack your interest rate up so high you won’t be able to afford your minimum payment,” the trench coated man with the square-barreled gun said.  A puzzled look flashed across his face and he opened his mouth, as if to speak, but said nothing further.
Senior Executive pushed between the two men and said, “It’s Corporate Man.  He’s with me.”
The man lowered the square-barreled gun and said, “I… I thought you were dead.”
“Not for a lack of effort on their part,” said Corporate Man.
Business Woman stepped forward, put her hands on her hips, and eyed the man in the trench coat.  “So… Are you working for us or for them?”
“Me,” said Senior Executive.  “I hired him.”
“Um… Maybe this is a stupid question, but who is this guy?” Franklin Buck asked.
“Commander Credit,” said Fair Wage.  “An associate of a sort.”
“He’s kind of like a gun for hire,” said Supply.
“Yeah.  And his loyalties are fluid at best.  Aren’t they?” Demand added, glaring at Commander Credit.
“You still haven’t gotten over that?” said Commander Credit.  “What was that?  Two decades ago or more?  It was just business.”
“Maybe for you but–”
“Okay people.  Let’s put the past aside for a second and focus on the here and now,” said Corporate Man.  He looked at Senior Executive and nodded.
“I’ve been in negotiations with the good commander ever since I received the summons to the Break Room,” Senior Executive said, taking the visual cue from Corporate Man.  “We managed to finalize our agreement a few moments before the Union entered this tower.  It would have been nice to have his aid on this floor, but at least we’ll have some extra backup now.”
“Hey.  How’d you get up here anyway?” asked Franklin Buck.
“The elevator.”
“Wait, what about the stairs?”
“What stairs?”
“You didn’t climb that never ending staircase?”
“Why would I,” said Commander Credit.  “There’s an elevator.”
Franklin Buck blinked and looked abashed.  He opened his mouth.  Part of a syllable managed to escape, but then he closed his mouth again and looked away.
“How did you get past the retina scanner and the hand print identification?” asked Business Woman.
“Let’s just say that I’ve had dealings in this building before and benefit from past associations.”
The comments encouraged more than one glare.
“Why are you guys all wet?” Commander Credit asked.
“Can we just get into the elevator now?” asked Senior Executive.
Corporate Man seconded the idea and the Union joined Commander Credit inside.  Franklin Buck made an indignant gasp and gestured toward the panel of buttons.
“Is this… Are you telling me we didn’t need…  And the sharks and the crushing was…”
This continued as the elevator rose up to the twenty-sixth floor.
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