[Another sleepless night of work kept the busy mind of Alanna Bourdelle active through the Pelopolis Autumn. The lights in the building had been shut off hours ago and all the staff had left for their homes, except for those in the remaining populated office. That is, if only one woman and the soft blue glow of a computer screen makes a room populated.
“Those imbeciles… I swear, no one can do sufficient work around here.”
She lets out an exasperated sigh and continues typing.
“Well, whatever. I’m sure everyone will thank me once this is done.”
Closing her laptop, she pushes the office chair away from her desk and gets up from it. Grabbing her bag and sliding the computer in, she reaches for the doorknob to her office and begins to twist it. Before…
“Would… Would they even thank me?”
Her grip loosens from the doorknob.
How much work had Alanna put into the company compared to the rest of the staff? This competition Mr. Mirdo proposed… She wasn’t even happy with it. He only got away with it because of his higher-up position.
All it’s doing is just slowing down the productivity of the company. She knew better than anyone, the company didn’t have time for games. No matter who was in charge.
“Ha, you’re kidding, of course it’s a good idea!” he’d say. “Obviously the guy we’re gonna hire is gonna be great!”
Alanna gained enough information to tell she wasn’t fond with any of the hires. No matter who won the competition, she wasn’t going to be happy. It was all just a waste of her time.
Her hand moved from the doorknob to unzip her bag. She walked back to her desk and took the computer out and opened it back up again.
She was done playing games. She was done wasting her time and doing thankless work for the rest of the company.
“Vincent doesn’t even deserve to be in charge here… Neither him nor his wife… Cheryl’s just as useless…”
Things needed to change. And with a click of a power button, change was already on its way.]
- - -
[The next morning, Alanna’s sleep was ended by a loud knock on her office door. Fixing her clothes after sleeping in them, she walks to the door and opens it, being met with Vincent’s usual cheerful face.
“Oh, Vincent. I have the final challenge prepared for the contestants, though there’s something I have to tell you and Cheryl before we begin. Could you two meet me in one of the old conference rooms downstairs?”
After a brief conversation and closing her office door, the desk is once again met with the soft blue glow of her laptop and filled with the sound of keystrokes.
“It’s been ten minutes”, Alanna began muttering to herself. “I should contact the finalists, as well as check in on poor Vincent.”
“What do you think is taking Alanna so long?” Cheryl tapped absentmindedly on the table of the conference room. “Do you think I should go check on her?”
Vincent looked up from his favourite book of Seagull Anatomy. “Sure. I’m sure she’s just late though.”
Cheryl rose from her seat and gripped the doorknob of the conference room. Twist as she might, she couldn’t open the door.
“Vincent… I think we’re locked in.”
Static was heard from the conference room’s TV, and Alanna appears on the screen.
“Good morning, contestants! Welcome to your final challenge in this competition!”
Vincent looked over at Cheryl. Both could tell what the other was thinking. Surely, she wasn’t thinking of hosting this challenge all by herself?
“A warm reminder that upon winning this competition, I shall hire you into the company as your reward! With your two other hosts removed from the company, I hope the winner can do their best to make this company productive!”
…Removed? Did she… just fire them?
She couldn’t, of course she couldn’t! Everyone knew Vincent was the one in charge, the company was even named after him. But he couldn’t really do anything to object in this situation, locked in an old conference room.
“You’ll receive details on your challenge later. I hope you’re all excited to fight to become my apprentice!”
Well, certainly a strange turn of events, Vincent thought. Looks like they’ll have to get the winner to break them out, or they’ll have to find a way out during the competition. Neither of them can predict how this finale will play out...]