“Sir, she says she has a meeting.”
“I didn’t ask what she said.”
Bradley approached the desk.
“I asked what the policy is.”
“She’s waiting while I verify.”
“Verify what?”
“Her appointment.”
“With?”
“The executive team.”
Katherine let out a quiet laugh.
She did not speak to Madison.
She spoke around her.
“Maybe she wandered in from the street.”
Bradley smirked.
“Security should be screening this better.”
Madison opened her notebook.
Bradley noticed.
“What are you writing?”
“Notes.”
“About what?”
“My morning.”
He stared at her.
Then turned away.
Katherine followed him.
As they reached the elevator, she said loudly:
“New ownership hasn’t even taken over for one day and the building is already turning into chaos.”
Madison’s pen moved again.
10:02 a.m.
Bradley Wilson, COO.
Katherine Anderson, CFO.
Language indicating assumption of loitering based on appearance.
No attempt to verify identity.
She wrote one more sentence beneath it.
Receptionist attempting appropriate verification despite pressure.
At 10:11, Victoria Davis entered.
Senior Vice President of Human Resources.
That role interested Madison immediately.
Victoria carried three folders and looked rushed.
She went directly to Sarah.
“Where’s Gregory?”
“Upstairs.”
“I need his signature before the board meeting.”
Sarah nodded.
Then Victoria noticed Madison.
Her expression changed.
Not confusion.
Annoyance.
“Sarah.”
“Yes?”
“You know the rules.”
Sarah looked uncertain.
“What rules?”
“We do not allow walk-ins to linger in the executive lobby.”
“She has an appointment.”
Victoria lowered the folders.
“With whom?”
“Mr. Whitman.”
Victoria laughed.
Sharp.
Single note.
“With Gregory?”
Sarah nodded.
“Oh, sweetie.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
She finally looked at Madison directly.
“That is not happening today.”
Madison said nothing.
Victoria walked toward her.
“Ma’am?”
“Yes?”
“Who exactly are you here to see?”
“Mr. Whitman and the executive leadership team.”
“For what?”
“A scheduled meeting.”
Victoria tilted her head.
“What kind of meeting?”
Madison smiled faintly.
“The kind scheduled for ten thirty.”
Something in Sarah’s mouth twitched.
Victoria did not find it funny.
“Do you have identification?”
“I do.”
“May I see it?”
Madison looked at her.
“Why?”
Victoria seemed surprised anyone had asked.
“Because you are sitting in a private corporate lobby claiming to have a meeting with our CEO.”
“Sarah asked my name and is verifying the meeting.”
“I’m HR.”
“I heard.”
Victoria stared at her.
Madison continued.
“I’d prefer to wait.”
For several seconds, Victoria did not move.
Then she rolled her eyes.
“Unbelievable.”
She turned toward Sarah.