Page 71 of The Secretary Volume II

Stewy makes a clicking sound with his tongue.“Shame.”

Andra doesn’t smile.There’s no contact.Just the command.“Come with us.”

“I’m on shift,” I point out, gesturing to the screen still blinking with auto-dial failures.

“You’re good,” Stewy says.“We cleared it.”

“Where are we going?”

Andra steps inside.“Bring your personal items.Shut down the computer.”

I hesitate.“Is something wrong?”

Stewy shrugs.“Not yet.”

It’s meant to be funny.It isn’t.

They don’t say another word until we’re in the SUV.

The driver doesn’t look me in the eye.He just drives.

“What is this?”I ask.

Andra punches at her phone screen.“We’re going to the facility.”

“What facility?”

“You’ll see,” Stewy says, cheerful.“It’s just part of your onboarding.”

“Pretty sure I already onboarded.”

Andra glances up.“This is supplemental.Internal compliance.You’ll be doing us a favor.”

“This is a lot of effort for a favor.”

“We’re short participants,” she says.“It’s a minor procedure.Minimal recovery.Monday, you’ll be back at your desk.”

“Procedure?”

Stewy turns around in his seat.“Gum grafting.Totally safe.You’ll be asleep the whole time.”

It takes me a second to realize he’s serious.“No thanks.My gums are great.”

“Exactly,” he says.“That’s why it’s perfect.Zero bias.Clean data.”

I look to Andra, waiting for her to shut it down.She doesn’t.

“Why not just delay the trial?”My voice is even, but it’s not really meant to be a question.

Andra sighs.“That’s not how this works.”

“I’ve seen it done.”

“Not here,” she says.“Shergar doesn’t miss deadlines.”

I press the heel of my hand against my temple.“I have work to do.”

“You’ll be able to work remotely.”