Part 14 (1/2)
Nathaniel nodded and a dozen others followed.
As they stepped outside, the pandemonium began to subside, but the Tasers' flas.h.i.+ng lights remained strong. They systematically Tased the men brave enough to stand their ground. Nathaniel forced himself to look at the road, rather than the painful scene. As he and the group of men were about to turn off the main drag, he glanced once more, as if to remind himself of why his role in the Underground's mission was vital.
Garrett Jones, his boss, stood tall, looking dazed and angry as blood ran down the side of his face. His rage filled eyes looked shocked as they recognized Nathaniel, but they quickly went dead as a Taser stunned him. He fell on top of two other men, like a pile of dead flies.
Chapter 25.
”Another one?” the Queen said.
”I'm afraid so. It was in Kansas City, outside one of the city's largest weekly POAs,” said her head of security.
”How many people?” the Queen asked. This had to stop! She had to do something.
”A few hundred. As with the others, we rounded them up. They are in local prisons.”
”That's good news, at least,” she said. ”I'll call you back,” she said, hearing the knock on the door. She took a moment to compose herself before opening the door. She felt frazzled inside, but smiled as soon as she saw Shayla.
”My dear, how are you? Or should I say how are you and Michael?” the Queen said, wearing her best mask of confidence.
”We're doing fine, I guess,” Shayla said. The Queen could see the hesitation and it worried her. Michael was the ideal choice for a son-in-law. He had the perfect balance of obedience and diligence. His lineage was strong and stable. His mother had been active and supportive of the Queen's politics for decades.
”Fine? I thought you said he's terrific?”
”I can't say anything bad about him,” Shayla said, but she definitely seemed unsure.
”He's educated, kind, thoughtful, and a great cook and homemaker, right?” the Queen asked.
”I guess so,” Shayla said.
”That sounds ideal to me, yes?”
Shayla nodded and the Queen felt her daughter was listening. Finally.
”And how is work going?” she asked Shayla, knowing it wasn't good to focus too much on Michael. Shayla could easily snap into her rebellious self.
”I'm still having problems there,” Shayla said, collapsing onto the couch in a defeated manner.
”Really?” the Queen said, truly feeling surprised. She was going to kill Lorraine who had promised she would be more amenable to Shayla's requests. Why was she being so difficult?
”I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to make a big public stink, but these are important worker rights that I'm fighting for and I'm not going to give up.”
”Give it a little time,” the Queen said, quickly, feeling like her own daughter was playing her. Fine, so long as Shayla was interested in Michael, the Queen would figure out some way to force Lorraine to make concessions around Steelco policies. The Queen needed to keep Shayla happy and calm.
It was only short-term, she would remind Lorraine. Once the Queen lured Shayla to work in the Palace, everything at Steelco could go back to normal.
”If you think things might get better,” Shayla said, looking curiously for the subtext of a.s.surance.
”I have a hunch things are going to start going your way very soon,” the Queen said, smiling. She never thought she would have to make political deals with her own daughter.
”That would be great. How are things going here?” Shayla asked.
”Another d.a.m.n protest, in Kansas City this time. I am getting too old for this, but I'm not going to let the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds get me.”
”Maybe it's time to think about making some changes here, too. I could help,” Shayla said.
”Don't start with me again. Not tonight, Shayla. Okay? I really don't need it.”
”You promised I could run this company my way, and you're stonewalling me,” Shayla said to Lorraine, realizing bluntness was required. She looked her dead in the eyes, sitting across from her. The gla.s.ses of cold water sat untouched in front of each of them, the condensation slowly beginning to run down the outside of each gla.s.s.
”You are doing a fantastic job,” Lorraine said, seeming relaxed. She was a little older than her mother, but always looked good. Her eyes were bright and full of energy and her hair was gray, in an elegant bob cut.
”I don't feel that way,” Shayla said, seeing through Lorraine's attempt to b.u.t.ter her up.
”I think you're working a bit too hard. You should concern yourself with the big picture instead of all these details,” Lorraine said.
”I believe that the big picture is ruled by making sure that the little picture looks good. I've got to have happy workers,” Shayla said, feeling like she was talking to a brick wall... or her own mother. She should have known better than to think her mother's friend would keep her promise with regard to even making the tiniest changes to give their employees, mostly men, more benefits. Or anything.
”Our workers are happy,” Lorraine said, waving her hand through the air as if this discussion was unimportant.
”I disagree. The steelworkers need shorter work s.h.i.+fts. If they do work overtime, they need to be compensated financially and they absolutely need more breaks. Current working conditions are inhumane.”
”Do you want the company to go bankrupt?” Lorraine said sternly, leaning forward, her kid gloves off now as her voice deepened.
”Don't give me that line. This company will not go bankrupt or anything close to that with my proposed changes. The last time I checked, you had more than enough money to keep yourself and your family in diamonds and Rolls Royces forever. You will still be very profitable with these small changes I'm requesting. You and I both know that,” Shayla said, holding her ground.
”It's my company, remember that,” Lorraine said, her lips pursing together, making her upper lip crinkle.
”That's true, but you hired me to run it. I want to make a public statement about how well we're doing, but I'd hate to have to report anything negative about the company,” Shayla said, quietly.
”What's it going to take to shut you up?” Lorraine said, clearly annoyed.
Shayla smirked inside. She had learned her negotiating tactics from watching her mother for many years. Now she felt as if she were using her mother's own weapon against her, or at least against her friend.
”Let me pull together some ideas to present so that we're both comfortable, as far as what we give the employees, okay?” Shayla said, backing off. She had shown Lorraine what she was capable of and now it was time to settle back and implement something small. For now.
”Have it on my desk tomorrow morning,” Lorraine said, getting up to leave.
”I just want to say one more thing,” Shayla said, as Lorraine turned back to her.
”I did this successfully at the Cambridge Public Works. In the short time I was there, morale improved. Better morale means more productivity.”
”Time will tell,” Lorraine said, clearly unconvinced.