Marked for Removal

The frosted glass doors of Conference Room B stood open two inches. Richard’s voice carried across the slate tiles, flat and sharp over the hum of the ventilation shafts.

Victoria paused by the credenza with three empty plastic bins nested in her arms. On the wall inside, a projected spreadsheet glowed: Culture Outliers: Redundancy Prioritization. Rows of employee numbers sat under department codes, each marked for dismissal before the fiscal transition.

Richard tapped the projection with his ring. “We cut thirty percent before Matthews arrives. If they don’t fit, they go.”

Peterson looked down at his yellow legal pad. “Darius Washington sent a compliance hold on operational reorganizations.”

“Darius answers to the board next week,” Richard said. “I run this floor today.”

Victoria pulled her phone from her smock pocket. Stillness settled over her shoulders. She angled the lens through the door crack, capturing three frames: the slide, the roster of staff, and the red checkmarks beside Elena Rodriguez’s crew.

Her rubber sole squeaked on the buffed floor as she shifted weight.

The room went quiet. Richard turned, the green laser pointer in his grip flicking across the carpet until the dot hit her collarbone.

He stepped into the corridor, his face tight. “You again. What are you doing on this side of the building?”

“Collecting the bins,” Victoria said.

“You were told to stay in the service core. Who unlocked this bank?”

“The door was open,” Victoria said.

Richard unclipped his heavy radio. “Marcus. Bring two guards to twenty-two north. We have an unbadged contractor here.”

Peterson drifted into the hall, followed by two department directors. Staff from adjacent offices poked their heads out into the walkway.

“Step against the wall,” Richard ordered, pointing one finger at the trim. “Keep your hands out.”

Victoria stayed in the center of the hall, her back straight.

A bell chimed at the end of the corridor. The red arrow above the direct express elevator flashed bright, announcing an unscheduled arrival.