Chapter 1 – Give Me Chocolate
Whispers and small laughter fill the auditorium as people slowly fill in empty seats to capacity. Many of them are wearing crisp business suits and skirts, eager to impress and they size up each other as they compare backgrounds, education, and experiences.
A rather large yawn escapes from the small mouth of a young woman in her early 20’s in the front rows. In a slightly oversized pantsuit, her slightly disheveled experience betrays her inexperience. Suddenly, the man sitting next to her stuffed a sausage roll in her open mouth, definitely waking her up. She glares at the guy who had lived on the same street as him all her life and takes a larger bite than is lady-like to his mirth.
BRADY
What was that for?
JUSTIN
Someone’s always grumpy when she hasn’t had enough breakfast. Were three bagels not enough for you?
Brady glares at Justin who gives his best impression of an innocent angel. Giving up the silent battle, she continues to eat the roll.
BRADY
I wish my mom would stop telling you every single detail of my life.
JUSTIN
Well, who would look after you then?
BRADY
It’s no-mmf… none of your business.
JUSTIN
Zip it… it’s starting.
Brady quickly polishes off the rest of her second breakfast as a small contingent of young professionals walk onto the stage. One stands out, wearing a simple red skirt that accentuated her curves stands off to the side as a self-introduced HR representative announced that today’s opening speaker was last year’s rookie class valedictorian, Sarah Benson.
BRADY
Whoa… she’s pretty.
The general hub-bub in the room simmers down as two hundred eyes focus on her. Half the room fell in love with one glance, the other half were in awe. Sarah brushes her hair back behind one ear before giving the audience a lukewarm smile.
SARAH
Ladies and gentlemen. You’ve endured a grueling recruitment process. We started this process three months ago with almost one hundred thousand applicants. Tests, checks, and interviews filled up the days as we whittled away the field to find the cream of the crop. And today, ninety-eight remain. More prestigious than any Ivy League University. More difficult than the NBC Page Program. More arduous than any Silicon Valley company. You represent the elite and I salute you.
She starts to clap and the others standing on stage quickly join as well. The audiences feel the excitement and put their hands together, intermingling with some whoops and hollers. Brady turns to Justin, who shrugs and joins in the fun.
SARAH
However, this is not the end of the road. For the next eighteen months, you will rotate through various departments, gain experiences, and showcase skills. Prove us right in choosing you, and you will get what everyone outside those doors covet: a job with us. And you know that a job with URBAN is a job for life.
Murmurs run through the crowd. Sarah seems to look directly at Brady as she finishes her thoughts. Brady blushes from excitement, as if a pop idol is giving her some special favor. Next to her, Justin seems to denote an odd look in Sarah’s eyes, but before he can get a good look, Sarah’s gaze turns back to the audience at-large.
SARAH
In my own personal experience, making it to this orientation was the easy part of this journey. From this point forward, everyone is evaluating you. Your superiors and your peers will watch every move you make. They will celebrate in your triumphs. They will commiserate your failures. And in the end, every action you make will determine whether you join us.
The HR representatives coughs a bit and Sarah nods. She raises her arms outwards and raises her voice.
SARAH
Candidates, unite! Come to the light. Power is our truth. URBAN is the future. May the company find happiness in you and you will find your happiness in the company.
At these last words, the candidates jump out of their seats, clapping and cheering raucously. This was what they had been working hard towards for the past year and the promised land seemed just in sight. Sarah’s eyes graze over the enlightened plebeians, eager to show their cause and dedication before taking one last look at Justin and Brady.
Or at least, that’s what it looked like to Justin.
JUSTIN
Brady, did it look like that woman…
BRADY
You mean my goddess?
JUSTIN BRADY
What? What?
An awkward pause passes as Justin stares at Brady while Brady drools after Sarah’s retreating figure, hands firmly clasped as if she had found a new idol to worship.
JUSTIN
I think it was kind of weird the way she kept glancing at us.
At these words, Brady’s eyes light up with excitement. She turns to clasp Justin’s shoulders a bit harder than would be comfortable between old friends.
BRADY
Are you SERIOUS? Oh my god, I wonder if she noticed us! Do you think she would adopt me as her sister? Then I could get her advice on work, on boys, and maybe do you think she’d let me wear her clothes also?
JUSTIN
Come on, everyone is already heading out to check out their first assignments. We wouldn’t want to fall behind while everyone’s eyes are watching us.
BRADY
Eep! I forgot about that part.
Brady makes a quick attempt to check out her clothes and smooth out the wrinkles after sitting for the presentations. After three seconds, she just stares at Justin with big puppy dog eyes. Used to it, Justin straightens her out and pushes her out the door.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Out in the hallway, the new recruits are all too busy crowding around posted sheets and directions where to go. The enthusiasm is catching, as even cold-blooded Justin started to show some apprehensive excitement for what is coming. They scan the lists before catching their names.
BRADY
I haven’t found my name yet…
JUSTIN
Looks like I’m in corporate strategy.
…
What did you just say?!?
Brady and Justin turn to see a mousey girl with oversized glasses staring at them. She seems to be squeaking with excitement.
MENYAH
I’m sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing, but you said you’re going into corporate strategy for the first rotation?
They stare at this overly excited person, then each other.
JUSTIN
Yes.
MENYAH
Wow, that’s amazing. You must have done phenomenally on the selection exams. I’ve read every article on the recruitment forums like Glassdoor and Talent List. There’s a rumor that anyone who’s selected to work in corporate strategy is guaranteed to pass the trial period.
BRADY
Trial period?
MENYAH
Yeah, that’s what they call the candidates like us. Since, you know, we’re not real employees. Not yet, anyway.
JUSTIN
But what’s all this about rumors anyways?
MENYAH
Don’t you see? They’re fast tracking you to success! The past four valedictorians have all worked through corporate strategy and it’s supposed that many of these interns rise up to upper management within three years!
Brady seems spellbound by Menyah’s words. Justin looks like he is holding in an eyeroll.
JUSTIN
Yes. I’m sure it’s very prestigious.
BRADY
Wow! I can’t wait to start my assignment also! If only I could find my name…
Brady and Justin continue walking down the corridor looking for her name. Menyah invites herself to tag along.
MENYAH
Anyways, like I was talking about, it’s VERY important that you make a good impression in your first rotation. The departments bid on trainees after watching their performance and that leads to a good placement in your second rotation, or at least it does in 89.3% of instances that I could find records of online…
Rather than listening to Menyah’s diatribe about the history of the company and the pros and cons of their recruiting practices, Brady and Justin continue down the hallway to find the lists.
BRADY
It’s not here…
JUSTIN
There must be some mistake.
MENYAH
Uh oh… I think this is part of what I was talking about earlier.
Brady and Justin look at each other sheepishly, afraid to say that they hadn’t been paying attention to what she had been spouting for the last ten minutes. Menyah picks up on this and puffs her cheeks.
MENYAH
There’s always a few people who aren’t given first round assignments so they’re just set as floaters until someone is willing to give them a shot. You should probably go to internal services and check-in. That’s what they were talking about during orientation, at least.
JUSTIN
You want me to come with you?
BRADY
It’s fine. Thanks…
MENYAH
Oh, I’m Menyah! It’s nice to meet you. If you want, let’s meet up for lunch later!
Before either of them could say yes or no, Menyah rushes off.
JUSTIN
Well, good luck. If you need help, just call, okay?
Brady nods as Justin heads off into a group of high-achievers who welcome him with open arms. Brady makes her way over to internal services, which is pretty much a formal way to say the mailroom. There she finds two employees who are the exact opposite of the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed newcomers from fifteen minutes ago. A woman with her hair tied back in a loose ponytail takes a quick glance at her before resuming her position just lounging around the break table. There are others in the room sleeping, playing on phones, or just lazing about. The ponytail woman takes a candy from the bowl on the table and pops it in her mouth, talking while chewing.
MARY
Oh, it’s rare to have a flake out this early.
BRADY
Uh… is this Internal Services?
A man who is slightly better dressed than the others, but still with a casual demeanor throws a package into a box with a nice basketball arch.
JIN
Swish. Yeah, it’s just a nice way to say the mailroom.
MARY
This is where the company sends people who they feel aren’t carrying their weight and won’t end their contracts.
JIN
It’s not all bad. Having URBAN on your resume is an open door to any company you want to go. I’ve been skipping out to go to interviews and have my next job lined up.
MARY
You know… I’ve heard about people like you…Wasn’t there that girl from three sessions ago that came in here straight from orientation?
JIN
Yup, she was one of those luck candidates. No idea what happened to her since.
BRADY
What’s a luck candidate?
JIN
You know how there’s a series of tough exams in order to become one of the trainees? Well, HR also randomly accepts, what, maybe 5, maybe 10 people who would have normally failed, but gives them a second chance to hypothetically prove that it’s not just about academics and interviewing skills. Sometimes, there are people who can rise up with their street smarts.
BRADY
Has there ever been someone like that?
Jin and Mary look at each other.
MARY
Well, they say that one of the original founders of the company never even went to college. But I can’t say I know of anyone personally…
Brady, a bit flabbergasted at this turn of events, takes a seat to collect her thoughts.
BRADY
So what do we do here?
MARY
Pretty much nothing. Nobody really sends mail except for some packages. Think of this kind of like a paid vacation.
JIN
Well, it might be pretty bad for you since you’re going to need good marks to get into your next rotation. So good luck with that.
Brady takes a piece of chocolate from the dish in the center and unwraps it.
BRADY
When your mind’s a bit of mess, some sugar will help center your thoughts.
Meanwhile, Sarah gives herself a quick once over in reflective glass before walking into a room called “Central Intelligence”. Two men quickly jump to their feet and salute her. Sarah returns it half-heartedly. Suddenly, another voice purrs behind her, making her jump.
INVESTIGATOR
So here comes the conquering hero. How did you enjoy working your first rotation?
SARAH
You startled me!
INVESTIGATOR
You’ve come far since your own rookie year. Just eighteen months ago, you were at the startling line just like them. Now, you’re just the sixth person in history to make it here after one shot. The others have all made it into the C-suite.
SARAH
I’m flattered.
INVESTIGATOR
It’s not a compliment. Now, your eyes are on you even more than ever. Expectations are high for you, for us. Don’t mess up.
The investigator starts tacking up photos of all the candidates onto a wall, underneath their preliminary grades and the first assignments they have been given. Justin’s picture is placed under “S-Rank” along with four or five others as she holds his picture up with a magnet labelled “Corporate Strategy”.
INVESTIGATOR
Every year, rival companies try to sneak in candidates into our system to try to figure out how to steal our secrets of organizational structure and product secrets to use themselves. Our goal is to root out these spies before they do damage. Every year, the incoming classes always has one or two make it through the tests. Your job is to find them. Questions?
SARAH
I think I know where to start.
Sarah walks down the row of photos before coming to the very end. Here, the Investigator puts up four photos underneath a title that says “Failed Candidates”, two of which belong to Menyah and Brady. Sarah studies the photo of a girl grinning far too broadly than is professionally allowed.