The Lives of Tao Read Online Free PDF Page B

doors, fifty-three to the right to his corner office. This was Chiyva’s way, efficiency without errors. This was how Sean escaped the prison, how he reached the pinnacle of society, and how he became one of the leading senior Genjix in the world.
    Sean tore his gaze from his work long enough to wink at his secretary as she handed him a stack of documents, never slowing his pace as he proceeded into his office. She grabbed her notebook and followed. Sean hated pen and paper note-taking. It was slow, clumsy, and inaccurate. Meredith had never made the transition to a computer like the rest of civilization. However, her tenure and loyalty to him were indispensable. It would take years to train a new secretary to her level of knowledge of his work.
    She also knew about the Genjix and the true nature of their mission. Sean had a level of trust with her that he could never risk replacing. Therefore, he resigned himself to her slow note-taking. He hung his jacket, sat in his chair, and logged onto his computer, listening to her updates as she rambled down the list.
    “...and your 3 o’clock has been pushed back to Tuesday,” she was saying. “Your sister’s birthday is next week. I went ahead and ordered a bouquet of flowers and a card. Do you want to order new winter tires for her? It’s been a brutal winter. Your junior associate needs to meet to discuss the Burton merger due diligence. I blocked Wednesday at 10 o’clock for that. You have a meeting with the CEO of Engras Enterprise at 2 o’clock to discuss the government contract for military equipment. And Devin Watson called and requested you contact him at your convenience.”
    Sean raised an eyebrow at the last name mentioned. He thought through his responses, giving each their proper due, before turning to Meredith and dictating in rapid succession as she scribbled in her notebook. “Ask the CEO of Engras – Nick, isn’t it? – to move our meeting to 7 o’clock over drinks at the Palmer House, and order a bottle of the ‘93 Cheval Blanc he likes. See if you can get some run-flat tires this time instead of that garbage you ordered two years ago. Also, block out the rest of my afternoon.” He hid his rising irritation as she frantically tried to keep up.
    “Is there anything else?” she asked when she caught up.
    “A cup of coffee in fifteen minutes.” And then he waved her off.
    Sean waited until she closed the door behind her and then pushed a button under his desk. The room began to hum with a deep resonating modulation. The resonance would block any listening devices aimed toward his office. Sean was sure there were no Prophus spies working at the firm, but one could never be too careful. The humming increased in pitch until eventually, he heard nothing. Satisfied, Sean turned on his video phone and called Devin. After three rings, Devin’s face appeared on the screen.
    “Brother Sean. Chiyva.”
    “Father.”
    Devin Watson was an elderly man with a full head of white hair and a long trimmed beard. His face was weathered and scarred from years of battle and conflict, but his eyes shined with wisdom and fanatical devotion. He was also the hemisphere’s senior Councilman and one of Sean’s few direct superiors. His Holy One, Zoras, was a dominant Genjix who had occupied some of the most powerful and influential individuals in history. And to the Genjix, that equated to rank and seniority.
    “Did we receive a response from the mayor?” Devin lit a cigar and puffed on it.
    “I’m afraid so.” Sean leaned toward the screen. “He can’t convince the city council or the state legislature to allow us to build an offshore platform on Lake Michigan, at least not one with our security requirements. Even with his influence, there are too many questions being raised about the general purpose, and our geological research scenario is being challenged by the environmentalists.”
    Devin grimaced and took another puff. “This will hinder our manufacturing