The guard, a big, barrel-chested man in a gray uniform with a gun holstered on his waist, walked over to Reid. He gestured for him to get started following Egan’s order to clear out his desk.
In a shocked daze, Reid began packing his personal belongings in his backpack. He wouldn’t be allowed to take anything that belonged to KVP with him. Under the watchful eye of the security guard, he picked up the Castle Grayskull playset that he kept on his desk and carefully tucked it under his arm. After he shrugged the backpack straps on his shoulders, he looked at the guard.
“I guess I’m ready,” he said faintly, still in disbelief that he’d been fired.
There wasn’t an ounce of sympathy on the guard’s face as he walked Reid to the elevator and joined him inside. The long ride down to the ground floor was silent - neither him or the guard moving or speaking. The elevator stopped, the doors opening after a pleasant chime.
With the security guard two steps behind him, Reid walked across the lobby he’d crossed countless times during his five years at KV Perkins. It was currently decorated for fall, with sheafs of wheat in tall gold vases, their bases surrounded by stacks of bright, orange pumpkins.
When they reached the exit, they both stopped. The heavy, smoked glass doors slid open with a quiet hiss. A warm, early fall breeze rushed in to warm Reid’s front while the cool air of the building’s air conditioner chilled his back.
Before Reid stepped through the doors of KV Perkins Pharmaceuticals for the final time, he looked over his shoulder at the security guard and gave him a warning. “If he injects anyone with that strength enhancer today, run.”
* * *
Friday, October 28th, 1983.
1020
KV Perkins Pharmaceuticals
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Bray returned to his corner office on the twenty-eighth floor. He went over to the floor to ceiling windows and looked down at the city of Tulsa below. As he watched the cars driving past, frustration simmered in his veins. Blowing out a hard breath, he straightened his charcoal gray Armani suit jacket.
He was the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar corporation, which meant he had to make the tough decisions. He’d allowed Dr. Burke to delay testing of the final enhancer too many times. But the board and the shareholders wanted to see new, innovative products that would increase company profits. And he was going to give them what they wanted. The SE RX-2 demonstration was happening today. If the board and shareholders were pleased, and he had no doubt they would be, he would be rewarded for ushering the product to market.
Bray smiled, his dick growing hard in his expensive slacks as he imagined the fat cash bonus he would get when KV Perkin’s stock value shot through the roof.
After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he went over the presentation his assistant had prepared for him one last time. The staff was already finished setting everything up in the demonstration room on the thirtieth floor and the test subjects were in place. All that was left was for the board members to arrive.
Five minutes later, someone knocked on his office door.
“Come in,” he called out.
The door opened and his secretary, Shelly, came in. She was a tall, slim brunette, with her hair in an elegant French roll. Shelly wore a form-fitting lilac sweater and a chocolate brown pencil skirt. Her black pumps elongated her pantyhose clad legs.
Two years ago, Shelly had classed it up after he told her she was too frumpy to represent him. She’d cried, but returned the next day with a new look that matched the image he wanted to project. He was glad she’d made the change. She was the best secretary he’d ever had and he would have hated to fire her.
“They’re ready for you, Mr. Egan,” she said with a pleasant smile.
“Thank you, Shelly.”
Bray left his office and took the elevator up to the presentation room on the thirtieth floor where the demonstration was to take place. He pushed open the double doors and strode inside. On one end of the large space was a black and gold marble conference table, with the board members all seated around it in big, black leather chairs. The walls were papered with white and gold damask wall paper and brightly lit, expensive chandeliers made up for the lack of natural light in the windowless room. On the other end of the room, a black velvet curtain draped from the ceiling to the floor, hiding the demonstration area and test subjects from view.
Bray strode over to stand at the head of the table. His shoulders pulled back and chin lifted with confidence, he addressed the group in front of him.
“Members of the board,” he began. “Thank you for joining us this morning. Today is the beginning of the next stage in KV Perkins Pharmaceuticals. Our latest product will revolutionize sports and athletic competition. KV Perkins’ scientists have created a new strength and performance enhancer. It is not a steroid. As such, it will be legal for use in all professional and amateur sporting competitions.”
He paused to smile and let the anticipation build. Then he turned slightly toward the doors and swept a hand out. “I present to you strength enhancer RX-2.”
The doors opened. A young, curvy blonde woman dressed in a short, gold sequined dress wheeled in a glass and metal cart. On the top shelf there was a shiny gold syringe rack that held three syringes filled with a bright red liquid.
Bray ran his eyes over the hostess’s tight ass and long legs. If this demonstration ended in success, he might celebrate with her later, as long as his wife didn’t come home early from her trip to Aspen.
He gave the go-ahead nod to the staff member standing at the ready to pull back the curtain. The staff member pulled on the rope and the black velvet slid back to reveal three athletes in peak physical condition. Each of them stood in front of a treadmill. Their firm, muscular bodies were dressed in tight black tanks with the gold KV Perkins logo emblazoned on the front, black Lycra shorts, and gold athletic shoes.
“Let me introduce you to Jenny, Jun, and Rashad. These top-level athletes are going to show you what SE RX-2 can do.”