Level Zero Glimpses #5

A short while later, Virginia stands in front of a grand building in Knightsbridge. The giant edifice of glass and metal screams of power and control. If Donovan was a building, he would be this monstrosity. She checks her pin is in place. It’s not just about looking the part. Without it, she won’t even be able to enter the building. Virginia makes sure her mask of control is in place and crosses the threshold.

As the blacked-out automatic door silently glides open, the unflinching lens of the security camera fixed to the ceiling cross-references Virginia’s face with the digital signature registered in her Versa pin. The sound of high heels on marble echo around the empty lobby as she crosses to the elevator. Much like everything related to Versa, the place is faceless. There is no reception. No visible security. No other soul in sight. 

As Virginia waits for the elevator, she notes Versa’s logo carved into the wall. Beneath it, the company motto: Purity. Transparency. Rebirth. Virginia chuckles. They could have saved themselves some money and just opted with Bullshit.  Virginia enters the elevator and hits the button marked FLOOR 14 - REIGN ANALYTICS. She conducts a quick mental exercise, ticking off a checklist. Reign. Subsidiary of Versa. Specialists in corporate consultancy, structural reorganization ... Virginia has already bored herself. What truly intrigues her about these guys is that they appear to have zero online presence. Like Donovan, they are highly wary of publicity – the definition of boutique. They famously refuse to take on more than four clients a year. They certainly have the capacity, but it’s the equivalent of a nightclub creating fake queues at the front door to create buzz. Simple supply and demand. Reign outright refuses to compete with the big four, and they don’t need to. 

The elevator door opens and Virginia enters a wide, open welcome area. Markedly empty, intentionally clinical. She is met by a stern woman carrying a tablet who shows her into a meeting room. Two men await. One immediately stands and shakes Virginia’s hand.

“Mrs Willis. Welcome. Alessandro Davitti, Head of Strategic Analytics here at Reign. And this is George Abbott, our tech business guru.” George nods. 

Virginia takes a seat and, in a small power move she acquired from Donovan, pours herself some water from the table. Only the weak wait to be offered something. She doesn’t drink it, however. It will remain in front of her, untouched, for the rest of the meeting. The simple act of drinking can be seen as a nervous tick or physical tell. She hears Donovan’s voice rattling through her head. Keep them on their toes.

“Let me apologise for the weather,” Alessandro continues. Virginia dies inside. When it comes to small talk, it doesn’t get much more trivial than the weather. 

“I suppose that’s the one thing Reign can’t control,” Virginia says, immediately setting out her stall. The two men share a furtive glance. They’ve heard that Virginia is shrewd. She’s already confirmed it with her opening gambit. 

“I guess, being an LA native, this temperature must be positively Baltic,” Alessandro says. And so commences the dance. Virginia doesn’t judge him for having done his research. Versa has access to a staggering amount of data. Using it as ammunition in a game of wits, however … well. That’s just not cricket. She immediately pivots to her breezy California gal routine.

“Please, don’t apologise for the weather. I may be from LA, but I’ve been based in Boston for over a decade. This,” she says, pointing out the window, “This is tropical, boys.”

Virginia focuses her attention on George. Despite the introduction, the fact he hasn’t said a word yet screams that he’s in charge. It’s always the quiet ones you have to worry about. Virginia makes an active decision. Unless she is called on to talk to Alessandro, she will address George, and only George. 

“Mr Abbott.” She leans forward and shakes George’s hand, a firm handshake with a non-blinking stare. It’s a gesture that simultaneously offers and demands respect. “I believe you’re familiar with our case. You won’t mind if we skip the redundant formalities of briefings and presentations.” She’s telling him, not asking.

“Thank God for that,” George says, relaxing somewhat. This is a man who spends half of his time willing people to get to the point. Virginia’s attitude is one he can get with. Alessandro, mildly disgruntled, takes a seat, now aware that his role in the conversation will be secondary. It was nice while it lasted. An unspoken appreciation hangs in the air. They can all now stop swinging their dicks around and have a normal conversation. “Just tell us what FWL needs. Versa’s parent company informs us that some core restructuring is required before you can progress with the next steps of business development?” Virginia nods, relieved he’s up to speed.

“Correct. As you’re aware, Fall Water’s growth has been sporadic over the last decade, but we’ve secured the releases of innovative gaming products and a seat at the table in emerging tech markets.”

“All very impressive,” Alessandro remarks in a rather limp attempt at justifying his existence. Virginia doesn’t even acknowledge him.

“Estimated parameters on Cyberside are two million players interfacing with the game regularly,” Virginia says. “This will reach ten million in two to three years. You’ve seen the projections. This isn’t hyperbole.” George nods. “We have confidence thatUnderside will be the engine of choice for 20 per cent of the gaming market and 35 per cent in enterprise business, including B2B, B2G, and B2A.”

“Ambitious numbers, Mrs Willis.”

“Of course,” Virginia responds, ignoring the urge to take a drink. Obviously, projections have been inflated. George knows it, the other guy – Virginia has already forgotten his name – knows it, and any moron with half a brain cell knows it. “Looking forward, extending this licencing model beyond the entertainment world is our primary focus.” 

“Would you say Fall Water is a hostage to growth, Mrs Willis?”

“Yes,” Virginia answers, unwavering. “The same could be said for Apple and Google.”

“And you’re aware of the necessary procedures that need to be established to facilitate this transition? Legal, structural, operational, compliance?”

“That’s why I'm here, George.” Referring to him by his first name was no accident. If the scene was subtitled, they would read Let’s stop fucking around, shall we? George stands up and rests his hands on the back of his chair. 

“Virginia. This level of change will turn Fall Water into something entirely unrecognisable from its humble beginnings.” Virginia feels her patience being stretched to breaking point. 

“Believe me, we’re already unrecognisable. Fall Water’s founders and management are fully cognisant that substantial investment is required to sustain this expansion.”

“You need to secure trust,” George says, returning to his seat and levelling the playing field. “Trust is the magical elixir. The kind of investors we’re talking about will need to trust that Fall Water is willing to make sacrifices. Forge that trust, and the rest will take care of itself.”

“Trust,” Alessandro impotently repeats. 

“We’re on the same page, George,” Virginia reassures him. Here’s George harking on about trust, palming off sage wisdom like a village elder. In actual fact, he’s the same as every other man in every other boardroom that has a PhD in stating the fucking obvious. “If we’re going this wide and big, we need to reinforce top-down, C-suite power.” 

George points his finger at Virginia conspiratorially. “More control in the hands of Mr Craze, then?” Virginia internally flips through a variety of responses, but she knows she can’t dress this up. She’s been rumbled.

“Yes,” she concedes. “More control in the hands of Donovan.” George claps his hands together, happy that they’ve finally reached a realm of mutual understanding. 

“Right! In that case. We’re fully booked for the first half of 2007, but it’ll take six months to draw up the case presentation so that shouldn’t be an issue. We can start an assessment and analysis in early 2008 and finish the report by December that year.” George looks to Alessandro. You’re up.

“Our package of service will include full analyses of the current state of the company, financials, advice on structural implementation corresponding to your new business strategy, re-evaluation of staff compensation in line with market standards, job specs, leads to new hires, and overall business packaging and market positioning.”

Virginia nods, trying to retain everything, but that’s what the Dictaphone in her handbag is for. The same one that she’s been using for ten years. 

“Donovan will supervise the whole project,” she says. “And he’s going to want to know the price.”

“It’s the same for all of our clients,” George responds. “Reign will take five per cent of company turnover the year after our recommendations are implemented.” Virginia ‘considers’ the offer. Donovan told her that not only would they offer this but that it would be accepted. Just not by her. Give them a few days to sweat. Play hard to get. Once they’re on the books, we can rinse them dry. Virginia once again resists a sip of water. It’s clear that George is intentionally pushing to next year so that key products will be in place and revenue will be maximised. So be it.

“Versa should agree to that. They’re essentially taking the money out of one pocket to put it in the other. Which begs the question …”

“Why the song and dance?” George asks, reading her mind. “We may share a parent company, but Reign and Fall Water are two separate entities. Best to keep things clean.” Virginia knows there's nothing clean about any of this. 

“I understand,” she says. “Let me run this up the ladder. I’ll have an answer for you by the time I’m back in Boston.”

As the discussion concludes, Virginia goes out of her way to show Alessandro deference with a respectful handshake. If he’s going to be her point of contact on this thing, it’s best to part on friendly terms. She even goes so far as to make a glib remark about the weather. The second she’s out the door, George turns to Alessandro.

“So, what’s your take on that?”

“My take?” Alessandro says. “My take is that if they agree, we’re going to make a shitload of money.” George shakes his head in disapproval. He clearly expected better from his protégé.

“Come on, Alessandro. Money is an irrelevance. What’s really going on here?” Alessandro takes too long to respond. “This isn’t a fiscal transaction. It’s a trust barter. Fall Water has just bartered the trust of its founders with the trust of Versa. Which will …?” The question hangs. Alessandro is far quicker off the mark this time.

“Open up control for those who joined the party later?”

“That’s more like it,” George smiles. “You’re getting the hang of this, my boy.” As they head to the door, Alessandro stops. Something’s troubling him.

“Why would Burrows agree to this?” 

“I doubt he even knows this meeting took place,” George answers.

“Isn’t he supposed to be smart?” 

“He is smart,” George snaps, offended by the question. “John Burrows is a creative genius. Don’t ever forget that. But like any creative genius, he’s too distracted by his own ideas. Obsession often paves the way for geniuses to be blindsided.” George catches sight of Virginia’s glass of water. Untouched.

“So distracted that he’s oblivious to what’s going on under his own nose.

Cyberside: Level Zero. Cyberpunk Book

Buy Now