Chapter 28 Phoenix
Phoenix
I’ve been called to a meeting at the Abbey today. I've arrived early, but the goons said it was okay for me to wait in the office. So, I'm sitting here, breathing through my nylon hood and mask, hoping this isn't going to be bad news.
It's been three months since Roni disappeared. And all I've been able to do to take my mind off her is throw myself into my work. Nobody's been able to tell me a thing. No one has seen her, and again I'm reminded of Sam all those years ago. I can't help but wonder if it’s me.
“Phoenix,” a familiar voice calls from behind.
I rise from the chair and turn to face Clark as he strides into the room.
His suit is impeccable. The fabric a deep, rich black, mirrors his heartless soul.
I often marvel at how his tailor achieves such flawless consistency.
Surely, he doesn't wear the same suit each time, yet his appearance remains unchanged.
“Good Morning. I understand you wanted to see me. Hope it's okay the guys let me in. I've just been sitting here waiting for you.” I glance around the spacious office with its substantial desk and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the quiet hills.
“Have a seat.” He gestures, removing his suit coat with a fluid motion and tossing it over a hanger in the corner.
Settling into his high-backed leather chair, he powers on his sleek computer, its screen casting a soft glow across the room.
“So, Phoenix, I take it you understood what the boss was looking for with the new bidding system?” His tone always carries a hint of condescension, a reminder of the hierarchy which exists between us.
Then again, maybe it's just my mood coloring my perception. I've been irritable for weeks now.
“Absolutely,” I confirm, confidence threading through my voice. “And I think it'll be ready for a test run right away.”
“Walk me through it. Explain it to me like you’re talking to a toddler,” he insists, leaning back with comfortable exhale.
I scratch my head. This is new. But it's okay. He probably just wants to make sure I know what I'm talking about.
“At all the previous auctions I’m aware of, the gate opens when the bid is won. The merchandise has the option, or the opportunity rather, to run on foot as far and as fast as they can. Into the woods on the grounds.”
“Exactly. And we're going to change that?” He winds his hand in the air, signaling for me to continue going.
“Yes. You seem to enjoy the idea of building up the suspense for the bidders.
So, let's give them a bit more. A game within a game. With an extra caveat, which I'll get into shortly.” I lean forward, my fingertips pressing into the cool lacquered wood of his desk. “Bids will come in while one of the products stands naked under harsh spotlights. It’ll be won for a price, at which time the product and price will be stored automatically in our encrypted database as soon as your gavel falls. Payment is taken directly from the pre-loaded accounts the bidders are required to set up ahead of the event. The money vanishes instantly into our system. The next product will be dragged into the cage, and it, too, will be auctioned off the same as the last. Meanwhile, the previous product will continue to wait in the stalls.”
I stop to take a breath, my throat dry from explaining. And although I can’t see his face, I know Clark’s following every word with predatory attention.
“We’ll persist with this process until all available merchandise for the evening have been bid upon.
Then, we shall transition into a thrilling lottery phase.
The names of the purchased products will whirl around on a decorated wheel under ambient mood lights.
The wheel will spin, and the one it lands on will be the first to ‘run for it.’ The winning bidder will partake in the age-old custom of The Chase.
Once it has reached its conclusion, the wheel will spin once more, selecting the next product to be released to the woods outside.
And so, the cycle continues.” Once more, I pause, ensuring Clark remains attuned to the detailed proceedings.
His subtle nod, a silent command, signals me to cease any further elaboration, and I proceed with the task at hand.
“But then there's the caveat I mentioned earlier. Should bidders not want to wait for their luck on the wheel, they can choose to bid for ‘who goes first.’ This creates a second round of financial compensation, a prioritization fee, to be specific. And it will work just like the auction. Those waiting to go on The Chase will throw money at us to let them be next. This will happen until the event concludes, whenever that may be, whether it is the same night or into the wee hours of the following morning.” I smile, concluding my presentation.
Clark erupts in applause, his manicured hands colliding with such force the sound ricochets off his thick office walls. His laughter’s deep and guttural, and it fills the room like cigar smoke. “That is fucking brilliant,” he boasts, his mask catching the light as he shakes his head in admiration.
“I'm glad you like it.” A warmth spreads across my chest, my shoulders rising involuntarily as pride seeps into my posture despite my best efforts to remain professional.
“And you say this is ready to go live immediately?” His voice drops an octave, suddenly all business again, the laughter evaporating like fog in the morning sun.
“Absolutely,” I confirm, leaning forward.
“We can go live for the next event. I'll be here personally, monitoring every pixel on the screen to make sure it all goes smoothly. Although frankly,” I add, running my finger along the edge of my hockey mask, “once I hit the button at the start, the system practically runs itself.
You'll just need someone with a steady hand to click through the bidders and enter the winning information. It's as seamless as your suit.”
“Are there any kind of projections for what this may do revenue-wise, Phoenix?” he asks. I’m not really prepared for the question.
“I’m not an accountant, and I don’t have all the data yet.
But when I was running through some sample models of how this might work, what it showed me is you’ll probably see an increase of no less than fifteen percent per event just based on the extra feature of The Chase.
There is the potential down the road, after a few auctions, people will bid a little less initially on merchandise, but you can always address that by raising the cost of the initial bids for priority later.
Either way, you’re going to see a solid increase, and you’ll have done almost nothing different, except change the order of events. ”
“I absolutely love it, and I know the boss will be thrilled. Now on to something less serious.” He insists. His head tilts, and I can tell he’s studying me.
“Yes, Clark?” I ask.
“The boss asked me how things are going with your lady friend.” The inquiry is like a sucker punch to the gut, and I know he can see it.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” he mocks, already recognizing where things stand. I don’t exactly tell him the truth. I merely explain things were broken off rather abruptly a few months ago.
“I would love to say I’m surprised, but I’ll simply say I know the boss would be sorry you’re hurting, Phoenix.
Why don’t you participate in the next auction?
You don’t even have to worry about bidding.
For this new, amazing system you’ve installed, and because I know he’d want to ease your heartache, any girl you want is on us.
For tonight, your usual quarter million in bidding funds is upgraded to limitless. ”
“That’s very generous,” I acknowledge. “And I’ll think about taking you up on that offer.”
“I have a feeling you will, since you’ll already be here.” His voice sounds certain.
“And why is that?” I ask.
“I really think you’re going to appreciate some of our new… products.”