By Thursday, Natalie was ready to pull out her hair as well as call in the kingdom's armies to search for Kerrigan. Breanne had stayed with her for now, but if one more vice president had to be told to take a hike, she didn't know what would become of Dragon Corporation. "You are sure she is ok?"
"Yes."
"This isn't like her. She doesn't just disappear."
"She is fine. She needed a vacation. Can't you take some of these meetings? She trusts you."
"Not without written directives from Kerrigan!"
"Write out what you need. Send it to her in an email." Breanne said as if it was no big deal.
"I check her email! She is not here to give them to!"
Breanne gave her a condescending look. "You know as well as I that Kerrigan is more capable than that. If you send her the email, she can check it."
"But her laptop is here. All of the encryption data is on it!" Natalie explained.
"That is not an issue. Dragoon guard have your encryption protocols. They can set up a new laptop if need be."
Natalie stared hard at Breanne. The woman could be so infuriating. "You are telling me that she just up and left on a vacation, with Dragoon escort, but left her phone, laptop and any way to trace her?"
"Yep."
"Breanne! Give me something!"
"I gave you her phone."
"Yes, her phone. Breanne, you might as well tell me you found her dead on the side of the mountain and recovered her phone and just need me to keep the company going till you figure out what to do next."
"And if that is the case?"
Natalie shivered, "You promised it wasn't."
"Could you do it?"
"Not for long. The board will want to see her soon if the vice presidents cannot see her. And if no one sees her by next week, the board may try to appoint an interim president. The Prima might even step in and try to exert temple authority. He has tried before."
"I see. Well, for now, send that email. I will see to it that she replies by tomorrow."
"Breanne... You are not just getting your team to send me answers you think sound good, right? It will be Kerrigan replying to me, won't it?" Natalie asked, lip quivering.
Breanne smiled, "Perhaps we can arrange a call to confirm the email authenticity. I will see what we can do."
"Thank you."
Lear knocked then. "Mr. Benedict is here again."
Natalie sighed. "I have told him every day this week to go away. But he keeps coming back. Without a written directive from Kerrigan, I cannot bar him from the building."
"You may not be able to, but I can." Breanne said with a smile.
Natalie watched her square up to the door, preparing for Kelan's usual arrogant entrance. As if on cue, Stevic let him barge his way in.
"Where is Kerrigan? I have been waiting to meet with her for a week. If you tell me she is not willing to meet one more time, I will take it up with the board!" he roared.
Breanne stepped forward, "That is perfectly fine. I will be pleased to inform them that she decided to avoid future dealings with you due to your arrogant behavior and lack of decorum. And now thanks to your insistence in barging into the precedence's office, I can now ban you from the building per her standing orders! LEAR! STEVIC!"
The two guards stepped in with gleeful expressions on their faces.
"Please escort Mr. Benedict off Dragon Corporation property and inform all security personnel that he is hence forth banned until the president herself says otherwise."
"You have no such authority!" Barked Kelan. "I doubt you have even talked to Kerrigan this whole week!"
"On the contrary good sir, I have written approval to do just such a thing. I just needed you to cross the right line!" Breanne smirked, holding out a signed document, with Kerrigan's unmistakable signature dashed across the bottom. "Boys."
Lear and Stevic grabbed Kelan under the arms and began hauling him to the elevator as Natalie watching in near horror. This was the heir of Benedict Group. "Breanne, are you sure Kerrigan approved of that?"
"Yes, I am actually. She very much approved and wished she could have done it herself." Breanne said with such confidence that Natalie found it hard to doubt.
"Will there be fall out from doing that?" Natalie asked hesitantly. She was worried they might cause irreputable harm to Kerrigan's reputation by the time she returned... whenever that would be.
"He may go to the board. But I did play by the rules and waited until he broke into the office before having him barred. At least now you have one less noisy person to deal with."
"Fine. But can we chat with Kerrigan now? Please? She needs to know about this stuff."
Breanne pursed her lips. Give me a few hours. After lunch I can try to have something set up for you."
"Thank you."
That afternoon, Breanne was true to her word. By the end of the business day Natalie was sitting behind Kerrigan's desk, with the encrypted laptop set up for video conference. When Breanne was sure that Lear and Stevic had secured the whole floor and locked the elevator from coming to this level, she allowed the conference call to be connected.
Kerrigan's face came into view and Natalie was surprised to see her sitting propped up in bed with a book in hand. "Kerrigan?"
"Ah Natalie! How are things back in frozen winter land?"
"Winter land? Is it warm where you are?"
"Natalie, please don't ask to many questions. It is for my safety."
Natalie gulped and asked, "Are you safe then?"
"Yes, my dear worrywart, I am in good hands."
"You shouldn't be in anyone's hands! You should be here, at the office, dealing with all these meetings and Kelan! Not to mention the board of directors! Kerrigan, what gives?" Natalie said exasperated.
Kerrigan set down her book and quirked a grin at Natalie, "My, my, you are under a lot of stress. Well, don't worry about me. I am resting comfortably, and if you start sending me things, I can work remotely fairly easily. "
"So, you are not coming back in?"
"Not right now. I will admit, not having to travel in the snow every day is wonderful. But don't worry too much about me. Breanne thinks that if we are careful and ensure the lines are encrypted, we should be able to stay in more regular communication. I will fire off an official email about going on vacation shortly so people quit harassing you."
"Thank you, Kerrigan. You are sure you are safe? Someone isn't holding you against your will?"
"No one is holding me against my will, Natalie."
"Anyone holding you, WITH your permission?" Natalie asked with a smirk.
"I am hanging up now. Email me with the latest files, and just let Breanne know if there is anything urgent." Kerrigan said with a half-hearted sigh.
Natalie nodded and signed off.
"Thank you, Breanne. I will prepare a file for Kerrigan for you to encrypt. Please make sure she stays safe. We need her back."
"I understand." Breanne said with a small smile.
"And Breanne, no one is holding her, right? She is just on vacation?" Natalie suddenly asked as Breanne turned to leave.
Breanne smirked, "As far as I am aware, she is simply taking a much needed mental and physical break from all of this drama, and getting far away from Kelan."
"Fine, ok. Good."