Wonder Woman 1984 by Calliope Glass

Author:Calliope Glass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Seven

Maxwell stared out the window of his car as it oozed through the morning rush-hour DC traffic. He’d felt something when he told Stagg that his wish was granted. Maxwell was sure of it. Something had happened—something that had to do with this roiling ball of weird power that was beating at his fingertips and the backs of his eyeballs. But what? Had he really granted Stagg’s wish? Was Black Gold Cooperative finally going to succeed now?

Or would the wish be gradual? Maybe he’d arrive at the office and the first hesitant buyers would just be arriving, wondering why they’d decided to do this, today.

But when Maxwell’s car pulled up in front of Black Gold Cooperative, nothing had changed.

Maxwell’s hope turned bitter in his mouth as he got out of the car and walked, defeated, into the building. The lobby was empty. Not even Raquel, his long-suffering secretary and only actual employee, was there. Maybe she decided enough was enough, Maxwell thought bitterly. The phone at her desk was ringing and ringing with nobody to answer it.

But it wasn’t just that phone. As Maxwell made his way across the lobby toward the frosted glass doors leading to the office space of Black Gold, he heard them:

Hundreds of phones, all ringing.

Maxwell’s heart lurched. He burst through the doors to find Raquel hurrying from phone to phone, desperately trying to take orders and keep customers on the line as more and more people called.

“What happened?” Maxwell asked. But he knew the answer.

“The wells,” Raquel said. She straightened up and stared at him like the world’s happiest deer in the headlights. “They struck pay.”

“Which ones?” Maxwell asked.

Raquel shook her head. “Texas,” she said. “Mississippi. All of them.” She dodged off to answer a few more calls. “Please hold,” she said, hitting a button on one phone and then running to the next. “Black Gold Cooperative, please hold.”

She returned to Maxwell, looking even more harried. “Somehow all of the investors heard about it. They’re calling to up their buys. Their friends are calling to buy in. New investors are calling out of thin air. Mr. Lord, I need more help.”

Maxwell thought fast. He stepped toward Raquel and took her by the shoulders, making sure his grip was firm. “I’ll get you help,” he said reassuringly. “Tell me again—you wish you had more help?”

Raquel shook her head impatiently. “Yes, I wish I had more help!” she cried. “There’s just too many—”

Knock, knock.

Maxwell and Raquel spun around. A young man in a smart pinstripe suit stood in the doorway from the lobby.

“Hi,” he said sheepishly. He waved a folder in his hand. “I’m sorry to bother you. I was interviewing at the accounting firm next door, but—”

“You’re hired,” Maxwell said.

“Yes!” the kid said, pumping his fist in the air.

“Welcome aboard . . . ,” Maxwell started.

“Emerson.” The kid filled in his name for Maxwell.

Another man popped his head in the door. “Hi,” he said. “I was wondering if you’re—”

“Yep. You’re hired too,” Maxwell said. Raquel heaved a sigh of relief and stuffed a telephone into Emerson’s hand.

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