Madeline turned her head and saw the president, pausing a moment to let his presence sink in. Seeming unperturbed, she then turned her whole body to face him and composed herself. An ingratiating smile spread across her lips. “Ah, Mr. Matsuoka. How wonderful to see you. To what do we owe the pleasure?” she walked over to him and extended her hand. He begrudgingly shook hers in return.

Speaking with the force of his position as chairman and CEO, Shinobu Matsuoka said, “Hanso-san informed me that the prototype was complete. I have come to inspect your work.”

“Oh, he did, did he?” she gave Ito a sideways glance, her smile faltering for a moment but still staying valiantly upon her cherubim face. She would deal with that little pen-pusher later. For now she had to deal with this one in front of her. “Well, we are honored to have you here. Please, Mr. Matsuoka, come. Take a seat, and we can discuss the project’s progress.” She was about to continue when Shinobu interrupted her.

“Ms. Cavanagh, Hanso-san has told me that the prototype is fully functional. Before we discuss anything I would like to see a demonstration, please.” The president stood firm.

“Of course, Matsuoka-san. If you will just take a seat I will initiate the system. It is just a prototype, you understand, but I think we can show you some very strong progress.” As Ito Hanso brought a chair for his superior, Madeline went to one of the computers on the other side of the room and logged in.

Calling over from the far side of the lab, she said, “I’ll just be a minute, gentlemen, I am just … initiating the system. We should be ready to go in about an hour. Ito, maybe you can offer our guest some refreshments?” Hearing Ito quickly respond and take some cursory requests from the uppity Mr. Matsuoka, Madeline quickly pulled up the web browser on one of the lab’s few PCs that was hooked up to the internet and logged into an anonymous gmail account she had set up after arriving in North Dakota. Ayala and Madeline’s plan had accounted for eventually having to deal with the president of the company and Ayala had told Madeline to let the other woman know if the president was asking questions. They hadn’t exactly accounted for him turning up unannounced like this, but nonetheless Ayala had asked to be informed and Madeline would take any assistance Ayala might be able to provide. Suppressing a surge of anger at Ito Hanso, she selected Ayala’s equally anonymous e-mail address, selected ‘new message’ and then typed simply: ‘have an old friend over today. looking forward to seeing you soon.’