Archie

Edeldico HQ

Archy

The new CEO sauntered into Archy’s office, took possession of the guest chair and crossed one perfectly tailored leg over the other. ‘How’s your day been so far, Brise? 

That morning Archy had found himself alone in the elevator. Edeldico shared the building with several other firms, so this was a rare event. For once he was not surrounded by eyes he had to catch or avoid. This unexpected whiff of freedom inspired him to go on a small adventure. He had worked for Edeldico on and off for eight years, starting in his university vacations. In all that time he had never visited the roof garden. When he took a break from his screens he preferred to grab a coffee in one of the city squares, but recently he had read a report which aroused his curiosity. Consultants brought in to improve the garden were recommending a vegetable patch and a mini-orchard with apple and pear trees. Best of all, beehives would be installed. The idea of honey bees flying high above the city appealed to his imagination.

Acting on impulse, Archy hit the top button.

He left the elevator on the thirty-third floor and climbed an open metal staircase to the deserted garden. Stacks of concrete slabs had already been lifted and the vegetable beds were ready for planting. There were no beehives as yet, but in a sheltered corner tree saplings were huddled against the wall. When Archy realised the walkway went all around the top of the building, he undid the buttons on his overcoat and strolled round twice. The views over London were so stunning he hardly noticed the wintry weather.

It had been an enjoyable half hour, but not one Lucan Edeldi needed to know about. ‘Everything’s good, sir. Would you like an update on my current projects?’

‘No. I want to discuss a more urgent matter. One with potential to affect the future of Edeldico.’

The CEO’s tone of voice was ominous. Archy braced himself for trouble. He was aware that the new boss disliked him. Lucan’s uncle, Urban Edeldi, had chosen Archy for an internship over the heads of dozens of eager graduates who were hammering on the firm’s door. The other candidates had attended more prestigious universities and came from families who could afford to bankroll them, but Archy led the pack from the start. Once the young graduate had demonstrated his natural ability and drive, Urban began to give him preferential treatment. When opportunities came Archy’s way he grabbed them with both hands. Thanks to Urban’s mentoring and his own relentless hard work, his rise within the organisation had been meteoric. Inevitably, some colleagues felt challenged by his success. Lucan was one of them. 

Six months previously, Urban’s sudden death had upset the balance of power at Edeldico. As his uncle’s natural successor, Lucan had seized control. Potentially this had spelt disaster for Archy, but he was outstandingly good at what he did, and it was not in his nature to give up without a fight. While he was mourning his mentor he plotted ways to get on the right side of the new CEO. Colleagues higher up the food chain complained that Lucan was impossible to read. ‘You knew where you were with Urban, but Lucan’s a weirdo,’ executives whispered in the wash-room. Archy had ignored Lucan’s detractors so completely that office gossip labelled him the CEO’s bitch. He didn’t care. His game plan for reaching the top of the financial dunghill was to hang on tight to the tail feathers of the cock already crowing at the summit, and Lucan Edeldi was that cock.