For Hire (NaNoWriMo13)

IV: BYZANTINE

I step into the immaculate marble tiles of Omega’s lobby.

Omega is a talent agency.

The building stands up to a whopping 1,110 feet and showcases modern state of the art architectural design. The security is impeccable too; two fully equipped guards stand sentinel at the either side of automatic glass door, both holding semi-automatic rifle across their chess ready to roll in action whenever the need arises. If you’re observant enough you will notice, security cameras hidden inconspicuously in every nooks and crannies. Before you gain entrance, you have to submit all your items at the guards and pass through a body scanner.

I walk up straight to the lobby without anyone looking at me, it’s as if they don’t see me. The receptionist continues to chatter away amiably, people sitting at the plush sofa flip through the celebrity magazines while they talk over it with gusto and others are talking to their smart phones with expressive faces and hand animations. There’s a huge flat screen hanged at the wall that flashes advertisements about Omega, while people in business suit stand in front gesturing at the TV, talking about ideas for better advertisement.

It’s a perfect and flawless act.

Everything is as what should be seen by passersby.

Omega is just a front.

At the back of all these cheeky and catchy decorations hanged and plastered at the lobby, all the jovial smiles and chatters, lies the real thing: Byzantine.

The guards upfront, the receptionist at the lobby, or in fact everybody else here in this building came from various field. Half of them are ex-Interpol, FBI and CIA agents; Byzantine also employs, chemists, physicists and any other professionals in various field that either has left or been shunned by their previous jobs due to alleged elicit workings.

The agency has only 5 branches all over the world. When there is a job in a foreign country, an agent is sent there.

Byzantine has also infiltrated different companies, big media, broadcasting and newspaper companies such as CNN, BBC, Agence France Presse, Reuters, Al Jazeera. Byzantine also controls security agencies such as FSB, FBI, Interpol, NSA and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, Byzantine’s influence and control is all encompassing, wide-ranging and inter-national. Assuming control over these media companies ensure the secrecy of the activities of Byzantine.

People think the worst thing in the world is having their government’s nose buried in their private businesses. How sadly mistaken they are.

Byzantine values, secrecy and loyalty; thus the motto: Semper Fidelis. And thus the only two rules we all live through:

One. Don't get caught.

Two. If caught, the organization takes no responsibility. Best-case scenario: it's as if you never existed, Worst-case scenario: You have to be eliminated in order to preserve the organization’s anonymity.

I tap the glass counter and the receptionist looks up at me, her plump, bright-red lips stretches into a perfect, effortless smile.

“Good Morning, Ms. Arianna Turner.” She greets.

“Good Morning, Evalyn. I have a meeting with the Director.”

“Of course, the Director informed me yesterday,” she opens a drawer and pulls out a light green card with a black line marking in the middle, “here you go, and have a nice day Ms. Turner.” She passes me the card, and then I go over to the elevator.