"I'm sure several of you have wondered why we've been engaged in these activities. A few of you may even have found them to be silly. That's fine." He spread his hands open and nodded. "I know that you're all used to corporate America. But I have some good news for you. Corporate America is changing. We're not a 9-5 punch-in, punch-out type of company, and you're not cogs in a machine. You're individuals. And to show that, we've been working to help you not only to explore that individuality, but to embrace it. To be YOU-nique." He air-quoted the phrase, "you," and Felicia’s urge to roll her eyes nearly short-circuited her brain.
"This type of company isn't for everyone." His gaze lingered on Felicia for a fraction too long. "But by the end of this retreat, you may find that what once seemed silly now feels completely normal. We want you to embrace these changes, to embrace new experiences. That will not only make you a better worker, but it will also make you a better you."
Frank grinned, then said, "Now, if you'll all please rise, I'll lead you to our final activity for the day."
The gleam in the older man's eyes left Felicia sincerely doubtful that wine and cheese was waiting for them somewhere, and the knot in her stomach tightened another fraction of an inch before she closed her eyes and followed his lead.
A little ways down the beach, just before the sand gave way to crags and rocks, there was a long thin strip of coals. Smoldering, greying coals.
"Gather round, gather round." Frank called, and Felicia blinked as she studied what lay ahead of her. '
He couldn't he serious. The workman's comp alone...
"Now, I'm sure some of you will be familiar with how this works. It's a simple enough exercise, designed to show you exactly how strong you are as an individual. With some courage and willpower, you can walk across these coals and come out the other side a new person. Allow me to demonstrate." He kicked off his thin sandals, then bowed to them all, his palms pressed together.
"Namaste," he said, then turned toward the smoldering pit and stepped quickly and quietly across it. He didn't let out so much as an inhale of breath.
Then again, Felicia supposed it was probably a simple enough task for a man who looked like you only wore shoes on very special occasions. The bottoms of his feet could probably take a bullet without him having to flinch.
"Now, who would like to go first? Warrior Spirit? Yoga Princess?" Frank looked from the lanky man to the stocky, tired-looking woman and both stared back at him with blank, stunned expressions.
"Now, now, don't be shy. I know that change is scary, but we're a corporate family now. The only way to grow is to take risks. Embrace change."
Felicia pursed her lips and tilted her head to the side, thinking again of the first time she'd seen the man in front of her. He'd looked so normal in his suit and tie, even if the tie was from the Jerry Garcia collection.
She should have known then. She should have seen through it to the crazy tree hugger underneath.
But then she thought of the big corner office still sitting abandoned. The place where her old boss used to sit from on high and work her and her comrades into the ground. If she could only win over Frank--er, Eagle Feather--then maybe she could actually see some change. Change for the better. Something that she could be in control of. Proud of.
"I'll do it." She stepped through the crowd and Frank's eyebrows betrayed his surprise.
Let him be shocked. Maybe he didn't think she was a good fit for his new vision--hell, maybe he knew it for a fact. But if she knew one thing, it was that she was the kind of girl who could fake it until she made it, and today she was going to fake it with the best of them.
After kicking off her shoes, Felicia walked toward the coals and squared her shoulders. She breathed in once through her nose, then out her mouth.
"Here goes nothing," she whispered.
"And you're sure you have everything you need?" Candace practically shouted into her mic, and Trey put his hand to his ear and nodded.
"You know, sis, you're not shouting to me from New York. We have these new-fangled things called computers now."
His sister rolled her blue eyes, so much like his own, on the video screen. "Always the funny man. You're avoiding my question. Do you have everything you need?"
"Yes, I'm 30. I can take care of myself." Somehow his older sister had always been impervious to that message, though. All through college and med school, she'd always started every conversation with the same few questions. How are you doing? Do you miss me? Do you have everything you need? And then, of course--
"So, are you seeing anyone?" He could have asked the question along with her if he'd wanted to. Instead, he decided to smile.
"Candace, give it a rest."
"It's been a year. Aren't you--you know? Like, don't you want to--"
"I'm not discussing this with you."
"All I'm saying is that your hand must be awful sore."
"Candace," he reproached, then ran a hand through his blond hair before scrubbing it over his face.
"Fine, fine, don't talk about it. Just be the only doctor in history who isn't pulling in vagina left and right."
"You must not know many doctors if that's your idea of what it's like."
"Hey, I've watched General Hospital. I know things." She grinned at him, and the general din of the city filtered in behind her.
His heart flipped over in his chest just listening to it. The sounds of the city. His first home.