A damn dark caption.

Valarie and Donald walked toward Valarie's office, both of them wanting to discuss a matter further. As they walked, Valarie was surprised at Donald. He was walking so well in those heels, it was like he had done it his whole life rather than just a few weeks. She was a bit impressed.

As she unlocked her door and let them both in, she locked it again and turned on her monitor and took her computer out of sleep mode.

"Still looking to get into upper management?" Donald asked her.

"Of course. I know you are as well. I'm surprised you never did."

"I was too valuable in the position they had me at." He said with a laugh. "Called me irreplaceable."

"Sort of true, isn't it?" She pointed out. "They did do this for you. That new body of yours."

"Yeah, I guess so. Price of performance. You get to be so important for a role that no one knows what to do when you're not in it. Which means you'll get into upper before I do, I'd bet my ass on it."

"A bet I won't take. You don't have your ass."

"I guess so." He said with a laugh. "At least not my original."

"Whose is it?"

"What?"

"You know what I just asked. If you can't say, then say that."

"Oh, I can. You remember Crystal, that quiet woman we hired a year ago?'

At that, Valarie froze.

"Yeah?"

"Well, her performance wasn't very good. In fact, very bad numbers. They gave her a chance to improve those and when she didn't, it was be fired or volunteer for a 'special project'."

"That's her body." It wasn't a question. Valarie now realized it definitely was. "They, I don't want to know anymore. It is as bad as I think, isn't it?"

"Let's just say you won't see her with another body around here and leave it at that. Still not sure how they managed to pull the wool over her eyes as to what she was agreeing to, but as for why they chose her? Call it the price of performance."