Chapter 30: Operation: Infiltrate Sirius Software
Natasha fidgeted nervously in the cheap off-the-rack black polyester skirt-suit, and uncomfortable synthetic leather pumps she had bought to comply with the dress code mandate mentioned in her interview invitation email.
The fact that it was a hot day, and her car’s A/C was busted, made her even more uncomfortable.
"I could endure the deserts of Iraq, so why am I so nervous and uncomfortable?" she thought, as she drove her old, barely functioning Ford Focus up to the security checkpoint of the Sirius Software compound, with massive semi-trucks rumbling both in front and behind her.
"Actually, I know why. That application made me enter my body measurements and I needed to upload a Photo ID, that’s why" she thought, as she recalled the frankly invasive application form.
The semi truck in front of her rumbled forward. A security boom came down, and a wicked set of spikes sprung up behind it, forcing her to stop.
She rolled down her window, and showed the interview email on her phone to the checkpoint guard.
The guard examined the email, and then waved her through. The boom lifted, and the spikes retracted.
She drove through the checkpoint, and parked in front of a small squat concrete building, that was labeled "Temporary Office".
A blast of ice-cold air conditioning hit her as the automatic door slid open, and she stepped inside.
The main foyer was lined wall to wall with humming blade servers. Roof mounted HVAC ducts blasted cold air into the room, and at the far end, was a featureless black door with a hand-print lock and an intercom panel. The name "Aaron Zakhrov, CEO" was emblazoned on the door in large white letters.
Natasha walked up to the door and buzzed the intercom. "I’m Natasha Parker. I’m here for the security guard interview." she said, trying to keep her voice steady.