The Headquarters offices are located in what is locally known as the Moynacorp building. It stands on the former site of the storm-blighted Plaza Tower, and it doesn't wholly belong to us, as we share it with several other New Orleans startups. But it came to be known by that name due to the international renown, or at least notoriety, we've managed to achieve.

As for that name specifically, we're the Moynahan Corporation. "Moynacorp" was coined by a select few media personages, apparently as a comparison to that usually-worthy corporate villain, Lex Luthor. My team co-opted it, and it's now fallen into more general use.

Much like the original skyscraper, the Moynahan building is forty-five stories tall. My office is on the twenty-fifth floor. The other Moynacorp offices occupy several floors both above and below mine.

"Have a seat, Simons," I said, with a gesture toward the chair opposite my desk.

"I'll pass, if you don't mind," Simons replied. "I like the view of the city from this high."

"By all means," I said, and he joined me in standing at the ceiling-to-floor windows, studying the travelers on Loyola Avenue, twenty-five floors below us.

There were many reasons why I had hired Alexander Simons. As with the rest of my vice presidents and directors, I had selected him myself. He was talented, one of the top legal minds the country had to offer. Every one of his decisions made thus far had displayed an appreciation for the company and a devotion to New Orleans. And he approached business as an open-ended puzzle, to be managed as much with emotional tenacity as with logic. At that he was much better than I was.

I had been aware for some time that he was not a self-starter. He would learn as he came into contact with more of the company's culture, though. It was the way we operated–with the ability to solve problems using any available resources and the trust that we all knew what we were doing.

The streets below us were active but not congested, typical for a late morning in the Central Business District. We watched cars and pedestrians dance around each other for a while.

"I'm still learning, Moynahan," Simons remarked, his hands tucked into his pockets and his head somewhat bowed in watching the street.

"As evidenced by your reluctance to use my first name." I chuckled. "You spent years at Chappe & Associates, languishing under management that was too firm with its employees and too soft on its clients. I hired you a month ago. I didn't expect you to adjust in an instant."

Simons nodded.

"But the problem we're facing right now is bigger than any one of us. You'll need to take those habits and that fear of failure and leave them at the street level. Let the legal team work. You won't make a mistake. And if you do, we'll solve it."

"Yes, well." Simons pursed his lips. "It seems to me that the prudent course is to analyze all options first and avoid mistakes."

"Prudent, perhaps. But the technologies we develop move and evolve too quickly for us to meander along the prudent course. The year has barely started and Congress is already considering measures that will affect autonomous transportation and artificial intelligence."

"That's true." A little smile crossed Simons' face. The man loved his field as much as I loved mine. He was a true legal geek.

"Of course it is. Now get out there and start spinning us some damage control. We may very well need it."

"Yes, sir." Simons looked up at me and nodded.

"Excellent. See you at the afternoon meeting."

Simons gave a lazy salute and left.

Tina entered a few minutes later. "Do you know why I've called you here?" I asked her.

"You wanted to talk about the statement you asked me to strike," Tina answered.

"Yes," I said. "Did you strike it?"

"Your command is pending clarification."

I turned to her. "Do you understand why I asked you to do that?"

"The statement contradicted the compassion you currently have me learning," Tina replied.

I nodded. "Very good."

She rolled her shoulders. "You were also conscious of how callous you sounded and of your inability to address it."

That made me pause. Not because it was an incorrect assessment--it wasn't--but because she had put words to what I had felt in that moment.

"Good," I said at length. "Don't strike it. We're still on for the afternoon meeting."

Tina smiled. "Yes, sir. I'll make the arrangements."