"Is this an invitation or demand?" Adam asked cautiously, not even sure what to make of this situation.
"Both." The man replied without hesitation. Adam sighed deeply and then nodded slowly.
"Alright, give me a moment." Adam said as he left the door open a crack but still partly closed, just to show he wasn't planning on running or anything. He considered it, but there were no escape exits besides pushing past the three men. And he wouldn't win a fight against three imposing gentlemen, not unless he shot them. But that was an extreme escalation, despite the pit growing in Adam's stomach he didn't know why he was being singled out right now acting on the side of caution was better. So he grabbed his holster and belt and put them around his waist, holstering his 10mm a moment later.
"Alright, I'm ready." Adam said, emerging from the door, now visible armed. One of the men in the back looked at Adam's holstered weapon but did not say anything, he didn't even flash a look of disapproval, just noting it.
"Follow me." The third man said as he began to lead the way out of the Layover towards wherever their boss was. Adam was still very nervous. What had he done? Had he crossed The Guild somehow? Had he upset someone? He couldn't think of anything he had done to upset someone like that. Wait no, there was something he did. When saving Derek he had beat up two street toughs. They were clearly not part of The Guild, but perhaps they were connected in some way? If it's not that he can't think of anything he had done to catch their ire. All he could do is hope that he could talk his way out of this. Worst case he would need to shoot his way out of there, but that was the worst case scenario, he was not prepared to leave all his gear behind, plus Midway itself. And that's not to mention the improbability of him making it out of Midway with naught but a single 10mm pistol. Talk was his only option.
The men walked him to a part of Midway he had never seen, but not because he had not chosen to explore it, but because he wasn't allowed to. This section was passed a metal detector and specially made wall dividers to separate this section from the main thoroughfare. It also had an 'employees only' sign out in front of the Metal detector. In addition to all of this there were always two Midway guards standing out front. Very clearly not the kind of place someone like him was supposed to go to. But here he was, heading through.
As they passed through the metal detector Adam's gun triggered the detector, predictably, but as he had not hidden it not a single person was surprised.
"We are going to have to ask you to leave your gun and any other weapons here." The black suited man said as he turned around to face Adam again. Adam looked at him for a few moments, then let off a big sigh as he took off his entire belt and placed it on the table right behind the metal detector. "Do not worry, your weapon will be returned to you after the meeting is over. I will ask; is that your only weapon?" The man said with an intense stare.
"Yes." Adam said back, unafraid, at this point he had nothing left to lose, all he could do was talk his way through. "I only brought my pistol." The man seemed to size Adam up for a moment and then nodded and continued leading the way through the previously unexplored area.
Surprisingly the area was notably different from the rest of Midway he had seen. The floors and walls were covered with fine wood, the walls covered in paintings, fresh flowers in vases dotted the hallway. Even the doors themselves were a nice mahogany instead of the boring airport doors he had seen up to this point. Though aside from these adornments it was still very clearly an airport facility, little things would remind him. But he couldn't help but wonder if this is what the third floor was like. He had never actually gone there, not willing to spend a tremendous amount of caps on needless luxury. Though of course he was fine spending nearly 1000 caps at the casino so perhaps he was not one to judge.
Regardless, after a bit more walking they arrived at a set of double doors. The leading man pushed both doors open as the two who were following behind Adam stopped at the threshold of the door and took up positions on the wall.
The room itself just seemed to be a very very nice office. Everything in here was immaculate, looking completely untouched by the war, trinkets of all kinds dotted the walls, bookshelves, and any space they could fit. Marble busts sat in the corner, a full sized famous painting sat on one wall, and the room screamed opulence. Upon arriving the big plush burgundy chair that sat at the desk was turned away from Adam, only giving him a view of its back. A gentle fire licked the edges of a fireplace right behind the chair, giving the room an almost cozy feeling.
Of course it would have been cozy if not for the foreboding atmosphere of the entire ordeal and the huge black suited man who was standing next to the backwards facing chair staring at Adam like he was sizing up a piece of meat.
"I have brought Adam Baxter, Boss." The man who had led Adam here said before he too took a position against the wall, but on the inside of the room. Adam was completely surrounded. Once more he just hoped it would be a civil conversation.
"Ah, wonderful." A gravelly voice said from the chair still not facing Adam. "Please, Mr. Baxter, Take a seat won't you." The voice continued as Adam looked to the almost as lush chair that sat opposite the desk. Adam took a deep breath and then walked over to the chair and sat down. Almost as soon as he did, the big burgundy chair in front of him swiveled around revealing… a ghoul.
This was a ghoul not looking too different from Salvatore but he was wearing a fine black suit, the nicest in the room, and was wearing a nice black fedora with a silver trim.
"Welcome to The Guild, Mr. Baxter." He said with a wide and slightly menacing grin.