Office Politics (short story)

 was the second story in Burning with Optimism's Flames.

Summary
When Jamie started working in the same office as Michael, Alison, and Michael's wife Laura, they suspected he was a spy from their bosses. Jamie's lies led Michael to have an affair with Alison; at Jamie's apartment, Michael cut off his own middle finger and, upon touching each other, he and his coworkers fused into a Matryoska Gestalt. Jamie revealed that he planned to sacrifice the trio so he could get back to the Eleven Day Empire, but they killed him. Then, they returned to work, impersonating their past selves and fulfilling their respective roles.

Characters

 * Alison
 * Michael
 * Laura
 * Jamie

Continuity

 * The Eleven Day Empire still exists.