by Farrah Paige
“I’m afraid so,” he grimaced. “Sorry. But if it’s any consolation, I lost it all. But had it paid off, I would’ve made your clients’ rich, minus my cut.”
“What you’ve done has broken a myriad of finance laws!” I pointed out. “How did you expect to get away with it?!”
“If I go, you go, Elrica. It’s as simple as that,” he smiled. “Don’t worry. All we have to do is make another investment. Your predecessor’s files held several great leads. We take advantage of one and pay back the money or just disappear with it. Maybe I’ll take you with me, huh?”
Klaus went over to my laptop and pushed me aside.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get the files myself,” he boasted. “I’ve had access to your laptop’s protocols for weeks. Another advantage of secretly videotaping you. There, I’ve transferred them. Now you’ll be implicated if you go to the police. They’ll be a paper trail from me to you. What do you think of that?”
“I think I want to throw you out the window,” I growled.
“Hm, but you won’t,” he laughed. “You and your six boyfriends would be so caught up in scandal by the exposure of the tapes––you would be the focus of the investigation before me. Besides, you are the boss. I’ll tell them I was working for you on your orders.”
I grabbed my laptop, closed it and picked up my purse. I started rushing out of the office.
“Go ahead, work from home,” he taunted. “It will do you no good. Either you play ball or you go to jail. Good bye, Elrica! Hahahaha!”
He had me. All this time, he’d been working behind the scenes against me, just as I suspect someone was. And not only that, he had scammed the boys. My boys. What would they think when I told them? Would they blame me for it? They didn’t know me that well. Once Klaus came forward, they might believe him!
I have to come up with a plan. I have copies of the same files. There’s no way Klaus destroyed my backups at home. Maybe there’s something in there I can use against him. If I could somehow prove he was at the center of the scam, I could turn him in. But if I turn him in now, I could end up going to jail with him.
The guys might have an idea. If I was going up against Klaus, I needed fresh eyes on this. Dag was pretty shifty. I’d bet he would have some ideas. And if the guys did believe Klaus over me, then maybe our potential relationship was a lie. This would be the first test of whether or not the boys were into me or just into the sex.
I had my suspicions, but I was pretty sure this was more than just sex.
Chapter 23
Aiden
The hotel breakfast buffet was so delicious we decided to hit the hotel’s lunch specials. Unfortunately, it was a hodgepodge of American and German food, all overpriced. We were just about to hit the street and maybe find a food truck that would take our credit card, when Dag hit upon an idea.
“Look over there,” he said, gesturing toward a businessman convention that was using part of the hotel. “Those guys get catered food at these things. All we have to do is talk our way in and we can eat for nothing!”
“Okay, I’m in,” I agreed. “What’s the pitch?”
“Well, we are actually businessmen,” noted Rogan. “We just suck at it apparently.”
“Let’s tell them our last name is Levi and we’re part of the Levi fortune,” suggested Logan.
“It’s Levi Strauss, you moron,” corrected Liam. “And I don’t think the Strauss family even owns it anymore!”
“They don’t know that!” insisted Logan.
“They’re actual businessmen! They absolutely know that,” snapped Liam.
“Everyone just calm down,” I said. “Let’s just say we make electronic components. Sound generic and boring enough that no one has to ask follow up questions and if they do, you can make something up and it should sound fine. Except whatever you make up, Logan.”
“You can all suck me,” snapped Logan.
“Just follow my lead,” said Dag.
We followed Dag up to a table full of name tags. A woman who was running the convention noticed when Dag seemed to be in distress.
“Are you all right, sir?” she asked.
“I can’t believe this! I can’t believe this!” he said. “I brought these gentlemen all the way in from America and I don’t see our nametags! This is a disaster!”
“Now, calm down, sir. I’m sure we can find them,” she promised. “What’s the name of the company?”
“KDLM,” said Dag with a straight face. “These are some of our top investors! My job is on the line!”
“I understand. KDLM is a huge company,” she sympathized. “I believe they have their corporate offices here in Berlin. But, I’m sorry, I don’t see anyone from KDLM on the list.”
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God! This isn’t happening!” he cried. “This is it! My career is over! I’ll never recover from it! No one from the office turned in the paperwork?! How does this happen?”
“Sir, if you’ll just calm down,” she said smiling. “I’m authorized to give you a temporary pass. Assuming KDLM will pay your way later.”
“We can’t do that,” said Dag. “These gentlemen literally just got in. I’d have to take them to lunch and then go back to the office––”
“No, we’re serving lunch right now,” she gestured. “Why don’t you go in and eat, while I make you up some temporary nametags. You can come back tomorrow with the proper forms, ok?”
“Oh, my God! You saved my job! I don’t know how to thank you,” Dag said earnestly.
And with that, we were waved right into the lunch buffet. While the hotel was pawning off overpriced schnitzel and hamburgers, the convention luncheon had its own sushi chef, a frittata station, London broil, duck confit, personalized pizzas, a salad bar and an open bar. It was a weird combination of food, but the important thing was––open bar!
We ate lunch (Logan especially) and then got drunk. We basically closed down the bar because it was meant for businessmen who intended to go to the convention’s panels. Not six freeloaders that wanted to get wasted. Even the woman Dag had talked to started eyeing us suspiciously. He pretended to go to the restroom, while the rest of us scattered. We lost her in the maze of people exiting a lecture and made it back to the room.
“Oh, man! That was fun,” laughed Rogan. “It’s a shame we can’t do that tomorrow.”
“Why not?” suggested Dag. “Maybe Elrica would help us. I did mention KDLM.”
“No. No way,” said Liam immediately. “I’m not going to let you get Elrica into trouble.”
“What trouble? She practically runs the company,” said Dag.
“She doesn’t own it,” pointed out Liam. “She’s an employee and employees can get fired. No. No way.”
“Since when are you the boss?” said Dag, getting annoyed. “I do what I like.”
“Not to Elrica, you don’t,” said Liam threateningly. “Don’t you ever do anything to her that could hurt her.”
“Whoa-whoa,” I said. “Tone it down guys. We’re all on the same team here.”
There was a knock at the door and it was Elrica. She was very upset. She explained that our money had been stolen by one of the employees at KDLM. He had been secretly videotaping her and us. Now he was blackmailing her so he could continue to steal money from KDLM.
“Rogan, look at her laptop,” I instructed. “You’re good with numbers.”
Rogan turned on the laptop and looked at the files.
“Ah, see here,” he said. “This is where our portfolio took a hit. It looks like he invested it in some hot property in Bonn, but they didn’t get permits to build in time and the bank foreclosed. The investment was a complete disaster, but looks totally legit.”
“But we didn’t invest in that,” I noted. “No one ever had us sign off on something in Bonn.”
“We gave KDLM permission to do that when we put our money into their company,” shrugged Rogan. “That it was poorly invested is not their fault, it’s ours for investing with them.�
�
“But if Klaus moved the money to enrich himself––”
“But he didn’t, Elrica,” pointed out Rogan. “He lost it all. And he’s doing the same to other clients, but unless you can prove that he’s pocketing the money, it doesn’t matter.”
“So you’re saying it’s legal for this douchebag to steal our money?” objected Logan.
“No, it’s legal for him to invest it on our behalf badly,” explained Rogan. “If we don’t see a return, he’s not to blame.”
“But what about moving the money without my knowledge?” asked Elrica.
“He’s the employee. The court will say you should’ve known. You’ll both be in trouble. See where he moved our money?” pointed Rogan.
“Yes, but he’s a hundred thousand dollars short in the property investment,” noted Elrica.
“Hey, you’re right,” said Rogan examining files. “He’s been skimming money off the top. Every time he moves money for a client, he steals some and then blames the loss on the market.”
“Can you prove it?” asked Elrica.
“It’ll be hard,” said Rogan. “He’ll say you signed off on everything.”
“Let’s go pay Klaus a visit,” Liam said somberly. “This time…it’s personal!”
“Of course it’s personal,” said Rogan. “He stole money from us. And he’s trying to hurt our girl.”
Chapter 24
Liam
“Calm down, brother,” advised Aiden. “You can’t walk over there half-cocked and expect to get anything done.”
“You always say that,” I snapped. “Just sit around and talk and think. Sometimes you have to do!”
“I’m with you, bro!” said Logan. “Let’s go over there right now!”
Leo stood up and blocked the doors.
“Fellows, come on,” he said. “You don’t want to do this. This isn’t America. You can’t just kick in the door to his office and act like a cowboy.”
“Did you just make fun of America?” snapped Logan.
I stepped in front of Logan. He was too angry.
“Leo, someone has to go talk to that little shit,” I insisted. “Just talk. Now are you going to get out of our way or not?”
Leo shrugged and stepped aside.
“Fellas, don’t do this,” said Aiden.
Elrica looked after us, concerned.
“Don’t worry,” I assured them. “We have a plan.”
Logan and I marched to the elevator, punched the button, got to the lobby, marched across the lobby and outside. Up until then, it seemed like we had the situation well in hand.
“Okay, bro, what’s the plan?” said Logan excitedly rubbing his hands together.
“Let’s get a drink,” I advised.
“Good plan,” he agreed.
We marched back into the hotel and snuck back into the open bar at the convention.
“Here’s what I say we do,” said Logan. “We barge in, grab him, throw him in a freight elevator, take him down to the loading dock and give his face some punch music.”
“That analogy was very clunky,” I said. “Let me think before you talk.”
It was no secret that Logan was not the brightest bulb in the McCool family line. I would’ve felt much better having Rogan here, who was smart and followed orders. But not Aiden, who would try to talk me out of this. Leo and Dag would just shrug. Sure, they’d go along with the plan, until it started to backfire. Then they’d bail. For all of Logan’s shortcomings, at least he was loyal.
“Hey, why don’t we ask some of these business guys?” suggested Logan. “They might have good suggestions to get back at Klaus.”
“That’s a really bad idea,” I said.
“Well, you’re not thinking of anything!” he said impatiently.
“Okay, go ask, but don’t tell them the name of the company. Just speak in broad generalities, okay? I’ll stand by and listen while you talk,” I said.
“Got it!” said Logan, excited to have purpose again.
Logan struck up a conversation with Helmut, a business man who lived in Prague. Helmut was heavyset, balding cheerful German.
“Helmut, we I got this problem with a business partner that stole from me,” said Logan. “He did it through computers and I don’t know if I could prove it. What would you do to get back at him?”
“I suppose I would talk to my lawyer, see if there was a way to sue him,” he said.
“Right, right,” said Logan. “But what I’m talking about is more direct. Less legal, ya know what I’m saying?”
Logan laughed. Helmut laughed with him, but I don’t think he realized what he was implying.
“I don’t understand,” said Helmut. “Then what else is there to do?”
“You know, take revenge,” said Logan. “There’s got to be a way to screw with him. Show him we mean business.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know,” laughed Helmut. “That seems pretty petty.”
“It was a lot of money,” said Logan. “Ya know and it’s not even about the money. It’s about exerting your manhood to show another male, you can’t be messed with.”
“Are you pranking me?” asked Helmut.
“No! I’m serious,” said Logan. “Isn’t there some business thing to mess with him?”
“I suppose you could look at his business dealings and turn him into the cops or the finance ministries,” suggested Helmut weakly. “What else are you going to do? Burst into his office and hang him out the window?”
“There! That’s what I was looking for!” said Logan. “Then what?”
“Wh-what?” asked Helmut, now concerned.
“I hang him out the window by his ankles and then what? I threaten him, right? Like Suge Knight!” said Logan excited. “I hope he’s not a heavy guy like you. Nah, I could probably pick you up. Hey, you mind if I try and––”
Helmut pushed Logan’s hand away. He stood up with his drink, looking indignant.
“I think I have to go now,” he said.
Helmut walked away. Logan came back to me.
“Well, that didn’t work,” I said.
“Are you kidding? That’s exactly what we need to do,” insisted Logan. “I’ll hold Klaus out the window by the ankles until he confesses. You hold the lap top in front of him and we’ll make him transfer all the stuff via computer. It’s the perfect crime!”
I didn’t know about perfect, but if we could gain access to Klaus accounts, make him transfer some money––that might work.
“Okay, let’s go,” I said, finishing my drink.
Catching a cab to the KDLM offices, we barged in and took the elevator to Elrica’s level. We found Klaus’s secretary.
“We’re looking for Klaus,” I said.
“He’s in a meeting,” she said.
“Is that his door?” asked Logan, pointing.
“Yes, but you can’t go in there,” she insisted.
“Actually, we’re from the finance ministry,” I said. “We have to give him an award.”
“Oh,” she said. “Well, I guess you could go in to––”
“Thank you,” I said immediately.
We barged in. Klaus looked at us curiously.
“Can I help you?”
Chapter 25
Logan
“Who are you two gentlemen?” asked Klaus.
“Get the door, bro,” I instructed, taking command.
“Right,” said Liam.
Liam closed the door and locked. He pulled a couch in front of it and stacked a chair on top of that. Good move. We were planning for a little siege. I liked the way he was thinking.
“Why are you moving that couch? Who are you people?” Klaus demanded standing up.
I marched over and sat him back in his seat.
“Sit down, ya mook!” I yelled.
Taken aback, Klaus sat down.
“It’s time for you to pay us!” I demanded.
I went over to the window. I couldn’t find a way to open. Klaus s
tarted crying. He must’ve realized I meant business.
“Please! You have to give me more time! I told Herr Schlott when I borrowed the money, I would pay him back! And I’ve paid several payments on time! I just need a little more! Please! You don’t have to kill me!” he begged.
I made eye contact with Liam. Who was Herr Schlott? Liam shrugged, not understanding either, but understanding that we could take advantage of this.
“You think Herchel––”
“Herr Schlott,” corrected Liam
“Whoever! Do you really think he’s gonna wait around when you don’t even have your shit together?!” I screamed in his face. “How you even gonna get the money, huh? How’d an idiot like you get the money in the first place?!”
“It was easy!” Klaus explained desperately. “My boss’s predecessor had access to a worldwide database of clients. People with money. I moved stocks and investment and money around. But each time I did it, I would skim a few thousand out of it. If the investment did well, it offset what I stole and if it didn’t, it was blamed on the investment! There’s almost no way of tracking it! Look!”
“Yeah, but what if one of these clients does find out?” demanded Liam. “They’re gonna demand their money back and then we don’t get paid!”
“Yeah!” I said, pounding my fist on his desk. “What about that?!”
“Th-the money I was skimming was for a real estate deal. Worth billions. But the financing fell through,” he explained. “I couldn’t make up the difference fast enough, so I tanked a few portfolios. But don’t worry! I’ve tied the whole thing to my boss if they found out! And she’ll never betray me now! I have tapes on her!”
“Come on,” scoffed Liam. “How bad can the tapes be?”
“They’re really bad!” laughed Klaus. “I can show you on my phone. She’s been masturbating at her own desk for months! Which is bad, but not really a fireable offense. But now, she hosted this orgy. Look!”
Klaus started rolling the video of us fucking Elrica in her office. This was not going to go well if he recognized us. Then I heard my own voice in the video. Klaus looked at his phone and then looked at us.