by Noah Harris
“Thomas, I know that it has been a long time, but I want to touch base and see how everything is going.” There was a momentary pause, as he was listening to whoever was on the other end. “I’m glad to hear that you were able to make something of yourself. I wasn’t very kind when I took over your business. If there’s anything that I can do to make it right, then all you have to do is ask. I have resources and maybe an education fund for your children will give them a leg up on the competition.” Once again, there was more silence, and I could’ve easily listened in, but I thought differently about that. It seemed rude and back in the day; I wouldn’t have thought anything of it. It was kind of liberating to know that my humanity was still there, even though it had been lost for quite some time. Gaining that independence had given me a reason to care. “You can expect that account to be open and ready for your children to use when they go to college. It’s my pleasure.” He hung up and put his hand up to his forehead like he couldn’t believe that he was actually doing such a thing.
“I know that it’s painful, but it’s necessary. We have to do everything we can to get whoever has done this to think better of it. Only they can retract the contract. Once it’s out there, nobody can stop it unless you give the proprietor of the bounty a reason to.” I stood in the doorway, as he continually made phone calls for the next 3 hours. Those were 3 hours that I would never get back. It felt like an eternity.
“I can’t do this anymore. I’m losing millions of dollars and all for the possibility that one of them was responsible for coming after me like this. I’m not saying that I’m going to quit, but I need a break. Besides, I have a negotiation to conduct on the other side of town. I know that you’re not going to like to hear this, but we need to be there in less than half an hour. I know that you don’t know the city well, but I can hopefully navigate you to some of the shortcuts. I may not have lived here all of my life, but I have certainly spent a fair amount of time in this city. Las Vegas has always been the hot spot for any investor, but now families are come here all the time. It’s a far cry from when the mob was in charge, but don’t kid yourself into thinking that the mob still doesn’t have some ties.”
He looked exhausted and tonight was the full moon. I’d tried to convince him in futility that he should stay in and let me deal with the wolf. He told me that he wouldn’t do that and when I tried to convince him otherwise, he became quite irate with the mindset of an animal. Instead of pushing it, I told him that I would be there with him, regardless of the risk to myself or the innocence.
I stood in front of him and became a human shield of sorts. There didn’t seem to be any threat, but it didn’t mean that somebody wasn’t going to take advantage. There were several on the street that looked possible, but none of them acted. We were on the road, and I constantly looked back in the rearview mirror to make sure that we didn’t have any kind of tail. That man and his gang of thugs last night at the blood bank were only the start. They had already got a taste. I’m sure that they were chewing at the bit to get another chance to go after Derek.
I didn’t think anybody would do anything in broad daylight, but that kind of money could make you do stupid things. I had always liked the barter system. The paper that was made from trees had become something of a sought after commodity by the human population. It made for an easy trade, without the necessity of working your fingers to the bone for minimum wage. I missed those days. It was a simpler time with a lot more respect. There were still those that were downtrodden, but mostly people worked on their family farm and then peddled their wares at the market.
“I see that faraway look in your eyes, Duncan. I would really like you to stay in the moment. I need you to be ready for just about anything.” I could tell in the mirror that he was a little antsy. He squirmed in the seat and readjusted himself, which only made me well aware that his body was right there for the taking.
“Derek, I have to tell you that I’ve been very impressed by your attempt to make things right. I know that the money means absolutely nothing to you, but it’s your principle that has been tested to the breaking point. You have bitten the bullet, and hopefully, that is the only bullet that you’ll have to bite. I wasn’t sure that you had that in you, but you surprised me in more ways than one. We both have been fighting the urge to do something that would be regretful. I think that having something to distract us is exactly what we need. I know that you have to get to this meeting, but what exactly have you decided about the fate of the business as a whole?”
I wanted to know where his head was. He had to stop thinking the same way and do things differently for the sake of his own sanity and safety.
It had been from personal experience that I knew that people were not exactly trusting. His reputation for being ruthless in business and in his personal life was no secret. Only those that were desperate would even consider going into any kind of business with him. They would see him, as the last resort and most likely would be praying to God that he wouldn’t take advantage of their crippling empire.
“I would like to tell you that I will go easy on them, but I don’t know if I can do that. I have my own way, and sometimes I follow my business instincts, instead of my human emotions. I’ve always been a big believer that money doesn’t cry for you, and you shouldn’t cry for it. I’m sure you’ve heard me say that a few times already, but it is the only thing that makes sense in my life.” He was starting to worry me. Finding it in his heart to reach out to those that were suffering was one thing. To continue down the same path and expect different results was only being foolish.
“I don’t think I have to tell you this again, but maybe I do. It’s not the other organizations or even those stupid wannabes that you have to worry about. I have one week to change you for the better so that Hiroko won’t be able to call the Yakuza in with force. I know how you distaste being told what to do. For this one time, I implore you to think about somebody other than yourself. You’ve already come a long way, but there’s still a lot more that you can do to make a difference. Don’t just consider the people that you hurt, but think of the ones that are suffering that didn’t come from your hand. Charity may begin at home, but a humanitarian effort might go a long way.”
I wanted him to see that reaching out to those that couldn’t defend themselves would not only keep those jackals off his back, but it might fill him with a sense of fulfillment. He really didn’t have a purpose, and I suppose I could probably say the same thing about myself. I was basically going through the motions, until that fateful day that I began to feel this draw toward the city. I knew now that Derek was the cause of that, and his wolf-like nature had called from afar to the monster that was lurking within me.
“I’ve never been much for charity, except for when it benefits me. The reason I go to those $100 a plate dinner parties is to mingle with the masses. It’s a good way to network to find out any little secrets that will amass me more money than I can know what to do with. Information is a commodity and sometimes you have to pay through the nose to get what you want. That saying is true about how you have to spend money to make money.” That was not exactly what I was talking about, but I think he knew that. “I will speak to some of those that chair charities and see what I can’t do about making a difference.”
He sounded like he was choking on the very words, but at least, he was contemplating another way of living. His selfish acts had been built on lies and misdirection. He had made them think one thing and had turned around and did something else entirely. He promised them that he wasn’t the callous man that everybody thought he was, but then he would prove otherwise. It was a cycle that had to be broken, and only he could be the one that could do it. I could lend my guidance and wisdom, but ultimately it was his decision whether or not to follow it.
We were walking towards the building, and I saw out of my peripheral vision somebody watching. It was a woman with a pair of nondescript glasses on and looking a bit mousy to be some kind of assassin. I learned
that you can’t judge a book by its cover. She didn’t seem like a threat. I had no choice, but to find out one way or the other. Leaving him was not something that I wanted to do, but he was already in the building, so at least I could say that security would look after him.
She was walking steadily towards the front of the building. She reached into her blue suede coat for what could possibly be a weapon. I was on her in a second, driving her into the alley and away from the prying eyes of others. I grabbed for that weapon, only to come in contact with a very standard blue BIC pen.
“Hey,…what’s the big idea? I’m a reporter freelancing on the side to get that big story. You’re obviously worried about the bounty, but you don’t have to be with me. I can assure you that I don’t have that killer instinct. I don’t think I can hurt a fly, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear what he has to say about all this. A sound bite or even a quote of some kind will go a long way to making my career.” I was tempted to compel her to leave and never come back, but that would’ve been wrong somehow. She deserved to earn a living any way that she could, even if it meant getting involved with a profession that I didn’t care much about.
“You can tell your readers that he has decided that life is too short. He wants to make a difference and over the next couple of days, you’ll see an emergence of a new Derek Strange. He has thought about all those things that he has done in the past, and he now wants to live for the benefit of humanity. You can quote me on that.” Getting that story out into the world was the best way to make people aware that he was changing his ways. They may not believe it at first. They may even think that it’s a ploy to get other businesses to lower their guard.
She was scribbling on her notepad. She reminded me of the seventies when reporters were real journalists. They made the story come alive on the pages. Those days of making something up had gone the way of the free loving sixties. There were still those that profited off of the misery of others, not to mention photographers that were looking to get that one shot that would catapult them to the front of the line.
“I don’t suppose you can give me any kind of inside knowledge about what’s happening inside that tech company.” I had to give the girl credit for trying, but there was no way that I was going to betray Derek. He probably wouldn’t like that I was putting him in a good light and that the press would most likely want to verify this face to face. Getting him an interview with one of the national stations would not be that difficult. Once the story hit the stands tomorrow, then those national stations would come to him and not the other way around.
“I said more than enough and I think that you should leave before I forget that I am a gentleman.” She was running her eyes up and down my body. That natural chemistry of the vampire was now oozing a raw sexuality. I had no interest in sleeping with her, but it wasn’t like she didn’t have her uses. I’d done that too many times to count, but not in a very long time. Hiroko and his father were instrumental in giving me the tools to fight that urge. They were the reason why I satisfied my hunger by drinking from a bag and not from the warm veins of some unsuspecting victim.
She moved away from me, keeping her eyes on me until she was around the other side of the building. I came out of the alley and watched, as she hailed a taxi, no doubt heading for a publisher that would pay her handsomely for this story. It wasn’t much, but the sound bite I gave her would give them something to work with. I could see the byline that would splash across the headlines telling the tale of a ruthless man finding his humanity. I could almost write it myself. I could easily put something on the Internet anonymously and have it go viral in a matter of minutes. Social media was a big deal. To think it came about from a government computer that was never meant to become part of mainstream society.
Chapter 16
I heard that negotiations were stalled and that they had met some kind of impasse. I could easily listen to what was going on, and I wasn’t even in the room. I stood outside the door waiting for Derek to come back out. This was the perfect way to keep things in sight, not to mention those rooms that were close enough to get off a shot from almost a mile away. Technology had come a long way. There were even guns that had smart bullets that could traverse a space from around a wall like that of a magician’s trick. I couldn’t get over the worlds need to come up with something more destructive to the survival of the human race.
“I think that you should be happy that I have come here to bail you out. I could easily sell off this business, but I have decided to keep it intact. I can’t do that without some concessions. It might not seem fair, but losing ten jobs is better than all of you standing in the unemployment line. I’ve already outlined how I want things to go and, believe me, I am being more than generous. My instinct was to get rid of this business altogether and merge what was left into other smaller companies. Those ten jobs that I’m requesting that you eliminate will be made part of the duties of those that are already employed.”
“I can’t in good conscience let good people lose their livelihood. I understand that you are doing me a favor and, believe me, I wouldn’t be sticking my neck out unless I thought it was important enough to do so.” This elderly man looked like he had seen it and done it all. He was tired and didn’t want to be a part of this anymore. That was evident on his face, but in his last moment in this business, he wished to make some kind of difference that would make people realize that his legacy left behind was something that could be passed on to others in the future.
“Let me take one more look at your books. I might be able to do something that will mitigate the loss of employees.” He stood at the end of the table and began to go over each file from the personnel records. “We can get rid of those that are close to the age of retirement. They’ll be given full benefits and a sizable golden umbrella. Unfortunately, that still leaves three others that need to take a step back. They will also be given a sizable remittance, but also a letter of reference that will help them to get employed anywhere in the city. I even have a few companies that are looking right now for good people, as long as they’re willing to transplant themselves out of this city.” He was going above and beyond. I could only hope that it didn't cost him more than what he was willing to give.
“I appreciate that you’re doing your best to make things better for all of us. Your influx of cash and your investment has been a godsend. The only thing that I can do to help these people is to step down myself. My paycheck alone will take up three of those four people. My son can take over for me. I’ve been grooming him for this moment from the day that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He knows the value of a dollar, and I taught him that he shouldn’t always expect people to come to the rescue. He won’t own any more than 10% of the company, and the rest of the 90% will be in your hands. Let me decide on the final and last one to walk out that door. I think that I might have an idea, and this young lady has recently gotten married. There’s a contention between her and her new husband about where they’re going to live. Her family is here, but if I were to take away her paycheck, it would most likely open her to other offers. That might even include the city that her husband is going to work in, as a firefighter.”
This was the type of boss that knew his employees like the back of his hand. To him, they were not just numbers on a sheet of paper, and they had feelings and family’s that depended on them to make ends meet.
I saw that Derek was watching me, and I had no doubt that he was thinking about me in a more undressed state. It was a wonder that we didn’t do something about this, but we were fighting our natural instincts.
“I appreciate your sacrifice for stepping down, but even you should be afforded at least 5% in residual earnings for the rest of your natural life.” I don’t know if Derek meant everything that he was saying, but he certainly was making an effort to do things a different way. “I do believe that our business here has been conducted. I will be a silent partner, but I will also have a hand in everything that happ
ens around here. There will be no decisions made unless the board of directors can vote on it. You’ll have one of those votes and be here for those decisions that will shape your company into what it will be going forward. I will select those that I feel should have a seat on the board with you, including your son.” They shook hands. I was sure that the previous owner was not happy about giving away his business, but at least, it was easier to swallow with how Derek was acting like he was human after all.
“I was expecting to fight you, but you turned out to be very reasonable, and that is not at all the way that I had thought of this going. Maybe the rumors of how you act in business are a little different than people remember you as. I don’t know what made you change, but I hope that you find a certain comfort in knowing that you did the right thing here.” Derek nodded his head, but I saw that he was fighting his natural instinct to lay down the law. He didn’t have to show that kind of mercy. The business was on its last legs. I’d gone over the prospectus, and everything that he had asked for was a far cry different from what it was on paper.
He walked out breathing deeply like he was having some sort of panic attack. “I don’t even want to talk about it. I don’t know what this feeling is in the pit of my stomach, but I feel almost like I did a good thing. I wasn’t always ruthless. It was only after I turned into the wolf that I started to act like one in the boardroom. I found an undeniable thrill out of making people suffer, and the wolf inside was feeding off that as if it were a kind of food to nourish its dark soul.” He looked like a man that had gone a few rounds in the ring.
“Things happen that makes life a little harder to deal with. You’ve given these people the one thing that they didn’t have, and that’s hope for the future. They thought that things were dire and that you were going to step in and destroy everything that they had built from the ground up. You only have to look at them to know that they are ready for what the future holds. I’ve gone over everything about this business. It can be a success in the right hands. I’ve even studied his son, and he has shown himself to be a man that knows how to get things done. He’s ready to take this company in a new direction of success and prosperity. He just needed somebody to hand him the keys and his father has just done that.”