I pray for the agenda set before us today. Please give assurance of what would please you and what would benefit those who live and work in and around our beloved nation.
It is in your most blessed Name I pray,
Amen.
When everyone had retaken their seats, Chief Blackfeather called Emma forward to stand before the table to discuss the future of the Navajo Project. Emma took her place and began her presentation.
“Hello, I am Emma Graystone. I have been the acting project manager for the Navajo project and have spent a considerable amount of time working closely with both Jack Thomas, who is here and our friend, Grayson Blackfeather. It was as you know the three of us who worked together in uncovering the fraud that has been happening with the project. A project that has cost your brother, your son and my...” Emma had to stop for a moment, trying to control her voice. Continuing, she said, “Grayson Blackfeather was a close friend to Jack and me.
I want to ensure this Council the Fraud is being dealt with, and I am personally overseeing that process. However, I do not want this project to end here. Therefore, I would like to propose a new direction in the completion of the project.
My father is here, Howard Graystone. He was one of the original investors in the project. I can assure you, that he was not associated with Martin Stevenson, Steven Hopkins, and Wesley Bentley in any fraud-related activities. These are the three that set the scam into motion. They intended that the Navajo people would lose their profits from the project. Grayson knew this, he was fighting with us to prove this, and he lost his life.
My father, Howard Graystone, will pay for all further expenses out of his pocket until the completion of the project equaling ten and one half million dollars. It is my wish that eighty percent of the Power Purchase Agreement profits go directly to the Navajo Tribe to use in the best interest of the people. My business partner, Ms. Amelia Harris attorney at law, has drafted a contract to that effect for your review. She intends to go over the contract with you tomorrow at your convenience, so there is no misunderstanding.
The next request I make is that Jack Thomas, CEO, and owner of the newly established Jack Thomas Construction company will complete the project.”
Chief Graystone, listening carefully, glanced at Howard Graystone, who was staring at his daughter with pride, Chief Graystone couldn’t help but compare the two sets of the same blue eyes. He hoped that Emma did not inherit the calculating coldness that was in her father’s eyes.
Reverting his attention to Emma, he heard her continue, “My next point is my promise to you the council and your people. That at the end of the Power Purchase Agreement, one hundred percent of the profits will then solely go to the Navajo Tribe. Additionally, Jack Thomas will oversee the fully paid training for fifty tribal members of your choice to attend and achieve skill training on the maintenance of the Turbines.
I also promise that Harris and Graystone will oversee the financials and quality of the project until completed and successfully implemented at no cost. Amelia Harris is an Attorney and my business partner, and she will ensure everything from here forward in this project is transparent and legal. There will be a Fifteen-million-dollar Check sent by a courier that will arrive at Chief Blackfeather’s office on Monday morning.”
The council members sat quietly. Emma could not read their faces, which made her slightly nervous. She thought, maybe I need to make my point, so there is no misunderstanding. Emma was straightening the sling on her left arm and placing her left arm solidly on the table in front of her, allowed the ice to come into her eyes before continuing.
Emma began by saying, “Gentleman, let me be clear, there are two terms you will have to follow without question to enable you to receive the benefits of this new direction I am suggesting.” She noticed the Tribal Council Members sitting straighter, and the questioning looks in Chief Blackfeather’s eyes.
Chief Blackfeather, looked at Howard Graystone with a hint of amusement before turning his attention back to Emma. “Ms. Graystone, after the proven allegations of fraud you brought to my attention last week, I don’t think you have the ability or the right to demand terms.”
Emma standing straighter and noticeably setting her shoulders back, looked in each Council members eyes, lastly landing on Chief Blackfeather, who automatically thought, ahh she has a level of the coldness of her father, she no doubt gave my Grayson a run for his money, she would have made a good wife for him.
Emma continued with a strong sense of validation, “As I said there are two terms you will have to abide by to receive control of the project and the fifteen million-dollar donation I am making to the Navajo Tribe. The first term is that the project will is to be renamed. It will be called the Grayson Blackfeather Project from here on in, and a monument built on site that represents Grayson and his part of the project.”
Holding her hand up as Chief Blackfeather looked as if he was going to interrupt her, she continued, “The fifteen million dollar donation that stands to arrive on Monday will be used to build a new school on the reservation and will re-named in honor of Grayson’s mother. He told me his mother was a teacher before her passing and his dream one day was to build a school for the Navajo children in his mother’s name.
Those are my terms Gentleman, take it, or leave it.” The room became silent, Chief Graystone overcome with emotion could not speak, Council Member Atsa Begaye looked at each council member before saying, “We have heard and understood your terms Ms. Graystone, we will now vote. I make the motion we the Council adopt the new direction of the project and accept the terms as given. Those who vote yes, please raise your hands.” Each Tribal Council Member raised their hand in agreement. Atsa Begaye then said, “Passed, and if that is all this meeting is adjourned.”
Chief Graystone walked Emma to the waiting limo, saying, “Nice ride, Emma. I would have borrowed you a horse.” Chuckling, he stopped turning Emma to face him. “Thank you for what you have done for me, my family, and the joy you brought to my sons’ life. As Grayson’s wife, you would have been welcomed to my family, my tribe. Alas, that was not to be your path; your path is to help people in need and protect this planet. Your path will have bumps, it will have crossroads, but you will always achieve what you work toward’s. Just remember to always make those decisions from here.” Chief Blackfeather laid his hand on his heart. Emma smiled, lovingly at Chief Blackfeather and said, “I will.” Emma turned to get into the Limo. She was silent on the ride to the Window Rock Monument.
Arriving at the Window Rock Monument, Emma, Howard, and Amelia stood together at the base of this immense red-sandstone, the natural arch which genuinely is a window onto the Navajo landscape. Before it held a compelling exhibit dedicated to all Navajo war veterans, but in particular to the Code Talkers of World War II. Designed in the shape of a sacred Medicine Wheel, the spiritual aspect of this profound treasure was apparent to all. Emma, her thoughts on Grayson looked one last time at the Window Rock when she saw a Gray Hawk land in its opening and begin its distinctive call. It seemed; the Hawk was looking at her. The Hawk taking flight circled above Emma’s head twice before flying off into the distance. While Amelia and Howard exclaimed their surprise of the bird’s antics, Emma smiled. Grayson was here, thanking her and telling her it was all going to be okay.
Emma felt a great sense of peace and the understanding that it was time to move forward to follow her path. Taking Amelia’s arm and smiling brightly, she said, “Let's finish this and take on the world!” Looking at her father, she smiled as she did when she was five, adoringly saying, “Well Dad, I’m hungry, what do you say the three of us grab some lunch on the way back, and you can drop me at my apartment.” Howard smiled proudly, sensing the peace in his daughter, replied, “You're always hungry, I don’t know how you stay so thin. I agree though lunch is a great idea and I suppose we should find a place that carries your Screaming Eagle Wine.” Emma smiled broadly, and said, “No worries, Dad, I have some on ice right here in the limo!”
After lunch, arriving at Emma’s apartment, Frank and two of his best men were already waiting. Frank, helping Emma out of the Limo, said, “Would you like one of us to come inside with you? We have already cleared the apartment of any threats.” Emma, smiling said, “I will be fine. There is a nice sitting area just down from my doorway, have a pizza delivered.” Walking to her apartment door she pulled her key out and opened the door, looking back at a frowning Frank, she said, “I will be fine, here is the key, I will lock the door, and with the key, you can get in.”
Emma entering the apartment alone went to the refrigerator and pulled out a cold beer. Opening it and taking a drink, she saw the picture of her and Grayson taken at the project site on her bedside table. Picking the image up, Emma, strolled out to the Garden patio sitting down to drink her beer before packing up some personal items. Setting the image in front of her, she smiled. Remembering the fun she and Grayson shared, like the first time he tried to get in her lime green Beetle, Sgt. Pepper. “That’s it!” Emma said aloud. Walking back into the apartment, she grabbed her laptop from her bag, grabbed a fresh beer, and headed back out to the garden patio. Opening her laptop, and while waiting for it to come alive, Emma thought, we are not flying to Las Vegas we are driving! We will need a new car” Over the next two hours Emma not only found a car, but she also purchased it on her credit card and made arrangements for it to be delivered to the penthouse Saturday morning. Suddenly sapped of energy, Emma walked back into the apartment. Looking at the door, she thought, just a short nap in my bed. Emma laid down on the bed, and fast fell asleep.
While Emma was slumbering, Martin Stevenson was in his office. Slamming the phone down on its cradle in his office, he said aloud, “Where is Marino?” He wanted an explanation as to why he was involved in Emma’s accident. He was the one handling Emma Graystone, how did Vito get involved. First Artie has gone missing, leaving him to deal with his sister’s bitchiness and now no one knows where Marino is. What the hell is going on? He was going to have to arrange a meeting with Steve and Wesley in the morning. Things were getting out of control, and they needed to clean this up fast.
Emma rolled over in her bed, smelling coffee. Am I dreaming she asked herself? Laying quietly, Emma heard voices coming from the garden patio. Walking out to the garden patio, she found Maeve and Frank drinking coffee and sharing a bagel. Maeve seeing Emma come around the corner said, “Good morning Emma, would you like a cup of coffee? A bagel?” Emma was looking confused, said, “Its morning? I was only going to lay down for an hour. I am so sorry, Frank, my father, must be livid.” Maeve smiled, handing her a cup of coffee, saying, “He’s fine dear. You just needed to rest, and we didn’t want to wake you. So, tell us what you have planned for today?”
Emma was lathering a bagel in strawberry cream cheese, looked at Maeve, “Today I take care of the three. Martin, Steve, and Westley. Plus, I want to get my things out of the office if they are still there.” Frank looking thoughtful, said, “Why don’t you let your father take care of them, Emma, we don’t want to put you at any further risk.” Maeve spoke up, “Now Frank, stay to your business. This problem Emma needs to handle on her own and that she will do. I have every confidence that with you and your friends there, Emma will not be at risk. I would be more concerned about those three gentlemen than Emma.” Smiling, she continued, “I have laid your things out in the bath, Emma and today I will be overseeing the packing of your apartment."
Emma gratefully looked at Maeve, “I honestly don’t know what I would do without you Maeve. Do you know what my father and Vittoria are doing today? I know Amelia is going back to Window Rock, but I don’t want my dad to be sitting around worrying.”
Maeve laughed; Frank chuckled. Frank responded, “Vittoria is taking him to see the Grand Canyon today even against his rather loud objections.” Emma giggled, “Well, that should keep him occupied. What is Carmine up to today, I didn’t see him much yesterday.” Frank replied, “He is busy with business and will be in meetings today.” Emma shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well, I hope it goes well for him.”
Finishing her bagel and coffee, Emma showered with Maeve’s help and got ready to go to the office. Emma asked Frank, “Think I can get a ride to the office, Frank?” Frank replied, “Absolutely.” Hearing a knock at the door, Emma turned to go back to answer the door. Maeve jumped up, saying, “You two get going that would be the movers.” She raced to the door letting the movers in with their boxes ready to get to work. Emma grinned, looking at Maeve, said “Thank you” Taking a last look at her apartment, her home, she felt a whispering moment of sadness, said, “I will miss this place for sure. I was comfortable here, but I do hope my closet in my new bedroom is bigger than this. I have some shopping to catch up on.” Turning to look at Frank, she said, “Ready?” With a wave at Maeve and a last look around at her apartment, she swept out the door ready to take on the three crooks at the office.
17
Arriving at the front doors of Green Touch Renewables in a black limousine Emma turned to Frank and said, “Are you ready, I want you to attend the meeting with me, and when the meeting is over, I will want to leave immediately. I have a checkup with the doctor at two this afternoon. Time to get these stitches removed, the itching is driving me crazy.” Before exiting the limousine, she looked at Frank saying, “Well, here we go, I would like to stop at my office first.”
Emma walked into the building with Frank at her side, with the two solidly built men following them. At the door of her office, Emma looked at Frank and said go on in, I need to use the ladies’ room.” Turning, Emma headed for the ladies’ room when she heard two familiar voices from around the corner. It was Steve and Wesley. Stopping she carefully edged closer to the corner, she had mad skills at eavesdropping, and she planned to put them to work.
Listening she heard Steve say, “I have confirmed the money is still there. We are scheduled to leave after work tomorrow, do you have the passports?” Wesley responded, “I do. I told Martin we decided to go to New York early to spend the weekend clubbing before the conference starts on Monday. By then, we will be off to our new lives, with our new names, and the bank project account will be empty. Were good, let Martin take the fall for this bullshit, he is the one who dragged us in this mess in the first place.” Steve replied, “Let’s get through the day first. It makes me nervous we haven’t heard or seen anything from Emma. Hopefully, she waits till next week to show up flaunting her ass and batting those blue eyes of hers. She got Grayson killed with her antics.” Emma almost gasped out loud, so they thought she got Grayson killed, well these boys were about to learn a lesson they would never forget. Walking into the restroom and taking care of her needs, she washed her hands looking into the mirror, saying, “Hello Emma Graystone, now let’s kick some ass.”
Walking back in her office, finding Frank sitting patiently while the two burly men stood outside, she walked over to the still-standing tower of boxes and dumped one out on the floor in defiance. She walked to her desk, carefully packing her personal belongings. Hearing the two movers at the door, she greeted them warmly saying, “This box is packed, I would also like you to disassemble the shelves there against the wall and prepare the copy machine here to go to Las Vegas.” She looked toward the door to see two employees from the McCann Shredding Company entering the office. Emma greeted them warmly. “I would like you to shred every piece of paper in this office, including the contents in that stack of boxes. How much time will you need?” The men looked around the room, and one answered, “About an hour, and we should have everything removed and shredded.” Emma smiled sweetly saying, “If you can complete all this in the next thirty minutes, there will be a hundred-dollar bonus in cash for each of you. The gentlemen outside the door in the sunglasses will pay your bonus.” Emma heard a resounding, “Yes, Mam!” Emma turning to Frank said, “Take one of your men and please escort Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Bentley to the conference room, please assure them there is no choice
in attendance.”
Ensuring her items were packed and ready to be moved, Emma swept out the door heading to the conference room. Seating herself at the head of the table, she waited for the appearance of her guests. Smiling, she watched Martin, Steve, and Wesley entering the door escorted by Frank and his men.
Standing, she pointed to the three empty seats, saying, “Gentleman, please take a seat.” Looking directly at Frank, she said, “Frank if you would join us please.” Looking at the two other DeLuca security men, she continued, “Gentleman if you will take those seats next to the door, I would appreciate it. Oh, and no one leaves this office until I adjourn the meeting. Thank you.”
Martin, Steven, and Wesley reluctantly took seats at the table, glaring at Emma with anger. Martin stood saying, “Ms. Graystone, you are in no position to oversee a meeting on the project, that is my job.” Looking at Steve and Wesley, he said, “Let’s go. We have work to do.”
Both security men stationed at the door open their jackets to show they were armed. Frank smiled slyly watching the three men’s surprised and fearful reaction to his men actions.
Emma sitting casually in her chair at the head of the table, smiled, then vehemently, said, “Sit down Martin and keep quiet. You no longer have control, I do.” Martin glancing at the two men at the door, fully armed, sat down with an overwhelming sense of anger.
Emma looked each of the three men at the table in the eye saying, “I am here to inform you gentleman, my company, Harris, and Graystone are now overseeing this project, and your services are no longer needed. To be completely clear, gentleman, you are terminated immediately. Are there any questions?”
Westley looking at Emma outraged yelled, “You can’t do this, you bitch.” Emma smiled sweetly, her eyes turning icy cold, replied, “Why yes Wesley, I can, and indeed I have. Let me clear with you Wesley; I have a clear recording of a nice conversation you had with a Mr. Marino who personally made sure to give me a recording of your call to him regarding your setting up my let’s say accident, and your plan to have Martin take the fall for it as well.”
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