Eric was dreaming and very comfortable in his large bed when the alarm went off. He rolled out of bed, slamd his hand on the clock, and put on his robe. Only then did he see that he was alone, but he heard noises from the small kitchen area in his apartnt. Marisa walked into the room, suspiciously dressed, showered, and ready for the day at 6:45 a.m. despite a late dinner in the city, and not getting to bed until 3 a.m. This was their fifth date, and the second ti she had stayed over during the months they'd been stealing ti to see each other when their respective jobs allowed for a stolen hour.
"Here. Double strong, and there are so eggs in the kitchen. If nothing else happens, you can repay with pancakes, but I suspect there won't be ti for that."
He hoped she would be correct about sothing happening, but wrong about the ti. She wasn't, and at 7:00 A.M. he got a call from Belinda. He noted it had co direct to his phone, and not routed through the company. He put her on the screen and Marisa retreated to the kitchen.
Belinda looked good, better than he had ever seen her. Her hair had grown out, and she had good color. She was sitting in a regular chair, not a wheelchair. She said, "Good morning, Eric, " as if she hadn't been gone for weeks.
"Good morning, Belinda, and Happy Birthday. What can I do for you today."
"Hopefully, a lot of things. And apologies upfront. I'm calling John next and then he is going to call you, screaming. You don't have to be kind while putting him back together. He has to learn about the new reality we are dealing with. After all, I did as well, and I'm not happy with him. He kept secrets from and they've caused a lot of pain. He also almost got shipped to Eastern Europe in a pod with little chance of being let out. Keep that in mind when he says he always had my best interests at heart."
"Alright, I can do that. What else can I do for you?"
She started to talk, then smiled at him, a real smile. "You got a girlfriend! Finally."
He looked at his bed, "I could just be very sloppy when I sleep."
"Nope, mussed up bed, you're in your robe, but you're sipping coffee and enjoying it. You make terrible coffee and always just pour it down your throat for the caffeine. Plus, your heart rate is pretty calm, you look like you've been working out, and I'm picking up two people breathing and two heartbeats. You should have never taught how to use the security programs. Congratulations. I won't pry further."
Eric realized that Belinda was doing A LOT better.
"But back to business. I'm 18, and my trust funds co under my control. I also want to discuss certain outstanding loans taken from those trusts by John, as my guardian and never paid back. Please get John put back together, and deliver him, and whatever accountants and lawyers he needs to the Clawmaster offices on the top floor of Section E. We have a lot to talk about."
"I'll do my best, Belinda."
"I know you will, Eric. You've been holding things together for years. This is why I also want you to think about what you're going to be doing for the next few years. We can talk about that, too. And if Daddy doesn't want to co see , you should co anyway.
"I'll do that. What about security?"
She turned and spoke to soone off to her side, and got a puzzled look on her face, then turned back to him. "John can bring whatever security he thinks he needs. And I've been advised to tell you that you should bring your own as well if Marisa can get the ti off from Rhebus." As Eric got a strange look on his face and a feminine voice cursed in the kitchen, she waved and logged out.
Marisa was cleaning up spilled coffee as he walked in. Eric said, "Sorry about that."
"Don't be. The girl is as smart as you said. I tried to trace her call and got absolutely nothing. Wherever she is, she has better security than I have the tools to break it. She knew soone was with you, and then soone told her who. If they didn't want at the eting, they wouldn't have specifically said I could co, even ntioning my employer."
"She doesn't mind Rhebus knowing about what she's doing. Interesting."
"Right. But that doesn't matter now. Hit the shower and see if you can beat John here. I'll stall as long as I can. He's not my boss any more."
"Hello, Daddy."
"Belinda! Honey, you have to co ho. I miss you and everyone is worried. Tell where you're at and I'll have people there in minutes. They can't keep you there against your will. I won't let them."
"John..."
"I'm getting the security people going right now. And Eric. Dammit, why isn't Eric answering. More security. You need to tell where you're at. Please...I'm your father."
"John...stop. Stop and listen. I need you to focus and listen to for once."
"I'm listening, go ahead." John was gesturing to soone off-screen and silently saying sothing to them with his hand partially obscuring his lips. He'd learned long ago that Belinda had learned to read lips, speak Russian, and several other things while bored and lying in a hospital bed.
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"You aren't listening, you're trying to get soone to trace my call, which isn't going to work. Better people have tried. And you don't need to. I'm going to tell you where I am. You need to co see . I've already called Eric and given him the details so he can start getting people ready to go with you."
"Eric knows where you are!"
Belinda had hoped this would go better, but as usual, it wasn't. "I'm in Section E, in the headquarters of Clawmaster. I'm working for them as an independent contractor, testing so of their new products. No, I won't tell you about them. I'm fine, and doing well. Co see . Bring lawyers. Bring accountants. You'll need them. And John? Behave. If you try anything stupid, like snatching away, it isn't going to work." The connection went blank.
Eric managed to get dressed before John was pounding on his door with a gaggle of people behind him. Marisa had laid out his best suit for him and he'd shaved in the shower. With a second cup of coffee in him and a half dozen Bacon-Flavored You-won't-believe-they aren't-eggs inside of him, he was ready to take on John. He'd once joked to Marisa that a good breakfast made him sleepy but a bad breakfast got him moving and praying lunch would get here soon. She'd made sure he was moving.
He opened the door, ignoring everyone as they talked. "Greetings people. We are off to the corporate offices of Clawmaster Incorporated. The Personmovers are one floor up, so we'll take the stairway and be on our way. I doubt so of you could walk that far. When we arrive, you will all be polite. Anyone not polite will most likely be asked to leave. Not polite people who misbehave will have bad things happen to them. These people don't screw around, and I'll remind you that they are a bigger corporation than Manpower. Big Fish can eat Little Fish."
He paused, took a breath, and continued. "To repeat: The Clawmaster people are very busy and making a lot of deals. They have deals going with Genesis, and Rhebus, and bought, not leased, their part of the Habitat. Manpower needs to be on good terms with them. I won't hesitate to punt anyone causing problems in our relationship with them. No lying, no power plays, no threats. Just a polite get-together so John and Belinda can talk and we can work so things out."
A lawyer began talking. "This is exactly the weak approach that I was warning against. We should notify the police and have them put pressure on these people to get Belinda back. And the press as well. They won't like that."
Eric motioned to a security guard who started leading the lawyer away. "Mr. Nelson doesn't work here any longer. Security is escorting him ho. Does anyone else want to go ho early? No? Then get moving up to those silly carts so we can drive over and visit Belinda."
Milo watched the procession on his caras. He was getting nervous. He'd t with Belinda after dinner yesterday. Both of them were showing signs of stress, and both knew the other could see that. Belinda had suggested they trade.
"I'm worried that the electrical supply situation for the Habitat is unstable, but fixing it ans taking over so companies and becoming a registered power distributor. Then I can start trading power in confusing ways to hide that I want to use the power from the fusion generator to power the habitat."
"I turned 18, so I'm now an adult and have way too much money, which everyone is going to want to get ahold of. I'm going to have to keep hiding. But I also need to settle with John, hire Eric, prove to the banks who I am, and find a way to secure my money, since...as we both know...if I have access to my money, other people can try to steal it. I'm not even sure how much I have."
"I looked up once when I researched my new neighbors. The best estimate was 2.4 Trillion."
"Shit. What the hell do I do with 2.4 Trillion dollars, other than not let John have it."
Milo was silent for a minute. "Had you considered becoming a supplier of electrical power and buying a Habitat? Fixing this place up will take a lot of money. But how do we get you to a bank?" Milo hadn't even considered the thought of himself leaving the Habitat.
Belinda started giggling from the stress and the ludicrous thought of just buying the Habitat. Then again, it would use up money, and give her control, and she knew just who would be helping her with all the hard work. But first, she had to teach him about banks.
"Milo, when you have a million dollars, you go to the bank. When you have 2.4 trillion, the banks co to you. But, you're going to be sitting next to the whole ti, as a financial advisor, along with Mama and Big Butch if I can convince them. I need smart people around ."
"This is going to be like arguing with the guilds in Shadowport, isn't it? Lots of screaming and threats?"
"Nope, very polite people, maybe so screaming from John, and polite threats. But also a lot of numbers, legalese, and contracts to read. We can keep the number of people down. I know you hate that."
"Ok, I can do that."
"And we need to get you suit."
That confused Milo. "I have a suit. I have two suits. Should I bring the heavy one? Will it be that dangerous? Should I bring Max too?"
Belinda started laughing again, and Milo couldn't figure out why.
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