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Ellen ignores him. Instead, she shoots me a stern look. “And why can’t you?”
“Ellen, Lou, everybody. I respect you all. I hope the feeling is mutual.” No response. At least, they don’t say ‘no.’ “I think when it comes to this company’s dealings, I’ve earned a little wiggle room.”
“‘Wiggle room’?” Mr. Whiny-kins whines.
“So, here’s the thing, gang. On this move, I need you to either be with me… or get out.” That freezes them all. “After all the money I’ve made you, you ought to trust me by now.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Mr. Whiny-kins cuts in. “You can’t fire us.”
“I understand, but I’ll buy each and every one of you out.”
OK, they know how deadly serious I am now.
In unison, they all slide their eyes to look at Lou. His smile is gone.
“Can’t you at least give us a hint as to where all this is going?” he asks, still looking for a lifeline.
Again, as one, all eyes slide back to me. My smile is gone, too. I wish I could give him the lifeline, but I can’t. “I’ve got a major capital investment in mind that will make you all a lot of money.”
“Buildings?” asks Ellen, one pencil-thin eyebrow cocked.
“There may be acquisitions involved,” I concede, “but, not necessarily buildings.”
Ellen actually looks intrigued.
Mr. Whiny-kins continues to whine. “This is absurd! It’s not enough we put up with your galivanting all over the city, getting your bare ass in the papers. Now, we’re supposed to follow you on some cockamamie deal we don’t even get details on?”
I look him dead in the eye, “Yep.” Then I sit and lock gazes with Lou, “Call a vote.”
Lou shifts forward in his chair, leaning his elbows on the table. “I motion we vote on the… well, we’ll call it ‘Plan’, for now.”
There’s a pause. Ellen, still staring at me, eyebrow still raised, finally says, “I second the motion.”
Lou nods. “All those in favor?”
“Aye,” comes every voice at the table, except one.
“Opposed?” Lou asks.
Mr. Whiny-kins is the only one who hasn’t spoken. He stays quiet.
“Abstain?” Lou asks him, annoyed.
“Aye,” says Mr. Whiny-kins softly, staring at the table.
Lou stands. “All right, Roger. We’re trusting you.”
Everyone files out. Ellen’s eyes never leave mine as she goes. There’s a look in her eyes that actually seems…sensuous?Like this kind of daredevil business deal turns her on? I might be intrigued if she weren’t old enough to be my mom and framed like a skeleton to boot. Instead, I’m a bit creeped out.
The last one to leave is Lou. He pauses by the door of the conference room and looks like he’s about to say something. Instead, he winks, then heads off.
OK. Another piece of the plan falls into place! I’m too excited to sit, so I leap to my feet even as I whip out my cell and call Gerald.
“Hey, Roger,” he says tensely. He’s been tense ever since I started teasing out the details to him. Well, whatever, I pay him to be tense.
“What’s the word?”
“The case is moving forward.”
