Lily nodded her head to that, already working in her tablet. “On it.”
“Mr. Campbell, so generous of you to pick up. I wasn’t sure if you would,” Mr. Smith’s words came floating in through the speaker of the phone.
Felix sighed and flicked the mute button. “Yep, I’m here. Though I thought we were supposed to meet in person. You requested it. Even went so far as to request the attendees, who are here.”
“Ah, that’s a shame I can’t see it. I’ll be sure to make an appointment to swing by later. Sorry.”
Felix didn’t respond. Silence would be his weapon in this battle. The less he offered Smith, the better.
“Felix?” came the eventual question.
“Yes?”
“Ah, sorry. Anyways. We were going to talk about your taxes and what that number is for you.”
He’s being rather vague, isn’t he?
“Yup.”
Felix swore he could hear a chair creak and papers being shuffled.
“Ah… well, uh.” Felix smirked at the verbal pause to fill the gap. People really didn’t handle silence very well in general. “That number is going to end up being rather hefty. We’re not done assessing it, but I can safely tell you it’s already going to be higher than a hundred thousand.”
Looking to Lily, Felix’s hand was halfway to the mute button.
She already had a hand up in a placating gesture, nodding her head at him.
Okay, so that falls within her own projections. Or at least close enough.
“Got it,” Felix said. He idly began tapping his thumb on the table, his index finger hovering over the mute button.
“As we discussed previously, I’d be happy to work with you to get this handled.”
“I see. And when is the money due in whole?” Felix decided to cut to the chase and see if he could catch the man lying. He’d feel better about it if he could.
“Not yet. Again, we’re still assessing things. I’m sure you noticed your assets are frozen. I’m afraid that was our doing, as we needed to get an idea of your finances.”
Rolling his eyes, Felix waited. The man wasn’t very good at the “government agent” thing he was trying. Then again, it probably helped that Felix had a group of people who were watching out for him.
Once again, he treated Smith with silence. A big, happy heaping helping of it.
“Felix?”
“Yes?”
“Err, never mind. So, yes, your account is frozen for a bit.”
“I noticed. When will you be releasing it?”
“I’m not sure. I could swing by tomorrow and talk to you in person about it.”
In other words, come by and sleep with one of my people.
“Afraid I’m all booked up, Agent. With our account being frozen, everyone is certainly a lot more busy right now.”
Felix didn’t want to leave anything to chance, or give Smith a chance to not state something. “Any idea on when you think that’ll unfreeze?”
“Not at this time,” Smith said in a clipped voice.
“Alright. I’d appreciate it if you could send over the agency directive name and passed regulation that allows you to freeze my account. Along with all the pertinent details about what’s allowed. For documentation purposes, of course.
“Oh, and please also send me all the tax law information as well. Trying to get everything put together.”
Smith was silent. Maybe Felix had pushed it a bit too far, but he wasn’t in the mood for games. Smith was actually hurting his business and his people at this point.
“Sure. I’ll get that over to you today. Have a good day, Felix.”
Shaking his head, Felix hit the disconnect button.
“Fuck him and the horse he rode in on.” Felix leaned back in his chair.
“Kit said he wanted you to prostitute one of us for favors,” Andrea said.
“That he did. Which is why after he rides back out on his horse, the horse can fuck him.”
Felix pressed his hands to his face, closing his eyes.
“Whatever. Lily, let me know when we get in touch with Wraith.”
“Of course, though there’s another problem. I just got another emergency meeting request with Reznik, Blacketer, and Troy.”
“Great, now what?”
“They wouldn’t say. They’re sending their people over now to see us. This was after I told them we were unable to leave the office today.
“They’ll be here in—”
The conference phone in front of them buzzed.
Felix dropped his hand on the phone, hitting the connect button blindly.
“Yep?”
“Mr. Campbell, I have a group of people here representing Reznik, Blacketer, and Troy to see you.”
“Tell Miss Aston we’ll see her shortly, we’re finishing up a meeting.”
“Of course.”
There was a pause. “Mr. Campbell, Miss Aston is no longer with the company, but they’re waiting.”
“Huh. That’s interesting.” Felix opened his eyes and rested his chin in his palm. “Now why would they get rid of her? She didn’t seem unintelligent.”
“She’s actually pretty good, as far as lawyers go. Graduated near top of her class, multiple offers for employment, spotless contract record,” Lily agreed, a frown crossing her pretty face. “I didn’t specify that Miss Aston was a problem in our complaint, nor did we ask to have anyone removed in it. If they got rid of her, it’s for their own reasons.”
Which means she refused to play ball, probably.
“Victoria,” Felix said, looking to his bodyguard.
The swordswoman came to attention, her head snapping around to him.
“Get me a Telemedic, the petty cash briefcase, and a brick of lead.”
Victoria hesitated, looking to Andrea.
The Beastkin apparently understood something he didn’t, as she suddenly split three times. The three Others left the room immediately, Victoria remaining in position at the door.
“Uh…” Felix started.
“She can’t leave her post. Don’t worry, my Others can handle it.”
“What are you planning?” Lily asked, leaning towards him. Her moist lips were parted in a predatory grin. “You’ve got something in mind.”
Felix shrugged, eyeing her. “How would you feel about hiring Miss Aston to work in your department? I’m betting she’s unemployed right now and looking.
“Knowing you, you’ve researched her top to bottom and even know her address. Your praise is never given freely, either. For you to compliment her, that means you actually think she’s worthwhile in some way.
“Telemedic taxis you to her, brings you and her back, we have a lovely meeting with her old team as she debriefs you on the way.
“Cash for whatever you need up front, gold bar to replenish the money you spend.”
Lily’s eyes scrunched up in delight and she leaned forward towards him. She reached out with her right hand to pat him on the chest. “I love it. And yes, I’d hire her in a heartbeat. I’ll draw up a standard Indentured contract for her.”
Thirty minutes later and Felix welcomed the team from Reznik, Blacketer, and Troy to have a seat at the conference table.
Victoria, Lily, Andrea, and now Lauren Aston were present, the latter three sitting with him on his side of the table.
Every person from the opposing team noticed Lauren sitting on Lily’s right hand side.
Apparently, Lauren had been blackballed by the community. So, when Lily had shown up with a cash in hand offer, a contract, and a new home to work out of, she had only had a few questions.
Her belongings would be arriving later.
As an Indentured, she would be offered a place to live on site, with the understanding that she could move out whenever she liked.
So far, no one had turned down the offer to live on site.
And when we buy up this street, we’ll see about expanding our subterranean kingdom. We’ll just use the buildings for defenses and other things.
From what Lily had told him after hiring her, Lauren had been dismissed for what they’d surmised. She’d sent a complaint to the ethics board about what her bosses had forced her to do.