The Last Network - Chapter 42
Go Time
The heat was on Kendra. She had enjoyed years of founder’s perks—private jets, big salary, and an unusual amount of control over the company. She got the special treatment because she was supposed to be special. Only the numbers were the numbers. It didn’t take a genius to see her time was running out. Kendra knew what was coming. Her board was going to replace her with someone cheaper and more efficient. It was in the company’s DNA, her DNA. That was going to be a problem. Kendra was highly leveraged. She’d taken her money from tech and put it in real estate. Single digit returns didn’t do it for her, so she decided to develop her own land. She was halfway through a project that consumed 75% of her compensation.
She couldn’t afford to be fired, at least not yet. She picked up her mobile and dialed Malcolm.
“Hello?”
“Malcolm, it’s Kendra.”
“Clever Kendra. How are you?”
“Lovely. I’ve got some wonderful news for you.”
“I hope it’s about our enterprise.”
“Why else would I call you darling?”
“You’ve called me many, many things, but darling is not one of them. So, what is it?”
“We are operationally ready. Do you have something lined up?”
“Yes, I’ve got something. Something light that pays. A million for the job, plus another million as a success fee.”
“That’s all my end?”
“It is.”
“Good. Let me know who Paolo should get in touch with.”
“Is he ready for this sort of thing?”
“Oh yes. We have him. Hook, line, and sinker.”
“Excellent.”
Kendra hung up and smiled. Two million was a good number. She needed to cut Paolo in for half, then the rest would go towards construction. Once Paolo took the money, she’d feel better about him. It would fill his belly, but also make him criminally bound to their conspiracy. While she had him trapped in a spiderweb of infatuation, rough sex, and blackout drugs, that wouldn’t hold forever. Paolo was no dummy. Without the money, the rush of the illicit would fade. That threat went away the second he took their cash. After that, there’d be no escaping. Thank God, too. Kendra was stretched thin. Between this job, some savings, and a golden parachute, she’d have enough to handle a worst-case scenario, but she needed more. Kendra had miscalculated badly with NAM and needed to make up for lost time.