Somehow she had managed to discover and document some banking transactions showing where he had been stealingfunds from Yury. She then had confronted him, demanding that he now become aresourcefor her. Yeah, she had bragged about how skilled she was at blackmailing people whom she referred to as herresources. Obviously, they had helped find the proof of his embezzlement. And now he too was enslaved to her since otherwise she would reveal his treachery to Yury. She’d allowed him to keep the funds he’d stolen but had made him promise to always comply with her wishes.
It had been two months since then and she was yet to make any demands. He knew, however, that someday she would do so and he would have no choice but to do whatever it was she wanted. Just as Cicero had written about centuries earlier, he was now sitting under a similar Sword of Damocles. He couldn’t have her killed since that would only trigger his being exposed to Yury by one of her resources. No, he must now remain at her beck and call for as long as Yury was alive.
Nikolai nodded in agreement and said, “Yes, their current visit to China will be best for various reasons. Not everyone over there is happy with the business arrangements which Yury has managed to secure. That bitch he has for a mistress has somehow influenced the terms and conditions for those recent deals to be way too much in his favor.”
“That will help convince the investigators over there that some other Chinese competitor will be responsible for their assassination,” said Stepan. “We will make certain the media coverage reveals there are several over there who were very jealous.” They continued to discuss details for a few minutes more and then Stepan left.
Nikolai sat back and mused for a bit after that. Provided Yury died, the threat of exposure would die with him and Missy’sresources would no longer be a concern. Her death would then eliminate any danger hanging over his head.
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Thursday, Jun 9, 2022
Although it was now late in the day for Missy, it was only midafternoon for Lisa. They had been reviewing what Missy might accomplish during her upcoming visit to Beijing. Thanks to her previously infecting the electronic devices of several government officials, including Jiakun Wu, the SOD Group had learned a great deal about China’s partnership with Russia.
While not a formal military alliance, the relationship had grown significantly after the invasion of Ukraine. Lisa explained, “There is a growing military-technological cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and space technology. Those contracts Yury is managing are merely the beginning. From what information we’ve been able to access, China plans to provide items like drone parts and microelectronics which Russia can use on the battlefield in Ukraine.”
“Well, we certainly will want to mess with all of that,” agreed Missy. “Do you have more names for me to spy on?” As always, meeting such individuals would enable her to subsequently teleport to wherever they might be in her spirit form, even should she leave her body behind halfway across the world in Turkey, Russia or the U.S. She then could eventually infect their electronic devices giving the SOD Group access to all their data and communications.
“Yeah, I’ll send you our latest list,” said Lisa. “Knowing you’ll be at that conference we have researched who else will likely be there and whom those individuals are close to. We’ve also been adding more Chinese interpreters to our staff back here so we can process everything.”
“Great! I know Jiakun Wu wants to impress his buddies by having me go out with them. Ever since that magazine over there published the story about me tossing knives in that Beijing nightclub, with my photo on its cover, he’s been begging Yury for me to return.”
Lisa chuckled and said, “Yeah, you’re almost as big a celebrity over there as you are in Russia. Good luck on your trip. Marie and I are looking forward to seeing you again next Tuesday when you return for your full moon celebration.”
“How many new SOD Group folks will you guys have with you?” asked Missy. With Gene and Amanda Tremblay being werewolves working at the SOD Group and with Missy being the Alpha of the New England Werewolf pack, there were always new employees who wanted to come down to witness one of these celebrations. After being vetted to learn about supernaturals, getting to actually witness some of them as they all Shifted into their ferocious animal forms made everything very, very real.
Missy finished her call with Lisa and then went over to talk with Major Grimes. She found him still working in his office and when he looked up and saw her, he waved her in.
“You’ll be away for several days once again. China. Werewolf full moon stuff. You lead a very interesting life, Missy!” The major grinned at her as she took a seat.
“I do, sir, I definitely do. I’m just waiting for Lisa to send her latest persons of interest list and then I’ll teleport to Moscow. My flight to Beijing leaves early tomorrow morning and I still need to pack some bags for that trip.”
“I know you work twenty-four seven when you’re spying. I suppose the plane rides back and forth will give you a chance to actually sleep. You don’t plan to teleport out of body while on the plane, do you?”
Missy grinned and answered, “No, I won’t leave my body like that and yes, I’ll probably be able to get some sleep. My billionaire Yury pays for me to always fly first-class so the plane rides are nice.”
“Great! I look forward to hearing all about things next week when you return.” After chatting with Missy for a few more minutes, the major watched her leave his office and head off on her next adventure. He had grown very fond of this amazing supernatural girl during the past three years. Sure, she was a werecat-witch-warrior-woman but he simply could not stop seeing her as a young, beautiful girl who somehow, miraculously, was doing things far beyond anything he could ever have dreamed possible.
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Friday, Jun 10, 2022
When Missy exited the taxicab and entered the Citadines Ritan Hotel in Beijing, it was about twenty minutes past eight local time. She had enjoyed the flight from Moscow and indeed had taken advantage of the opportunity to rest and sleep. Now she was ready to go.
When she opened the door to the suite where she would stay with Yury, he was there and happy to see her. They were in the same luxurious top floor suite as their most recent stay and it had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. She said, “I made it, no problem. How has the conference been going?”
Yury said, “Everything is going great, especially now that you are here. As usual, arrangements for dinner here at the hotel have been made just for us. Jiakun Wu will be thrilled to see you and has brought some of his associates who are anxious to meet my famous mistress.”
While waiting for the porter to bring her bags up, Missy quickly checked for both surveillance cameras and listening devices. She also placed some wards around the place as she did so. She explained to Yury, “I’ll again only use this other bedroom for sleeping. We don’t want the housekeeping staff to reveal we sleep separately so once my bags get up here, I’ll unpack them and arrange everything in your bedroom.”
Yury had been following her around and now said, “Thanks, I do appreciate that. I only wish we were not sleeping separately but you know that.” He knew she enjoyed tormenting him and sighed when she merely gave him one of her raised eyebrow glances.
There were no recording devices and after her bags arrived she watched Yury tip the porter and close the door. “What sort of outfit do you want me to wear?” she asked. She was dressed in simple clothes for travel, had minimal makeup on and her hair was down.
“You always look stunning once you get yourself all dolled up, Missy. I don’t know how you manage doing that so quickly.Most women would require an hour for what only takes you about twenty minutes.”
Missy had been unpacking and now she held up a simple green dress which she knew would fit her “Moscow body” nicely and yet be modest enough. “I think my eyeshadow will work with this one. Go ahead and hang the rest of my dresses in the closet and I’ll be right back.” She grabbed her makeup kit, the dress and a few other items and headed into the other bedroom.
