Nikolai smiled and said, “Those provisions are all valid in perpetuity. He had me arrange those but I had no idea that it was because you had demanded it.”
“Good. So, for me … my apartment, my expenses …” Missy looked at each man with one eyebrow raised in question.
Gavriil smiled and said, “After much discussion, it was decided to place you on the board of directors at Boris-Apteka. Since Katalya is the majority shareholder and approves, this arrangement works best. In addition to paying for your apartment and whatever expenses are associated with that, you will receive three hundred thousand euros each month. That will be deposited to your account in Cyprus unless you prefer otherwise.”
“In return, what obligations will I have?” asked Missy. She realized all of this was because Katalya wanted to reward her fornotsleeping with Yury. Of course, since Katalya was now a billionaire, this wasn’t costing her all that much.
“You will need to attend board meetings,” replied Gavriil. “We will also want you to continue influencing our German suppliers and our Swiss bank, since the majority of our business comes from there. We talked earlier about how well you know Julius de Weck. If you could accompany me when I first go to Zurich to meet with him, I know that will be very helpful.”
Yes, Missy was now seeing how all this could work and she was growing excited. She could continue her spying role in Russia only now doing so as a businesswoman, sitting on the board of this large pharmaceutical and medical supplies company. Yeah, she could do that. She said, “I can agree to all of this provided I am not needed for a three-week period beginning this Friday. I plan to go away then and will not return until July eighth.”
Both men readily agreed to that and they continued to discuss this new arrangement for another twenty minutes.Then, when the meeting was breaking up and Gavriil was saying goodbye, Missy said, “I would like to discuss another matter with Nicolai before I go.” Looking at Gavriil she said, “Please tell Alek I will be out in just a few more minutes. You can email me with any questions or concerns while I am away.”
They shook hands and when Gavriil left them, Missy went over and closed the office door. She returned to where Nicolai was waiting and sat back down. He did likewise.
Then Missy asked, “How has Yury’s sudden death affected you, Nicolai? I know you probably believe I can no longer consider you as one of myresources, am I right?” That had been her demand when she had confronted him with proof that he had embezzled funds from Yury. She’d explained she had many resources, all because she was an expert blackmailer. She’d told him he must now become one such resource for her, “or else”. Since the “or else” was no longer a threat, she was curious to sense his reaction.
Nikolai studied Missy for several moments and then he answered, “Ah, well, that is true I suppose. Yury was a good friend and I am very sad that he is gone now. I do admit that your threat of exposing me to him is gone as well and thus I can probably ignore any demands from you.”
Missy nodded and said, “Yes, I won’t be making any demands other than this. You must never divulge to anyone how I was blackmailing you or how I told you that I have become very skilled at blackmailing others. Should you reveal our little secret, I assure you that it will not go well for you. Understood?”
Nikolai thought about that and realized she was right. While exposing his embezzlement to Yury was no longer a threat, she did still have proof of his stealing and she mightsomehow use that to discredit him should he go against her. He said, “I can agree to your one demand, Missy. You have managed to come away from this with a rather nice arrangement. You have many skills and I know you would make a most formidable foe. I have no wish for us to be enemies.”
“Good, I am glad to hear that,” said Missy. She now had only one more question she wanted him to answer. She asked, “Did you have anything to do with Yury’s death? I ask this because my threat of exposing you did provide you with a motive.”
“No, no! Of course not,” snarled Nikolai, apparently offended by her question.
Missy was surprised to sense that he wasnotbeing truthful. His manner was false and his reaction was all an act. She was saddened by this since it meant she now might bear some responsibility since it was her threat which had given him motive. She had never anticipated he would go to such extreme lengths, especially since she had never even made any demands. Now, she needed to have Lisa and Marie search for evidence which she could later confront him with.
“I will say goodbye then, Nikolai,” said Missy as she stood up to leave. “If you should need me for anything further, you know how to get ahold of me.” She turned and walked out of his office and was pleased to find Alek waiting for her.
“Take me home, please, Alek. This has been an interesting day and I thank you for all that you have done.”
Alek grinned at her and said, “Well, you will be thanking me even more after I give you this. Your new phone is ready.” He handed her the box containing her replacement phone.
Missy was indeed pleased to again have a phone. She would infect it with her Missy virus right away so Marie could then install all the same software on it as before. With a sudden inspiration, she said, “This calls for a celebration! Alek, I have changed my mind. I want to invite you and how ever many bodyguards are here to join me tonight for dinner. My treat. If you don’t already know this, I am being placed on the board of directors for Boris-Apteka, one of Yury’s former companies. Thanks to the generous salary I am being paid, I can afford this.”
Yeah, she figured the time for mourning was over. Yury was gone and she was not his widow, after all. The paparazzi could show her out eating at a good restaurant surrounded by all these men and that shouldn’t hurt her reputation at all.
Alek was surprised but then he grinned and said, “I must alert my team, Missy. I know they will all be very excited to accept your generous invitation!”
Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
After finally being brought back to her apartment and saying goodbye to Alek and her happy well-fed bodyguards, Missy called Lisa. They had lots to discuss and she wanted to explain these latest details on how things were going. She knew Lisa would update everyone else.
After they exchanged greetings, Lisa asked, “Did you receive your replacement driver’s license and identification documents yet?” Since she and Marie had originally created those, they had needed to do their magic, hack into some Russian websites, and arrange for them to be overnighted to Missy’s apartment.
“The driver’s license arrived this morning. I’m sure the other documents will come soon as well. Thanks!”
“Great. Obviously you got a replacement phone. I’ll have Marie do her thing once you infect it for her.”
“I’ll do that right after this call which I know you guys will somehow erase any evidence of,” said Missy. “But I wanted to request a couple of other things which the two of you can help with.”
“Sure, always glad to help.”
“Okay, I know you’re already checking on those three Russian assassins who attacked us in Beijing, killing Yury and the others. I have reason to believe Nikolai Vassiliev was somehow involved. He lied to me when I asked him about that.My blackmailing him might have been his motive.” Missy knew Lisa would understand all this since she and Marie had provided her with the evidence she’d been blackmailing Nikolai with. “See if you can find evidence linking Nikolai to those assassins.”
