What a pretty pussy you have, the text message says. I enjoyed the show.
I smile and run my fingers over the buttons. Next time, maybe it’ll be you between my thighs, I tease back.
The bubbles pop up and take way too long. I wait patiently, watching them, until his reply comes up.
Maybe it will be, the message says. Good night, Boba_Juliette.
Good night, Otto_Bot, I reply, and set the phone on the bedside table before rolling over and falling asleep.
I don’t remember the camera is watching until I wake up the next morning.
When Elsie goes to school the next morning, I settle in and wait about fifteen minutes before the doorbell rings and I’m letting in Dagen and Otto’s robot stand in again. I don’t know if Dagen just brings the thing with him or what. I flush as Otto’s face moves in the static, reminding me of what I’d done last night, but I clear my throat and close the door behind them, trying to compose myself. When I turn back to my living room after locking the door, Wylan is already lounging on the couch, snacking on the chips from my pantry. I never have any idea how he gets in here, not with the security systems. It must be a game to him.
I roll my eyes at Wylan even as my gaze lingers on Dagen when he walks in. His eyes seem to do the same with me, leaving me breathless as I’m reminded of our kiss and his promise. I try to get my bearings before anyone else notices, but Wylan flashes a look at me that says I’m not entirely successful. Apparently, I’m doomed to be flustered around these three.
“Let me get you something to drink,” I say as everyone takes a seat around the kitchen table. “I have coffee, tea, orange juice?—”
“Sit down,” Dagen says, shaking his head. “You don’t have to fuss over us like children.”
I flush brighter at his words, and he sighs. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound that aggressive, but we’re big boys. We don’t need you to get us anything. Besides, Wylan clearly doesn’t have a problem helping himself.”
True to that, Wylan plops down his own freshly brewed cup of tea, the chips still in his hands. He has been in my house long enough to brew tea, apparently. “I’ve eaten out of the kitchens of men I’ve killed, mate. This is hardly that bad.”
I blink. “You do what?”
Wylan glances at me. “Rich bastards have the best food, crumpet. Can’t say no to some expensive tasties, yeah?”
“How the hell have you not been caught yet?” Otto asks from the screen, his mask flickering.
“Because I’m sexy,” Wylan teases. “And good at what I do.”
“So, what are we talking about today?” I ask, bringing the subject back to the matter at hand before I make a fool out of myself.
“Right,” Otto says. “I’m showing all the information I’ve found and we’re going to discuss our next move.”
Dagen leans back in his chair, looking far too expensive for my secondhand kitchen furniture. “Go on.”
“He has a lot of accounts,” Otto begins. “And he’s not very clever at hiding them, actually. I’ve found five different accounts in the States. And three more offshore ones not including the one we drained. Asset-wise, he’s worth about nine million at this point, but that’s not because of his prowess at business. Much of the money has been from him skimming off the top of Aria Tech or accepting bribes from other companies.”
“So, he’s been embezzling money from his own company,” Dagen nods. “That makes sense. The shareholders won’t like that.”
“No, they won’t, not when it’s publicly traded,” Otto agrees. “Which is how we take him down financially. I’ll shoot the information to the FBI once you give the go ahead, but I can send what I have your way to look over. His accounts will be frozen pretty quickly once we send it off pending an investigation.”
“Do it,” I say, jumping the gun, but Dagen shakes his head.
“We should wait until after the gala,” he counters.
“Why?”
“The New York Tech Gala is in a few weeks, which I’m sure Otta has mentioned. It’s a prime opportunity to ruin him socially first,” Dagen offers. “Otto can handle that.”
“Good place to nix him, too,” Wylan adds. “Crowded places and all that.”
I don’t respond, knowing that Wylan is always commenting about killing people, and we’ve already talked about it. We aren’t killing Ric. At least, it’s not in the plan yet. We’re just making sure he won’t mess with me and Elsie again.
“You said nine million?” I ask again, staring into the screen. Despite the mask, I imagine I’m looking into his eyes.
The robot screen shakes a little. “Yes, but that doesn’t include stock market worth. With that included in, he’s worth about ten million. He’s not particularly good at investing. Takes too many risks.”
