The disappearance and probable death of a multi-billionaire tends to cause a bit of a stir. It was eight days before I flew back into LA, and reporters were waiting. I gave a prepared statement. Ongoing investigation, upcoming inquest, sub judice, old friend and business partner, great loss, tragic end to celebratory evening, no more questions...
Penny was also on the flight, disembarking later, and taking a different car. We met back at our suite and began packing. The phone rang. My blood chilled when I heard the voice on the the other end.
"Mr Carver. Please hold, the Secretary wishes to speak to you."
The next voice was familiar, and surprisingly friendly "Mr Carver, I hope you have time to talk?"
"Certainly, how can I help you?"
"It is more a question of how I can help you. I am sure that The Boss left instructions. Can we assist you in carrying them out?"
I knew instantly that my plan to keep the properties in my name was blown. Plan B: tell the truth and wing it. "Well, yes you could indeed. As you will appreciate it is my task now to wind up those property interests that The Boss had, which for privacy purposes and to ensure his reputation, are registered in my name. I am instructed to liquidate all of them, discretely, and then to activate a contract we had authorised some time ago, in which I will exchange them for a quantity of shares in a shell company that is one hundred percent owned by his estate. His estate then repurchases the shares, for an agreed sum as my commission. To that end I will be bringing all his portable assets to the next Meeting, and perhaps there are some property interests, such as the house in Jamaica, or the cabin in Aspen which have facilities for collectors which could also be auctioned."
"Do you have a full list of the property to be liquidated?"
"I can give you a copy of the full portfolio if you wish." I said
"Email it to me. Now. My assistant will give you the address." said The Secretary, and I was switched back to the woman who had first spoken.
A few clicks later I had emailed the folder from my secure drive, and the pgp public key.
I told Penny about the call. We kept packing.
Thirty minutes later the phone rang again. It was the same woman. I held on for two seconds until the voice of The Secretary drawled my name. "Mr Carver, you know The Boss left you instructions? He left me instructions as well."
"Oh? I didn't know that. Further instructions for me?" I asked, while my blood ran cold.
"Sort of. He left a register of his interests, the property he held but which was registered in your name. Your list corresponds well with his. Actually, yours is more up to date and includes a few things we do not have recorded. That is good, Mr Carver. Good for you. You see my instructions were to ensure that you were following his instructions. Clearly you are doing so. Therefore, his secondary instructions come into force. I wish to make you an offer Mr Carver. With the Boss's death there is an opening for Membership. Would you like to accept his nomination of you?"
"Membership? I'm sorry, but I don't understand. I haven't the money to pay for Membership."
"Fee would be waived. This is a transfer of his status to you."
"Well, I am, well, astounded. I had hoped that you might help me find another Member who would take me on as a Rep. And, actually, I was considering applying for a licence to become a Player. I never dreamed of Membership. Of course I would accept, although, to be honest I don't see myself having the resources to really mix with the Gentlemen, but if there are no restrictions on my trading, well, it would be an honour."
The Secretary made a thoughtful sound. "I had not considered that. Perhaps it would suit you better to be a Dealer. Yes. I am prepared to offer you a licence, if you would prefer that."
"Thank you Madame Secretary. I think that would be best. I am very grateful for your consideration. Thank you very much. I was wondering though, if I could request a further favour?"
"What?"
"I made a momentary error of judgement a few months back. I have learned a good deal from it. As it turns out the girl I bought has become a useful asset, she is good at handling the new girls, and is a good trainer, and has become a devoted slave, so I am happy enough to keep her. But we were required to attend the Red Room at the last Meeting, and at future meetings. Madame Rouge took it that we were not there as a Master with a slave, but as punishment for me. She was in vicious mood. I ended up in hospital, and am still recovering from my operation. It is not an experience I wish to repeat. I would like to be released from the obligation, otherwise I will find it difficult to attend future Meetings. It would also be useful if I could travel without the girl. I was obliged to have her with me at all times. I have a tracker on her now, and she is well disciplined. I know now what it means to be an owner, and she will not break the circle. Could some leeway be given?"
The Secretary was silent for a moment. "Reasonable enough. Lesson learned, Eh? I will cancel the previous proscription."
"Thank you Madam Secretary"
"No, thank you Mr Carver. I had begun to doubt The Boss's judgement, but it turns out he was right about you. A courier will be delivering you new instructions shortly. Good luck, Mr Carver in your new career."
The phone clicked off. I looked at it, wondering what those last remarks had meant The doorbell rang about two seconds later.
I recognised the man at the door of the suite. He was huge, a Pashtun hit man and enforcer. I thought I was about to die. He smiled. Too much gold. I thought I was about to die. He reached into his jacket and I knew I was about to die. He pulled out a thick envelope and handed it to me, saying "Congratulations." Maybe I wasn't about to die.
He turned on his heel and walked away, I closed the door. I half expected a hail of bullets to come through it. They didn't. Maybe I would live.
In the lounge I tore open the envelope, and started to read. I swore, and Penny came in from the bedroom with a worried expression.
"Michael, is everything alright?"
I handed the top sheet of paper to her, and she began to read it. After a few seconds she said "What does this mean?"
"It means we are free. Just about. The Boss has left instructions, all the assets in my name are mine. The income streams from the shell companies are secured by this document transferring them to stock in his computer firm and the hotel chain. Penny, I'm a millionaire. A multi-millionaire. That old bastard has left me the lot."
"He left it to you? But I thought it was already in your name?"
"Yes, but name only. I was to sell it all and hand it back to his estate, on pain death - I knew The Circle would keep an eye on me. But now I really do own in. The Villa, the cabin, the loft in New York, the Apartment down-town here, the Florida place, the London flat, the lot. And the cars and all the contents, including the Monet. And the girls of course. But the best news of all is that we never have to go to the Red Room again. They have given me a Dealer's licence. They have made me a Player."
Penny was astonished. She burst into tears an threw her arms round me. I hugged her, and couldn't help laughing. "What's wrong girl? This is just what we wanted!"
"Oh Michael, you are safe. I got you in so much trouble, but now you are safe again. I'm just so happy." she sobbed.
"Well if you are happy let's see a smile. Let's celebrate." I said, raising her chin. She smiled a little, and I kissed her, a quick peck, and then looked at her again. I was surprised at myself. That little kiss, and her warm body against me, had lit a spark.
I kissed her again, a little longer, and she melted against me. She whispered "Oh Michael," in tones of longing and wonder and submission, and my half hard cock was suddenly stiff.
Her hands were beneath my shirt in moments, and she hopped up to wrap her legs round me as we stood. I sucked on her lips and tongue, and grabbed her bottom to pull her against me. She leaned back for a moment and peeled off her tee-shirt, and I plunged my face into her cleavage, nuzzling her breasts still in her white lace bra.
It had been a long time since we had last had any physical intimacy. I had thought about her when I was screwing Charley on the yacht, and during the last week when, under suspicion for The Boss's death, I had slept alone in the hotel in Kingston. Now those notions were realised.
I carried her to the bedroom, and dropped her the last foot onto the bed. She squealed as she bounced, and I grabbed her belt to undo her trousers. She simply hooked her thumbs into the waistband and pushed them down. She had a tiny thong beneath.
I pulled the trousers off her legs, taking her shoes as well, and threw her legs wide to dive between them and plant my mouth on the small lace triangle that barely contained her bush. The material was soon pushed aside as I worked at her with my mouth, and loosened my belt and fly at the same time. I had her moaning and her hips rolling by the time I was ready, my trousers round my knees, and moved up her body, kissing her navel and across her bra, sucking her nipple through the lace, to her mouth which I penetrated at the same time as I penetrated her lower lips.
Cock and tongue both slid into her body's warmth, and I felt again the joy of her total involvement, her utter submission and engagement with my body. She was free, at peace, taken by her man, robbed of all responsibility, life was simple, and simply devoted to sensuous fulfilment. And I was free. Free to do anything I wanted with this girl, to plunder her body, to bend her will and flesh to my pleasure. And my pleasure included hers.
As I broke the kiss and lifted myself up to look at her, to look at my cock going into her, and her now fit young body bearing my tattoo rising to meet my thrusts, she breathed "Thank you Michael for taking me again. You'll make me come doing that."
"Yes, come for me Penny."
Her body rose again, thrusting herself onto me, and I pushed harder down into her. Her eyes glazed, and she soon threw her head back, breasts neck and face flushed red, gasping for air as I pounded her hard. When she came the waves of pressure inside her drove me over the edge, and I climaxed just as she was starting to relax. I buried myself in her body, as she held me, hips gently moving, pussy squeezing my cock, words of thanks whispered in my ear.
