It always begins with something small.
Email with the incriminating photos are sent, and the media bites quickly. Not because two apparently consenting adults are engaged in sexual conduct, but because one man is lying insensate while another is trying on his uniform.
A time-consuming visit to the University produces a graphologist who can verify Hitoshi's handwriting, but says the full analysis will take 72 hours. Lya grudgingly agrees - having the process underway will have to do.
And then, the visit to Hitoshi's office. It's quiet, because it's a Sunday afternoon. You try the keycard from the other Westview Grand, and it unlocks the doors.
"Phoebe? Secretary's desk. Start calling the board members," you direct.
"On it."
Orders have been left in a sealed envelope ...
"Damn you, Hitoshi," you mutter.
"Lya?" comes a voice from an adjacent office. Mika Hanamura is sitting at her desk. She swings her computer monitor aside. "Is there something wrong? Hitoshi isn't here."
"I know that. He left me this open-if-you-don't-hear-from-me letter," you say, showing an excerpt to Mika.
... in the event of my death, transfer ownership ...
Mika mutters something in Japanese. "Oh, hell. I suppose it'd be silly to ask if you tried his phone?"
"Several times. No answer."
"We'll have to call a board meeting and hope we have a quorum. We'll start with James Sokatsu ..."
"I'll tell Phoebe," Orithia says, heading back to the reception area.
"... what else did the letter say?"
"That there are instructions in his safe. I have the combination," you say.
"We'll wait for James. He's served as Hitoshi's agent before, so he can attest to the authenticity of the letter," Mika said. "And he'll be able to effect any instructions Hitoshi left behind."
"Daaaaaaaad?" Gregory Mason's son ran into the den and gave him the handset.
"Mason."
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Mason," Phoebe said. "I'm calling on behalf of Hitoshi Ryder ..."
"What cockamamie charity does he want our backing for now?" Mason half-snarled.
"I'm afraid I don't have that information, Mr. Mason," Phoebe said sweetly, while making stab-stabbity motions with the pen in her hand. "I'm calling to advise you of an emergency board meeting at 11:30 AM."
Mason glanced at his watch. He'd miss the AFC Playoff game. But damned if he was going to let Ryder destroy the company - and the investment - he'd built over the past several years. And if Ryder thought he could run him out of town on a rail like he did John Jennings, well ...
"Okay, Matt, go tell your Mom I have to drive in to town for a meeting," Mason told his son.
"Caller presently unavailable. Not even voicemail," Sokatsu said. He hung up and shook his head at Mika and the others. "Do you have any idea where he was going, Lya? And who's this Lyman he talks about?"
Oh, no one in particular, Lya thought. Just the Norse God of Lies. "Some weaselish fellow that came backstage after our show," Lya said. "Made some kind of offer, maybe even a threat, because Hitoshi went all quiet and broody. When we went out for drinks later, he spent a lot of time talking about making things better and protecting his family and friends."
"That sounds like Hitoshi," James agreed. "All right. Let's go open the safe."
Sokatsu pulled out his smartphone and began recording the proceedings, identifying himself and asking Lya and Mika to identify themselves. "Ms. Bach, will you open the safe?"
Lya punched in the code and worked the handle. There was only one thing inside, a packet that must be the instructions mentioned in the letter.
"Mika, would you open the packet and spread out the contents so I can see them? Thank you," James said. He glanced at them and turned the camera back towards himself. "The documents appear to be in order. If we cannot locate Hitoshi Ryder or establish his well-being, we will be obligated to carry out his instructions and transfer ownership to Ms. Bach."
The whole of the Board arrived for the meeting.
"This had better be important, Sokatsu," Mason growled.
"It is," James said. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Board, this is Lya Bach."
"The singer," Doug Maxwell noted.
"Yes. And the apparent beneficiary of final instructions left by Hitoshi Ryder," James said.
"Final instructions?" asked Amelie Pelletier. "Are you saying Hitoshi Ryder is ... dead?"
Selene Chase hid her reaction behind widening eyes. "Oh, gods."
"Beneficiary," Mason said. "Too bad seats on the Board don't work like that."
"You misunderstand me, Gregory," Sokatsu said. "He left the Casino in its entirety to Ms. Bach."
"The hell you say."
"I do say. And perhaps you should review the copy of the letter before making any more pronouncements," James warned.
Mason glanced at his copy of the letter. "What is this, a Japanese soap opera? What is this shit? And who is Lyman?"
"I'm not sure I approve of the notion that our CEO ran off to kill someone," Selene Chase said. "I'm calling for a vote of no confidence."
"It doesn't work that way, Selene. While the letter may leave some question as to Hitoshi Ryder's actions, his final instructions were separate and dated well before this letter," James said.
The photos flicked onto the table so quickly, no one was sure who had done it.
"Oh, my god. What is this? Ryder is spying on us?" another board member asked.
Selene went pale. "That's ..."
"... not you? Or you, Doug?" Mason asked. "Is this your doing, Sokatsu, you smug bastard?"
"I admit to the same surprise as yourself," James said. "The photos clearly show Selene and Doug Maxwell engaged in activities that are, at best, questionable."
"They're fakes," Selene said dismissively. "I won't sit here and be slandered by proxy."
"Feel free to enjoy it in your own home... or a bar... or on your phone... or on TV displays while walking down the street," Lya replies sweetly as she smiles at Selene, "because the media is already having a field day trying to figure out why two members of our board are having a sex party with a Senator while trying to dress someone up to impersonate an Army Colonel...especially with the President coming to town."
She looks meaningfully at the board members and places her hands on the table as she leans forward. "I finally took a good look at this hotel and I have to say, I know why he left it to me now." She wrinkles her nose. "This place is so old and stale it stinks." she leans forward and takes another sniff at Selene. "Or maybe it's wet dog."
"The hotel security failed during your concert series and injuries were caused by known gang members. Not only that, but the attempted assassination of a public official happened on your doorstep by the same gang! Do you think the FBI is going to forget that little tidbit when they start asking about those photos? Do you think the masses are even going to listen to your proclamations of innocence when they're watching another rich person get their just deserts on national television?"
She slams her fist down on the table. "This hotel is sick and dying... and the only way to save it is to remove the infection. This is your chance to be proactive before it explodes in your face, so I suggest you take it."
She slaps down the prospectus with her ideas for the hotel and personnel suggestions. "Hitoshi's letter gives you the opening you need to appoint a new CEO who is popular with the masses, as well as a known philanthropist. I've known Karen Ryder most of my life, and I believe she would support me with the transition. Once that's complete we'll of course need to separate ourselves from the incidents at the hotel by publicly denouncing the actions of Douglas and Selene and letting them go. Throw in a good PR spin of shock and dismay, and maybe... maybe... this hotel can continue to survive and thrive."
She taps a finger against her cheek as she ponders for a moment. "We might want to consider changing the name, though. I mean... half the people in town can't get the name right anyway. How about something regal... The Pantheon, maybe?"
Mason paled.
"You leaked this to the media? Why?" he asked. "We're looking at serious, if not long-term damage to our shares!"
A round of chaotic shouting followed. Protestations of innocence from Selene. Doug Maxwell fidgeting with an onyx ring on his right hand - a common enough adornment for an executive, but possibly much more for a Scion. But he was caught in the open, among mortals as well as others of his kind.
And the pictures! They showed events that hadn't happened yet, but must have happened in one of the alternate realities Armand - Jason - had been seeking to exploit. Had Lyman been caught? How? The Daughter of Heimdall, perhaps? He needed to throw them off the scent. The Norse gods weren't his patrons, after all. Maybe he could cut a deal.
"It's the Japanese. That Pacific Rim deal," he temporized. "Don't you see it? They're cutting us out. We've been set up." A couple of the other board members nodded sagely.
"That's bullshit, Douglas," Amelie Pelletier said. "You don't destroy a property you're trying to acquire."
"She said it herself," Maxwell argues, pointing at Lya. "Out with the old, in with the new. We can stop it, though, if we band together, put our shares behind a man who knows how to build value. Gregory?"
"Are you offering to sell me your shares, Doug?"
"If that's what's needed to keep this debacle from destroying the Westview Group."
"James, you handled the transfer of John Jennings' shares," Mason said. "Do we defer action until the opening of business tomorrow?"
"A memorandum of understanding would be sufficient," Sokatsu says. "That would give the new CEO the authority to act, while the actual transaction can be handled by our respective brokers on Monday."
"Done," Maxwell said, scribbling out a note. He handed it to Mason. "I'm not going to let this company go down the drain."
"Someone else - well, several someones - will have to do the same. Ryder still has the majority share, and Jimmy, there, has authority to vote them," Mason noted. "Selene? You and Doug are the ones who are vulnerable, here."
"I don't see that she has any choice," Pelletier said. "If this goes viral, the Board of Directors is answerable. Whether or not you sell your shares to Gregory, the Board will require both of your resignations."
"Fine," snarled Selene. She, too, jotted out a note and slid it across the table to Mason. And then she kissed him. "Kill the bitch for me, Gregory." She moves towards the exit, laughing. Mason's eyes roll up into his head, and then refocus. He glares at Lya, seething with rage ...
Klepto moves to block the door with arms crossed. "You're not going anywhere, bitch."
"James, I suggest you call security and everyone move away from Mr. Maxwell," Lya says calmly as she steps back, her hand moving to her shoulder holster under her suit jacket. Let them all see them for who they really are first...
Toxic, Phoebe and Orithia move themselves around the edges of the room, ready to move at a moments notice.
"Gregory," Amelie Pelletier says. "Gregory."
Mason is still behaving like a vicious dog. He advances several steps towards Lya, but is blocked by Toxic, who is his equal in height.
Mika Hanamura quietly gathers the signed notes and gives them to James Sokatsu, who is on the phone with Security. He places them in his portfolio and closes it.
"Ah. You're not just the band," Selene laughs, her voice taking on a colder tone. "What are you, Valkyries?"
"I am the warrior who will kick your ass into next week," Klepto says.
"Oh, you can try," Selene smiles. In a blur, she swipes a hand across Klepto's midriff as if she'd had claws. When she moves, it isn't entirely ... human, but something feral.
Klepto turns away from the blow, but there's still a spray of blood as she catches Selene's wrist and wrenches her arm into a painful lock. Selene cries out - or snarls, it's hard to tell which - as Klepto bends her backwards towards the table. There's a snapping sound as Klepto pushes the arm lock and breaks bone, then a thud as she uses the slack to slam Selene's head against the table several times.
Toxic's fist snaps out in a short, powerful punch that catches Gregory Mason square in the face.
"Snap out of it, or I will put you down," she warns. When Mason doesn't appear to hear her warning, she follows through with a roundhouse, then a leg sweep that drops the executive to the floor.
Maxwell makes an up-and-down gesture with his hands and vanishes from sight.
"Klepto, watch out!" calls Orithia.
"Busy!" Klepto says, still wrestling with a biting and clawing Selene Chase.
Mika Hanamura shoves one of the chairs across the room. There's a grunt as it hits something and topples.
"Lya!" shouts Phoebe. Maxwell is still invisible, but there's no doubt he's heading for Lya ...
Lya brushes back her jacket and draws her pistol out in a practiced motion as she fires low (in order to avoid hitting others) in the area where the chair impacted with what she guessed was Douglas Maxwell.
"Time to fess up to the lies, Douglas!" Lya calls out as she cocks her gun and Phoebe and Orithia move to guard her flanks. "You and the bitch are traitors to our country who deserve to pay for what you've done! Show yourself and seek absolution."
"Am I supposed to drip blood all over and reveal where I am? That only works in movies," Maxwell's voice comes out of thin air, moving as he moves. You can only track him in a vague, general way, though he's clearly trying to close the distance. "I'd thought North was the Perry Mason in your group. You must know that you can't stop it, even if Jason screwed up again. It has a life of its ... oof!"
Phoebe's fist lashes out, and you hear a satisfying, meaty smack.
"Guh ... how did you ...?" Maxwell gasps. He flickers into view, doubled over in pain. He's closer than you thought, but neither are you off target.
"Fighting the unseen is something we learn at an early age," Phoebe says. "Your ring. Whatever relic you're wielding, or we'll break your arm."
Orithia wrenches his arm around and rips the ring off his finger. "I say we break his arm anyway."
"Maenads. Oh, shit," Maxwell says. He winces. "Just make it quick."
"Nah... Dad liked people too much to give me Maenads," Lya snarls as she gets in Maxwell's face. "Me, I think that's what some of you deserve," she finishes before striking him in the temple with the butt of her gun, causing his unconscious body to sag between the grips of Phoebe and Orithia.
Lya holsters her gun looks questioningly at Klepto who shakes her head imperceptibly. Lya then nods at Mika before sitting on the conference table and smiling at the rest of the board members. "Well now we've got the assault and attempted murder of someone with a rightful claim to this company, which, other than Miss Hanamura I might add, you all did nothing to stop. I could gladly explain this to the cops if you like... or, as your new CEO, I could keep this little incident a company matter and be the face on the news that saves this hotel."
"I wasn't aware my role as a member of this board included 'action heroine,'" Amelie Pelletier frowns. "Selene and Douglas are responsible for their own actions. If Gregory regains his senses, we can return to the discussion of consolidating shares. If not, my only concern is the continued and smooth operation of the Westview Grand.
"But there's clearly more to the situation than corporate politics. Douglas' vanishing act, for one. Mason's drooling zombie routine. And Selene's Rhonda Rousey imitation. Would you care to offer some insight so we know what to tell the police?"
"I can offer insight... but it's up to you whether you want to actually tell it to the police or not," Lya replies before walking over to Klepto and putting a hand to the bloody scratches covering her torso. "You might want to get checked for rabies after that," she chuckles as her hand warms with energy that radiates into the wound, leaving only the ragged fabric of Klepto's shirt and the gasps of onlookers as proof that the attack even happened.
"Damn... I just got this," Klepto groans before leaning over the unconscious Selene sprawled over the table. "You owe me a new shirt," she growls.
"When I mentioned my father, what I should've said was he was Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine." She gestures towards Selene. "That bitch, she's the spawn of Fenris, the great wolf from Norse mythology. This asshole," she kicks the unconscious Maxwell," I'll have to ask him who his parent is when he wakes up." She sighs. "The world is replete with the children of gods and goddesses from just about every religion, actually, because they're all true. Not everyone gets to know their heritage, though. Some of us are just 'lucky' enough to be told the truth of it."
She pulls her flask out from her other coat pocket and takes a sip before offering it to Amelie. "A lot to take in, I realize. If it's easier, you can just tell yourself that Douglas, Selene and Gregory are a part of some crazy "Left Behind" cult who think that they need to cause the end of the world in order to achieve salvation." She shrugs. "Either way works. Oh... and I didn't mean to imply that you needed to be a hero, Amelie... I was just letting you know that I'll remember who was."
"I am sorely tempted to tell anyone who asks that it was an ill-fated romantic triangle," Amelie says. "Your acquisition of a controlling interest upset the apple cart, and they reacted poorly. Let the police sort out the rest."
"As Hitoshi's Ryder financial advisor and executor of his estate, I will abstain on that question," Sokatsu says. "While these are unusual circumstances, our only obligation is to observe the particulars of Hitoshi's instructions. It is highly unlikely that a court would ignore the legal instructions of a principal and rule in favor of the Board - in particular, Gregory Mason."
"Absent Hitoshi's return or a legal refutation of his final wishes, Ms. Bach is the new owner of the Westview Grand," he adds. "I call for a vote to affirm her as the new CEO, Selene Chase, and Douglas Maxwell to be divested of their shares under the ethics clause in the Westview's articles of incorporation, with Gregory Mason's shares also in question pending a determination of the extent of his involvement."
"Seconded," Amelie Pelletier said. "All in favor?" Unanimous.
"The motion carries," Pelletier noted. "Now, the pending absence of three members leaves us with three vacancies. While I do not expect to settle this question here and now, nominating and confirming new board members will be one of our first priorities. Ms. Bach?"
"My suggestion is that we tell the cops and media that are sure to be involved that we as a unified group discovered their involvement with a questionable religious terrorist group and did our civic duty to root it out and remove them. When we confronted the three of them, they chose to attack us and were dealt with swiftly before being turned over to the authorities. Not that far from the truth, really, as Hitoshi had his suspicions and asked for my help to watch these guys a while ago."
She gestures with a hand at the unconscious trio. "Ladies and gentlemen, this company needs a scapegoat in order to survive... and I do believe they've volunteered. If we can all agree on that, maybe we can work on moving forward with this company and making this hotel the talk of Las Vegas for the right reasons."
She turns to Amelie with a faint smile. "I imagine you've already got some names in mind, Mrs. Pelletier, as I'm sure the rest of the board members will too. If Miss Hanamura and Mr. Sokatsu would be so kind as to continue their exemplary job performance in my employ, I'm sure we'll be able to go over the suggestions provided and fill the positions in due speed."
She then steps over to Orithia and leans in to whisper. "Make sure you search them for possible relics before handing them over to security."
Orithia nods and hands Maxwell's ring to Lya. "Enjoy the new jewelry."
As Klepto wrestles an unconscious Selene around, she notices her broken arm ... isn't.
"She heals like Alex," she warns. Selene's arm isn't even bruised.
"Then she's likely to regain consciousness quickly, too," Toxic says. She points at one of the other board members. "You and you. Your ties and belts."
The men removes the requested items. Toxic tosses one of each to Phoebe and Klepto, who use them to bind and gag Selene and Maxwell.
"What about Sleeping Beauty?" Orithia asks, nodding towards Gregory Mason. "Was he doped with Jotunblut, or whatever it's called?"
"I don't know. Maybe Alex can tell," Lya frowned. "Tie his hands and toss him in a corner."
"Excuse me. You called for Security, Mr. Sokatsu?" a plainclothes officer asked.
"I did, Martin. Please escort Ms. Chase and Mr. Maxwell to our holding cells," James tells him. "Douglas attacked a new board member, and Ms. Chase assaulted one of her associates. We haven't decided whether we'll be pressing charges, but their privileges and access are no longer valid."
"Sir?"
"Treat them as you would a card counter. Empty their pockets and be on the lookout for associates," James directed. "They don't get released unless it's been cleared with myself, Ms. Pelletier, or Ms. Bach."
"Yes, Sir."
Sokatsu waited until security had left with the two Scions.
"It's not going to be that easy. If Gregory is in his right mind, he'll contest the 'will,' as well as any actions taken while he was unconscious. Fortunately, we've still a quorum. Ms. Bach, you have my number. I will be placing a transaction hold on Selene and Douglas' shares. With that, I motion we adjourn."
"Seconded," said one of the junior board members. "Ancient gods? End of the world? I'll be in the lounge getting smashed. And then I'm going to empty my bank account and blow it on a single hand of blackjack. Hey, if the world's ending, right?"
He laughs nervously, then stops as he realizes Lya and the Furies aren't laughing at all.
"Motion passes. Adjourned."
Lya heaves a sigh of relief as the board members start shuffling out of the room to deal with aftermath and Klepto claps a hand on her shoulder. "Knew you could do it." she then nods at Toxic. "How about you and I keep an eye on the holding cells while they finish up here?"
"Yeah, we don't want Lyman trying to impersonate someone to set them free," Toxic mutters as they head out the door. "Your turn to pick up coffee, though."
Lya then turns to Mika with a grateful smile. "You handled yourself well considering the circumstances, Mika; I wasn't lying when I said that I notice people who can do what needs to be done." She leans against the conference room table with her arms crossed as she takes a good hard look at Hitoshi's erstwhile assistant. "I will admit... I don't know the first thing about running a hotel, but Hitoshi trusted me to make the hard decisions in his absence and he obviously trusted you to do the same... so maybe we can continue that arrangement? I'm going to need help keeping everything organized... and the first point of order is going to be a press conference."
She chuckles to herself. "The media hates being second when it comes to big news... so best to spin things our way first."
Mika gives you a brief bow. "The day-to-day operations are handled by others, including Karen Ryder, who is ... detail-oriented enough to have documented all of the necessary procedures."
"I can place the necessary calls if you wish to hold a press conference. And while we do not know if Gregory Mason is complicit, as James pointed out, there is nothing to suggest Hitoshi's final instructions are anything other than they seem."
"Do you want the press conference to be this evening, or Monday morning? And are there any guests you wish to have present?" Mika asks.
The holding cells for the Westview are basically a series of small interview rooms. A table, two chairs, and a one-way mirror.
Maxwell says nothing as he is shown to one room, taking his seat without protest. Selene, however, is not as cooperative, promising to exact revenge against ... well, everyone involved. And their families.
"Look, I realize you heal quickly," Klepto says. "Doesn't matter to me, I'll just hurt you more."
"Hey, now ..." one of the security guards starts to object, stops when Toxic glares at him.
"We'll be keeping an eye on things," Klepto says. She smacks one of the guards on the back of his head. He'd met Selene's eyes and had begun to stare.
"Because of stupid shit like that. From this point on, if I ask you a question or ask you to do something, and you don't reply with an immediate answer to the affirmative, I will punch your lights out."
"You can't do t-"
Punch.
"Anyone else want to argue?" Klepto asked.
"Let me get a few ducks in a row first, and we'll set up the press conference for Monday. Why don't you get me a meeting with Karen Ryder first, Mika. If she accepts one of the available positions on the board we'll need her with us to help show a unified front for the new direction of the hotel. We'll of course need the rest of the board members too and our attorney to handle the legal questions you just know they'll hit us with."
"Hai, Miss Bach-sama," Mika replies with a bow before pulling out her phone to start making calls.
Lya turns to Orithia and leans in to speak quietly. "See if you can use our keycards to search their offices before security clears them out."
Lya then pulls out her phone and dials her cousin, taking a deep breath before before he answers.
"What's up, cousin? The dreams are still a bummer, but nothing's changed yet."
"I've got a bit of a business proposition for you, Arky," Lya replies as she scoots back to sit on the conference room table and lets her feet dangle over the edge. "You up for helping me redesign a hotel in order to bring back some of that old family style to Las Vegas? It seems that Hitoshi has left the Grandview to me for some crazy reason... and I've got to tell you, we both need your help badly. Help me out and I bet I could swing adding a few employees under the table if you guys need some extra income."
"Redesign a hotel?" he says. "Ohhhhh, I love it when you talk dirty to me. The glass-and-chrome look has to go. Art Deco. Or maybe Art Nouveau. Yeah, Art Nouveau."
"Wait. Did you just offer me a job, Lya?"
"Well you know, there are three positions available on the board right now, and you are a big name in the art world," Lya replies innocently and smiles to herself.
"I think Art Nouveau would perfect, Arky. If I whisper sweet nothings like 'artistic freedom' in your ear will that turn you on and get you to join me?"
"If the offer were coming from anyone else, I'd say no," Arky says. "I'd be afraid of getting captured by the system and becoming useless, another suit who knows the music, but not the right dance steps. But with you, that's not likely to happen. You want me on the board? Sure."
"And are you serious about the redesign? I have a degree in architecture, I just wanted to design things other than ugly lumps on the Strip."
"I wouldn't yank your chain, Arky," Lya replies as she grabs a pen off the table and chews at the end cap.
"I never thought of myself running a hotel in a million years... but Hitoshi did leave the thing to me, which means it needs to be my hotel... run my way. I couldn't think of anyone I would trust more to design it. I can't imagine the board will say no, so you'll just need to look your best and come in with some ideas for everyone Monday before the press conference, OK? And if you need to bring in some of your crew to help, I'm sure we can work something out where they can stay under the radar."
"I'm on it," Arky says. "Expect me and Tawny. Ahhhhh. This is just what I neeed, Lya. You know how it is. Music for you, art for me - it pushes back the darkness, and I can see again."
"What time for the big meeting?"
"We'll want the press conference to time it right for the evening news Monday night... so make sure you're here with bells & whistles on by 4:00 pm at the latest."
Lya smiles to herself and makes a fist pumping motion as she kicks her feet. "You're a star, Arky. You and me, we'll give the people of Las Vegas something to remind them of the good times again. I can't wait to see your plans! Ciao!"
With that Lya hangs up and pushes off the table to find her new assistant. "Miiiikaaa! I need that meeting with Karen Ryder, stat!"
"Karen Ryder is expecting you in the Operations Center," Mika tells you. "Also, if I may have your keycard for a moment?"
She taps out something on her keyboard, and swipes your card through a reader.
"Your card has been upgraded to a master key," she says, pointing to her screen. The thumbnail photo of you was snapped some time during the meeting, and the title is clear: Lya Bach, Owner/CEO. "I can have executive access cards prepared for your associates."
You motion for Orithia and Phoebe to join you. Your relationship with Karen Ryder has always been cool, to say the least - the measuring eye of a mother who found her son and her son's taste in companions to be somewhat lacking.
"That one," she says to a security guard. "Blackjack Five, Seat Four. Cowboy hat, snakeskin boots, fake diamond ring. He's counting. Advise Paul and have a security team on standby. Switch out the dealer early and have her shuffle the decks. If he gets up, escort him to the cage and ask him to cash out."
"Lya," she says with a polite but I'm-very-busy tone. "What is it that Hitoshi has to send you in his place?"
"It's a really long story, Karen," Lya replies as she pulls the letter out of her pocket and slides it across the table to her. "Hitoshi left us because he felt there was a danger to our world that only he could take care of, and when he did, he left me this letter leaving the hotel to me. Despite what you may think of me, I plan to do everything I can for this hotel to make sure it'll be better than he left it if he manages to come back to us... but to do that, I'm going to need your help."
Karen takes out a pair of reading glasses and goes over the letter. She sighs.
"He never spoke about Akane," she says quietly. "It was his private pain. I could only try to provide structure to his life, but he was always running off to save someone or fix things. Only this time, he's gone off to ... what? Sacrifice himself because he thinks he's not worthy?"
She hands the letter back to you. "Oh, Hitoshi. Why are you so afraid of letting others care for you? Why do you have to be the knight in shining armor, every single time?"
"Focus, Karen," she chides herself, blinking back tears. "I imagine you wouldn't be here if the board had not agreed that this letter is genuine. Please tell me you aren't planning to clean house? I mean, I understand it from a corporate perspective, but ... right now, I need some structure in my life. Something I can depend on."
"Funny you should say that," Lya replies. "Afraid I wasn't given much choice with the house cleaning, as Selene, Douglas and Gregory had a rather... violent reaction to Hitoshi finding out certain things about them that they weren't too happy to have revealed."
She sighs. "Which brings me to why I'm here. There's going to be a press conference Monday where I will announce the new leadership and direction of the hotel, as well as the three new board members... and I'd like you to be one of them. I've already asked my cousin Arky to join us as the new art director for the hotel... but I need someone like you by my side who knows how to run the day to day operations of a business like this."
She puts her hands on the desk and leans forward. "I can't do this without you, Karen. Will you stand with me and help me make this hotel something beautiful?"
"Board member?" she says. "Me? Lya, that's more than generous. I was thinking I'd have to fight to keep my job as Head of Casino Operations."
She straightens her blazer and dabs away the last of her tears.
"I accept."
"Fantastic!" Lya exclaims with a smile and a clap of her hands. "The board will meet at 4pm on Monday and then there will be the press conference afterwards so we can announce the changes to the public and head off any wild speculations. I'm hoping you'll love the plans Arky and I have for the place, Karen. I trust you'll let me know if I step in something along the way."
She winks and smiles as she backs out of the office. "Sorry I can't stay and celebrate, but a CEO's work is never done, right?"
As she walks down the hallway back to the elevators her phone vibrates and the tune "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell starts to echo from her pocket.
"Evie! Tell me some good news and I'll tell you mine!" Lya replies as she answers her phone.
(Meanwhile ...)
Gregory Mason's eyes snapped open. Had he fallen asleep on the couch? Wait, he was lying in bed. No, not a bed. On a stretcher. And under restraint.
What had happened?
He'd been at an emergency session of the Board of Directors. Hitoshi Ryder had gone and transferred his shares - his majority share - of the Westview Grand to some singer from a rock band. The only way to counter that move was to consolidate sufficient shares to contest the transfer, tie it up in court.
And then it had all gone topsy-turvy.
Photos showing Selene Chase and Douglas Maxwell involved in some odd threesome with an unconscious Air Force officer, and Maxwell trying on the man's uniform.
Selene had kissed him.
Kill the bitch for me, Gregory, she had said. Commanded. Had she drugged him, somehow? It had been a mistake, his dalliance with the younger woman. And, yet, there'd been that one night where they were both dining alone. She smiled at him, crooked a finger ...
Even now, a part of him wanted her. She had certainly been ... enthusiastic in bed, confessing her attraction to powerful men. And his wife would never know. A dinner here, a business trip there ...
Only now, everyone would know. And he couldn't explain why he did what he did. It was like some bizarre episode out of the X-Files, mind control through pheromones or something.
"Gregory."
Shit. It was her! He tensed, fearing that she would say something and he would be compelled to obey.
"Gregory, it's Amelie. Do you remember where you are?"
He sighed. It wasn't her, after all.
"Amelie?"
"Yes," she said. She asked again, "Do you know where you are?"
Mason turned his head from side to side. "Hospital?"
"Not yet. Westview's Medical Center," Pelletier told him. "You had an ... episode."
"Selene."
"If you've come to your senses, then I think I can persuade the Board to overlook your ... outburst," she told him. "I'll expect your support, of course. There's no reason for either of us to wind up on the street, even with these Robin Hood theatrics from Hitoshi Ryder."
"I don't know what happened!" Gregory protested. "I feel fine, now. But in the Board room, it was like I couldn't help myself! I had to do what she told me to."
Amelie added it up. "You had an affair."
"Yes," Mason admitted. "She must have drugged me or something."
"A convenient excuse, Gregory. If I'd known you were that much of a pushover, I'd have doped your coffee years ago," Pelletier said, icily. She'd have to talk to Lya Bach about this. Ancient gods, nonsense about the End Times, maybe even mind controlling magic. It was like a goofy fantasy saga.