Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

****

Inside a state office-

"So Mr Hu, you are telling me that if I buy a security code from your firm then what I receive is a customised code written solely for my needs?" Senator Murray enquired.

"Yes, it is as proposed to you," I patiently replied to this sceptical man in front of me.

"Don't get me wrong Mr Hu but I only trust what I see and right now I see nothing, so I don't see the point to further our negotiation".

This man is really stretching it now.

I looked him in the eyes, "Thank you for your time, now excuse us," I said and started to walk towards the door.

"Mr Hu, I do not have time to play your little game of push and pull. I ain't got all day here".

I didn't look back and pulled at the door and walked out.

"Mr Hu once you walk out of that door I will take it as the end of our negotiation. So no further contacts will be entertained," he warned.

I looked back at him. He had a slight smirk on his face like he had won our little play. I gave him a look over and then, "You are sorely mistaken. I am not interested in working with you anymore. It seems politics have driven out the hard-fought blood of soldiers that you carried in your veins. 

My time is more precious than yours Mr Senator. 

As my salary is not paid from the treasures of the state or from taxpayers money. I earn every single penny and each second of the day has value, in it. You might have time to spare I don't. 

Don't get me wrong Mr Senator, but I do not see any value with you so I chose to walk out of this room to save my time and money," his face has turned a shade of fiery red from suppressed fury.

His fury had added no value to me so I simply walked out.

Ming Li walked by my side, "Boss, why did you blow your fuse there? It is so not you to be that blunt!"

"He is not worth it, his friends in the lobby will interfere with the deals later and the value will plunge down," I revealed the inside scoop.

"How are you aware of that?"

"Trade secret," I answered him as I slightly patted my waistcoat pocket.

"Where to next?"

"Let me ask Matt," he moved to a silent corner and called Matt.

******

Some abandoned warehouse-

We were asked to come to this location. It is afternoon and we are here to meet the agent from secret intelligence.

As we waited around for over half an hour now, my patience was running thin. 

After about one and a half hours, a non-descriptive SUV pulled off. An average person walked out of the car and walked towards us.

"I am so sorry to keep you waiting Mr Hu, we just came across an emergency and things took a while longer than we estimated," he explained his delay right off the bat.

I was already running on fumes here. My patience, as well as tolerance, had ebbed away a long time back. I simply waited here to see the face of the negotiator and to determine his backers. I already got what I was looking for and I do not see the need to stay any longer.

"Mr… let's go with Mr John. So, Mr John, I am sorry to inform you I have no interest in working with you anymore, the deal is off the table."

"Mr Hu let us talk out our differences, I just barely got here."

"Thank you Mr John for your kind words but how was your date with Ms Suzy, I bet the casserole she cooked and the milkshake she specially made out of you was quite satisfying. You may enjoy your day but do not waste my time for that matter."

I started to walk towards my car. I motioned Matt and Ming Li to get in too.

"Mr Hu, you think you can walk out of here just like that?" he sounded flustered but tried to hide his fear.

"Mr John, I assume before coming here to meet me, you had a look into my background. Did your superiors or subordinates never report to you my characteristic feature? Ever try to threaten me, people who have tried have not met with happy endings in their life.

I wish you good luck with your future days!" I waved my hands towards him.

"Drive," I commanded. There was dead silence inside the car.

Finally, Ming Li couldn't keep with it and voiced his opinions, "Boss tell me straight, did you have gunpowder for breakfast? Why are you so hostile? You are simply blowi-"

"Ming!" Matt called him out.

"Where is my personal laptop?" I looked over inside the car storage space.

"Here," Matt held out my office bag.

"Thanks"

I started to furiously type away on my laptop as we made our way to the airport.

As I typed away on my laptop I gave directions to our future steps, "Matt you are coming with me, are you carrying any go-to luggage otherwise we will get it on the way."

"I will arrange for those, no problem with that sir," he replied.

He still had a calmness to him. I liked this chilled-out attitude of this guy, all those years back when we were in the same university. I came across him and from that day till today he is still here with me.

****

On a private charter plane-

"Why are you in such a rush?" Ming Li asked as he stirred his glass of Dry Martini with olives.

"What do you mean?" I asked him in turn.

"I mean you practically blew our two meetings today."

"I have my reasons to blow them off. They will soon receive my package," I looked at my watch, "Oh! Look, it is already delivered. Now we wait for the fun moment." I shook my glass of Whiskey on rocks and walked over to Matt.

"Once we land, we will be flooded with calls, as a matter of fact, we will be buried in calls in another hour put all communication in the blackout zone. Only keep our own channels of communication open. 

Once after we land, keep them hanging for half a day and finally reply to any request for negotiation with resounding no. Am I clear?" 

"Yes sir"

I walked between the aisle and grabbed a seat by the window. It is dark outside and only various shades of grey and smoky or dense clouds were visible, as far as the human eyes could see.

I looked at the watch, 

[tick tick tick tick]

There are roughly eighteen more hours left to my punishment. Then I could talk to her. I have so much to talk to her and so much to share with her. So much happened in the last couple of days. 

Unknowingly I have developed a habit to tell her everything and then she will outline our future paths. I feel she has a much better idea of what is going around us. 

I feel assured to know, her to take and point of view on the various circumstances.

*****

Somewhere in Country E-

We had landed in the early hours. As I had estimated we were buried in calls after calls from Country A.

Here in County E, the chilly winds did their job to drive away any sleep or tiredness. The crisp winter air sharpened our dull senses.

"Boss"

"We will first rest up in the hotel then we will go meet them," I answered before he could pose his question.

*****

We were invited to a state banquet, so we made our way to it.

As we reached the stated addresses, we came across a fine aristocrat building. A relic from the nineteenth century period of Country E's history. As we walked inside it, the place had more modernisation while still holding on to old beliefs.

"Hello Mr Hu, it is so nice to meet you."  A lady dressed in a white power suit. She looked capable.

"Hello, Madame-"

"Please call me Ms Kingsman," she offered.

"Hello Ms Kingsman, you look lovely in that dress. I already feel my day brightening up from your charm"

"Mr Hu, thank you for your compliment. I am aware that you rarely compliment others and you have quite the temper against tardy people. 

I definitely wouldn't want to get on your wrong side so early."

"What about later?" I enquired with light competitiveness.

"Well, we will discuss that when we reach that point".

"Well said Ms Kingsman, you already have my vote of confidence with your reply. It seems I am in much better hands here".

"Your reputation precedes you, Mr Hu. I do not want to become like some dim wit agent across the pond fending for his life, currently in county prison."

I did not ask her how she came to know all that in such a short amount of time. 

It will be an insult to her intelligence. And something tells me I should watch my words with her.

'Interesting, very interesting!'