New York was the largest city in the United States and one of the most important cities in the world. Wall Street made it a global financial center, while the United Nations headquarters gave it political weight that rivaled Washington, D.C.
Naturally, a city that important came with one universal feature.
Everything cost a fortune.
Groceries were expensive. Housing was absurd. The cost of living could squeeze the life out of you. New York was capitalism in all its glory, complete with its prosperity, ruthless exploitation, and very visible class divisions.
Evenson had long since learned to comfort himself with that fact.
I’m not poor. I’m simply living in New York.
His little two-story building and the fortune he had sunk into it were practically pocket change by Manhattan standards.
Sometimes he wondered if he’d made the wrong career choice.
If he’d pushed his Cooking skill instead of lazily running a mysterious general store, he might have opened a restaurant and earned three Michelin stars by now.
Maybe he’d even have become a respectable member of society.
Probably not.
Either way, if Evenson already found life expensive in New York, Nadia and Danny were going to have an even harder time once they arrived.
They needed somewhere to live.
Danny needed to attend school.
There were groceries, utilities, clothing, transportation, medical expenses, and all the other little costs that quietly devoured a paycheck.
And all of it would fall on Nadia.
She needed a job.
Unfortunately, she was a newly arrived Romani woman from Eastern Europe trying to find respectable employment in New York. Getting a well-paying position without connections was hardly going to be easy.
Which was precisely why the job arranged by the Eredar Twins was so effective.
A respectable position.
Excellent pay.
Good benefits.
For someone in Nadia’s situation, it would be difficult to refuse.
Of course, there was a much simpler alternative.
They could wait until Nadia and Danny arrived in New York, knock them unconscious, stuff them into bags, and carry them away.
People disappeared in New York.
A few missing persons cases wouldn’t exactly bring the city to a standstill.
But there was one small problem.
Nadia and Danny were special.
They had come to New York specifically so that S.H.I.E.L.D. could monitor them.
Kidnapping them through unconventional means would immediately attract S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention and trigger an investigation.
That would defeat the entire purpose.
"Doing things properly is usually the easiest way," Evenson said, grinning at the twins. "I’m glad to see you’ve learned that lesson."
"Hmph."
"Ha."
The twins rolled their eyes simultaneously.
Sacrolash gave Evenson a sideways glance.
"We learned that lesson long before you were even a glimmer in someone’s eye."
Evenson’s mouth twitched.
"You know, comments like that really make you sound ancient."
Alythess’s eyes widened.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Flames seemed to blaze inside her eyes.
Not metaphorically.
Actual magical special effects.
"None whatsoever."
Evenson’s head began bobbing so rapidly it looked as though he were trying to achieve supersonic agreement.
"I’ve always had a thing for mature women."
The twins immediately looked pleased.
Their eyes narrowed into crescent moons as they nodded like satisfied cats.
"By the way," Evenson said, rubbing his nose, "arrange company housing for Nadia. Something where she can live with her family."
He adopted an almost saintly expression.
"Once they’re part of our company, we can’t exactly leave their families out in the cold."
"Of course."
The twins exchanged a meaningful glance.
"Everything they have belongs to the company."
Evenson missed the implication entirely.
"What about the other people? The assistants you’ve recruited. Do any of them have children?"
Sacrolash thought for a moment.
"The young couple isn’t married yet, so they don’t have children. Both sets of parents are still alive, though."
She pointed toward Danny’s photograph.
"The cleaner has a wife and a young daughter. They’re about the same age as Danny."
"I see."
Evenson thought about it for a moment.
Then he suddenly said, "I’ve heard successful people like to get involved in charity."
Sacrolash raised an eyebrow.
"I think we should do the same."
He became increasingly enthusiastic as the idea developed.
"Under the company’s name, we could establish a retirement home and a school."
"One with first-rate teachers. First-rate security. First-rate care. The whole package."
He raised another finger.
"The school could cover everything from kindergarten through high school. If the opportunity comes up, we could even establish a university."
The twins listened quietly.
"All of these institutions would offer substantial discounts to company employees and their families. When our elderly employees eventually pass away, we can provide a company cemetery. When their children graduate, the company can give them priority in recruitment."
Alythess nodded.
"That is a remarkably good employee benefits package."
Then she narrowed her eyes.
"You’re planning to have the families of all our employees living there, aren’t you?"
She paused.
"Especially the families of senior personnel with access to our most sensitive information."
"Exactly."
The corner of Evenson’s mouth lifted.
"Think about how good the deal is. We take care of them from birth to death. Their children become future company talent, their parents have somewhere comfortable to live, and their entire family is looked after."
His smile widened.
"They’ll be deeply grateful for everything we provide."
In other words, the company would handle everything from cradle to grave.
You were born into the company.
You worked for the company.
Your children became future employees.
And when you died, the company already had a place waiting for you.
Naturally, Evenson didn’t say the final part aloud.
And if you ever decide to betray us, I might accidentally skip a few steps and send you straight from the company payroll to the company cemetery.
Sacrolash stroked her chin.
"That last part is actually quite convincing."
Then her expression became serious.
"But that’s something for later. How are things going with the other matter?"
Alythess nodded.
"We need to accelerate the plan. That matter can’t wait much longer. What are you going to do?"
"I’ve got a lead."
Evenson grinned.
"I’ve found a seller for the trump card I’ve been looking for."
His smile sharpened.
"And the cannon fodder we need has already started volunteering."
He held up three fingers.
"Three months."
"Within three months, we should know the outcome."
The twins exchanged a glance and nodded.
Evenson sounded completely certain, so neither pushed him further.
Alythess did, however, offer one final warning.
"Don’t push yourself too hard. Delaying the plan for a while wouldn’t hurt. We’re not in a rush."
Her expression softened slightly.
"You don’t need to rush, either. Safety comes first."
"I know."
Evenson smiled at them.
"You two know me. When have I ever been reckless enough to put myself in danger?"
"Good."
Sacrolash nodded.
"We’ve said everything that needs saying."
She glanced toward him.
"You should probably go back and meet that little wildcat of yours. Otherwise, if you show up next time covered in claw marks, we’re going to have a very awkward conversation."
"Good luck."
Alythess gave him a casual wave.
The twins stood together and activated a magic circle.
General Gule, still unconscious, was carried along with them.
A moment later, the three vanished in a flash of magic.
Evenson watched them go.
"So that’s two problems handled..."
He scratched his head and looked toward the aircraft disappearing into the distance.
"But how am I supposed to calm down the other one who’s throwing a tantrum?"
Sometimes, having too many women in your life really was its own special kind of disaster.
Evenson sighed.
Then he looked toward the sky.
Well.
Let the storm get worse.
...
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