Page 23 of One More Night
“I have it mapped out,” I assure him. “But I’m playing with a real, live human, buddy. Not data and code. The response isn’t as predictable.”
“In other words, she’s being a right cunt about it.”
“In other words, I like her fire.”
“Phase one. What’s the kill-switch.”
“There isn’t one.” Once we’re in, we’re all in. There’s no glory in deserting.
He hums his disapproval. “None at all?”
“Perry,” I level, pinching the bridge of my nose between forefinger and thumb. “Phase one is enough to get us ten to twenty each. The following two will barely add to that. If we’re caught, I want it to be for something noteworthy, not a page three anecdote in the morning paper.”
“If.” He sighs disapprovingly. “You’re using premeditative doubt.”
“I’d be a fool not to have it.” It’s human nature to worry, to consider all outcomes, even the unfavorable.
“Manifest this shit, Jordan. Visualize phase three. Visualize The Epilogue.”
The Epilogue.
What we’ve named the rapid fire sequence of events that gets us the fuck out of this god forsaken country and somewhere where nobody gives a fuck who you are, how you acquired your wealth, or what you spend it on.
“First million?” I ask with a smile.
He chuckles. “You know that.”
Idiot thinks with his little head far too much.
“I don’t know why you think you need to buy yourself a wife. Women harm each other to get to you.”
“Wives,” he stresses. “If I buy them, they can’t bitch about sharing me, can they?”
“You’re sick.”
“And you’re the fucker who mentors that illness.”
“Touché.”
He coughs out a laugh. “Feck off and have your fun with the woman, would ya? Time’s running out.”
“I know.” I check my watch. “I’ll call you again in two days. We’ll meet to run through the processes again.”
“Of course.”
Perry disconnects, leaving me in my office with a sinking feeling that Corinne won’t make it all the way through the screening process I have for her.
First test starts in one hour.
If she fails this, then the whole point of this exercise with Perry loses all reason.
Impress me.