Frenzy & Torch

Chapter 29: Life Insurance

As though nothing happened, Ronald returned to work to finish the hostile takeover of a rival company named Blue Lotus Industries. He was having a heated discussion with the Blue Lotus CEO via holographic call in his office. What added to the unsettling atmosphere was the sunset being tainted by the smog, giving it a red and dim haze.

Ronald was leaning back in his leather chair with a smug grin and his hands in a raised steeple as the other man's face turned beet red and he struggled to form a coherent sentence. "You're getting awfully flustered there. Not good for your blood pressure."

"You are a bastard!" The rival CEO yelled. "Have you any idea how many people we'll have to lay off? And during the holidays?! How are people supposed to tell their families they've been fired right as the Times Square Ball is dropping?! You motherless asshole!"

"Cry me a fucking river, why don't you?" Robert retorted. "Your people aren't the only ones losing their jobs right about now. There are billions across the galaxy on the chopping block right about now, just be a reference for your employees on their résumés and stop fucking whining. This is how life is in the big leagues. Did they not cover that in whatever chink business school you attended?"

"What did you say to me, you goddamned trust fund cracker?! You're lucky I don't come over there and kick your ass!"

"We're right across the street from each other!

The sound of a door closing followed by manic laughter, weak and forced, made the feuding businessmen turn their heads. It was Ronald's wife, Amelia, and she was covered from head to toe in blood and burns. Her blouse and pencil skirt were shredded, adding to her unsettling appearance. She looked like she had competed in a reality competition show in hell.

"Only you can still be an insensitive, racist jackass in the sixtieth century," Amelia said.

Ronald was shocked. "Honey, what— "

"Don't move," Amelia spat as she pulled out a handgun that looked cumbersome for her small, delicate hands.

"What the fuck are you— "

"Shut up!" she roared with whatever was left of her vocal chords. Her voice cracked as the adrenaline wore off and she felt the physical and emotional pain. "You sick bastard, how could you?"

"How could I what?? For Christ's sake, what did I do?! What happened to you?!"

"Don't act like you don't know. You wanted the life insurance money, and you have the people to make 'accidents' happen." She took off the safety and carefully placed the pad of her index finger against the trigger. She had a perfect sight picture. "Isn't that right?"

"Baby, you are losin' it, you hear me? Whatever it is you think I've done, it's all in your head— " He yelled in pain when the first laser blast tore through his arm. The shot itself felt like somebody smacked him with a baseball bat. The pain of the torn muscle and shattered bone nearby made him lose consciousness. "You crazy bitch, what the fuck is wrong with you?!"

A tear that was barely visible in the blood and soot rolled down her cheek. "The kids are dead, Ronnie. They were riding in the car with me when your contract killer fucks drove me off the road." The gun started trembling in her hands.

" ... What?"

"John's head came all the way off ... and Olivia was impaled by a chunk of the guard rail."

Ronald briefly felt grief for something besides himself for once, but now he had to bargain for his life. "Why the hell would I try to murder you and the kids, huh? What would I hope to gain from that?"

"The money to go on another 'business trip' with your expensive whores! How come I was never good enough for you? Every time you fucked somebody behind my back, I lost more and more of my self respect. I looked like such an idiot staying with you, but I held it together for the kids ... but since the kids are gone .... " She elevated the gun.