The Final Step

The red wine swirled around the long-stemmed Bordeaux glass. The scenery was amazing from the ivory tower. The new role as CEO came with the large corner office. The long oak table with the leather cushioned seats cost more than anything she had ever owned before. The view from the top was never her dream, but it would do for now. Her plan had worked to perfection up to this point. But of course, she knew that it would.

She smiled as she sipped from the crystal glass. Life could get better only with the final step of her plan coming to fruition. Death, maybe. But taking everything first would be better. Dignity is all he had left, but not for much longer. She had dreamed of this moment ever since the slight on her years ago. The one person from the orphanage that she thought she could trust. It had changed the trajectory of her life for the worse. She had everything taken from her. She had escaped the claws of death, even though many times this is what she had longed for.

She had fallen from grace all because of his decision. She had suffered numerous embarrassments from the one single moment he decided she was not good enough. Years of walking the streets and giving herself over to disgusting men just to survive. The years of drug abuse because of the hate of herself. She looked in the mirror and remembered the time it took for her to get to the point she could again. But now she had almost extracted the vengeance she had so long sought. But there seemed to be something in the pit of her stomach. A feeling. Something she had not felt in forever.

Dismissing the feeling, she turned from the mirror and looked out the window of glass down onto the city she despised. Was this enough to calm the hate and despair she felt? Was her plan big enough? Maybe she needed to recalculate the whole thing. Maybe she could have more power and more revenge. Another sip of the wine crossed her painted lips. Would anything be enough? She pondered in silence.

The morning was cold, but the sun shone brightly. It would warm quickly. He sniffed himself and smelled an odor that was repulsive to him. His clothes on his back were the only possessions he was able to escape with three nights ago. How did his life get to this point? He looked down as his stomach growled. Maybe this was not a bad thing he thought as he noticed his gut over his belt. Just another sign of his lack of attention to his life of success. The bench was hard. It reminded him of his childhood. His father and mother had died when he was a baby, and he spent his early years in an orphanage. The beds felt about the same as the bench he had been privy to use the last couple of nights.

Maybe this was life’s way of weeding out the weak. Maybe he had become too weak to sustain his former way. He could accept this fact. What he could not accept was not knowing who or why. There was a person responsible for his sudden downturn of fortune. There was no malice towards whomever. No, he had come to terms with his downfall. Realistically, it was his fault. Plenty of money, good food, and wine had made him compromise his principles. And that was one thing he promised himself would not happen. But sadly, it had. All that was left now was to find out the identity of the one who had toppled him, thank them, and do what he had promised himself he would do if that had transpired.

But how? His whole team had been fired. His credentials were pulled, and his access to accounts were blocked. When the company was through with you, they meant they were through. No coming back, and no grace shown. Such is the world of corporate pillaging. But, he loved the business. He knew early on that this kind of business was his forte. He learned this behavior from his early childhood in the orphanage. You had to be tough, but it paid more to be wise and cunning. If it took some underhanded deeds to fill his belly with food, so be it. If it meant stabbing people in the back, that was fine with him. Whatever it took was what he was willing to do.

The day was still early, and she needed to make sure her plans were entering their final steps. She sat behind the large mahogany desk. She looked at the golden embossed pen with her name. She looked around the large office. The only thing left was his death. She thought back on him and how at one time she thought of him as a brother. Now the thought was enough to make her sick. She needed more than his death; she needed to look him in the eye and for him to know it was her. It was her who took everything from him. The need for this acknowledgement drew her more than the money or the success now that she focused on the thoughts of her past.

Could she find him now? Where would he be? Probably groveling on the street somewhere trying to find a mark for his next ploy. She could just picture his face when he found out. The crooked smile he was famous for dropping into the grimmest scowl. Then he would know—know that he was mastered by one he thought he had thrown away like a piece of trash. What satisfaction that would be. She picked up the phone and called her trusty henchman. She explained what she wanted and when she expected him to be found. Now all there was to do was wait.

Who is the one person that he could get to go out on a ladder to help him? There had to be one left that was not influenced by the money and power of his former employer. He went down the mental list in his mind until one stood out. But it was not the most pleasant thought of being in his presence. A former cop, turned P.I., turned to a killer. It would be a fifty-fifty venture with him. But it was the only play he had. He went to the store across the street and begged the owner for the use of his phone. After quite some effort, the beady-eyed man let him use it. He dialed the number and waited for him to pick up on the other end. He looked around the store. How could something so filthy stay in business?

The call went to voicemail, and he left his message and his name. He left directions to a place where they could meet and the time for the meeting to occur. He hung up the phone and thanked the owner of the store. He walked out with the surprising knowledge that something smelled worse than him, and the object of that statement was the little store he left. Now all he had to do was head to the spot for the meet and wait. Maybe he would survive the meeting and find the person who had dethroned him.

The call came as she waited in her new surroundings. The more she sat there, the more depressed she became. To be at the top and to get her revenge was the only goal she had set. Would living life on an easy street be for her? Maybe not, but she decided she could adjust to the lifestyle. She jumped as her phone buzzed. Her henchman was calling. She knew he was worth the money she paid him. She answered and of all luck, there did not have to be a search. The fly flew right into the web.

An hour later she was waiting outside of a bar on the west side. A little hole in the wall joint. A red Budweiser sign flashed through the window. She noticed the letter “w” failed to light up. Just like the last years of her life, it was missing. Thanks to him and his underhandedness. But that was just about resolved. She needed the closure of his death to ensure the fact. The nervous anticipation of the last move that needed to be made. She imagined herself as the grandmaster of the chess board. She had played every piece flawlessly to this point.

She looked up and noticed him walking out of the bar with her man by his side. They got into a car and drove away. She turned the key and put her car into drive. She knew where they were headed. She had given the instructions for where and when to meet. She hurried to her destination so she could be there waiting when they arrived. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata played softly through the speaker. It always calmed her in anxious moments. She was thinking of the words she would say to him. Also, she thought about how she would feel being the last person on earth he would see alive. A slow grin spread upon her mouth.

She turned into the parking lot, climbed out, and hurried into the entrance. No one was there except security. She spoke to the guard in the lobby until the text came through that the two men were in the underground parking lot. The plan was for them to ride up the service elevator and get off on the top floor, then head out onto the roof. She said goodbye to the security guard and went to the elevator. Her hand started to shake as she looked at the number rise all the way up to the roof. She stepped out feeling the cool night air and the gentle breeze on her face. A lifetime of work was just about ready to be completed. She walked to the edge and turned waiting to see the two walk out of the door that led to her location.

He still felt the gun poking in his side. For the second time in the last three days, he had let himself be fooled. He truly understood now he deserved what he was getting. He was weak and foolish. How had he let himself slip to this point? All that he wanted now was to see the face behind it all. He would not beg. He would not try to stop what was coming. He just wanted to congratulate the person who outworked him. This might surprise most people, but coming from the place he had come, you had to respect the wit and cunning it took to take him down. Call it a hustler’s credo. He felt the elevator stop and heard the ding of the door, ready to open. They walked out of the elevator, and he saw a small flight of stairs leading up and out to the roof. The two walked up the flight of stairs. He felt like someone being led to the gallows.

The handle of the door turned and she tensed slightly. Finally, the moment was at hand. When the door opened and the two men stepped out, she stood erect as possible. Almost like a queen looking at her subjects. When they were fully in the shine of the moonlight, the eyes of the man were upon her. She noticed the recognition in them. She also recognized the submission from them and what was about to happen. She waved her henchman off.

“Chloe, I thought that I had rid this world of you years ago. Such a surprise that you had all this determination and craftiness in you.” He smiled at her.

“Nic, I would like to say you look good, but you have gotten fat since the last time we saw each other.” She stroked the lock of hair out of her face.

“How did you survive?” He stepped closer to her.

“Like you said, determination. A little luck did not hurt either.” She took a step forward and turned slightly to her right.

“So, this is how it ends? I jump from the very building where I once ran the world?” He nodded as if in agreement.

“No better way to finish this play.” She responded. She watched him walk to the edge and look over.

“Congratulations. You have accomplished something truly remarkable.”

“Thank you for the kind words, but it is time.” She gestured for him to climb on the ledge. He did as instructed.

“Could I ask one favor from you?” He asked in a quiet voice.

“Did you do me any favor when you left me out in the cold, cruel world to die?” She snarled back at him.

“Look where you are and what you have. I think I granted you a huge favor.” He looked at her hardened face softened. “I have accepted your victory and my defeat. I only wish you would give this to my daughter.” He reached out his hand and opened it. A small gold locket was lying in his palm. She nodded and walked over to him and reached for the little necklace.

“Say goodbye to your niece for me.” He turned, looked out at the dark expanse, and stepped into the darkness.