Gideon and Tana passed another door. This led to another of the break rooms for the associates. Tana looked inside to see half a dozen associates, all tall, husky men, drinking coffee and telling rude jokes.

     Gideon stopped walking, which stopped Tana from walking as well.

     Gideon kept his hands behind his back. He had a look of mock sadness on his face. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, dear."

     Tana hated the sound of that. "Oh?"                                                                             "I'm afraid there's no longer a place for you in our organization."

     "What?"

     "We can no longer have you as one of our associates." 

     Tana felt a chill along her spine. "I don't...what...I delivered Adam Forwarder right into your hands. You promised me billions...billions..."

     "Yes, and I regret the fact that I cannot keep that promise, but..." He shrugged. "What can I tell you? War is hell."

     "But why?" 

     "I don't like the way you're been acting around Adam Forwarder. You seem almost...attracted to him."

     "And what does that..."  

     "If I hadn't just killed him just now, who knows? The last thing we need in our organization is a traitor."

     "But I've never...not even for a second..."

     "But, you see, this is such a crucial moment in our operation, I can't take the chance. Plus, there is the fact that you are a mercenary. Someone offers you enough money to assassinate me, then..."

     "Not anymore I'm not! I am now a loyal..."

     "Please. Save your breath." He motioned to a couple of the associates inside the break room. "Come get her, please." 

     Two associates ran out eagerly to do as their "head associate" commanded. Tana struggled with them both, but they held her tight. 

​     Goldbody sighed. "My work here is finished," he said. "And satisfyingly so. Therefore, I am returning to my casino, my casino in the sky. It's where I want to be when I am made Master of Earth." He made a snuffling sound with his nose like Tana stank. "Do with this one as you wish. In the end, however, I want her dead. Is that understood?"

​     "No!" Tana roared. "I've served you..."

     "And I do appreciate that, my dear. I do. However, and I'm certain on this we can both agree, your particular services are no longer required. Therefore..."

​     "No!" The two men dragged Tana in with the other men beyond the door. "No!" 

     Then, click! the door closed. 

     "So much for that bitch," Goldbody muttered, then continued on his way. 

CONTINUE