The Golden Token #7
Incredulous, she gaped at him for a moment before jerking herself free.
She smoothed her robe and costume and, holding her head high, walked into the main floor of the Casino where the elaborate dinner party was to take place.
Sure enough, there was a chair open to Kumisarc’s right. The executive stood to greet her.
“Ah, Rose, definitely worth the wait. Your dancing was inspired, by the way.”
She could smell the liquor on his breath as she slid into her seat.
He was handsome enough, raven-dark hair, deeply blue eyes, square jaw, and his voice was a pleasant baritone.
His elegant, well-cut clothing probably cost more than the combined annual salary of everyone on the Station.
He wore a ring on each manicured, smooth hand and sported an archaic timepiece on his wrist like nothing she’d ever seen before.
Noticing her glance at the watch, he pulled the cuff of his shirt back so she could see the device more clearly. As he put his arm on the back of her chair, he leaned closer. “From Old Terra, or so my antiques dealer tells me. Doesn’t work any longer of course, but worth millions.”
“It’s unusual.” She sat straight to avoid his touch, but he rubbed her back nonetheless.
The waiters hurriedly brought platters and bowls of steaming food.
Sniffing the offering set before her, Rose knew the chef hadn’t used any synth or faux ingredients tonight.
All the genuine article. She’d never eaten such rich food.
Too bad it stuck in her throat and roiled her stomach.
Kumisarc’s hand strayed to her thigh. Uncomfortable, she glanced around the table but there was no help to be had.
The station manager gave her a meaningful stare and a nod, eyebrows raised.
Barker fidgeted, toying with his wine glass.
Three of the four executives were flirting with her dancers and the fourth man ate steadily, focusing on his plate and ignoring all the byplay.
She moved Kumisarc’s hand to his own leg. “A shame not to concentrate on the wonderful food,” she said.
Apparently taking no offense, he laughed. “Coy. I like it. This food is swill.”
“The best in the Sector,” she said, stung on behalf of the chef.
“Luckily I’m not from this forsaken corner of the galaxy,” he answered. “I’d starve.” Reaching in front of her for a roll, he brushed her breasts with his arm.
Shifting in her chair, she said, “I’m not on the menu.”
He wasn’t at all daunted. “I like a challenge. Up to a point.” Raising his voice, he addressed Barker as if Rose wasn’t sitting right there. “How much time left on her contract?”
The man didn’t even blink. “Three years, sir.”
Turning back to Rose, Kumisarc had a satisfied expression on his face.
“Plenty of time. I’ve been thinking I could use a dancer or two on my private yacht, something different to entertain my guests.
And me. But you’re not eating—your chef mustn’t be offended by us sending back the plates untouched. ” His tone was sarcastic.
More than a little tipsy already, Suzan simpered, touching Kumisarc’s sleeve. “I’d love a gig as a private dancer. I mean as a dancer on a private yacht.”
While he was engaged in flirting with Suzan, Rose took a hefty swallow of the expensive wine, hoping to steady her nerves.
This was worse than she’d feared. Slipping her hand into her pocket, she was reassured somewhat by the com bead Charlie had given her.
Although what he could do against a man with the resources Kumisarc commanded, she didn’t know.
Perhaps she should rethink her stance on Charlie’s offer to buy out her contract.
If he put it in writing, all strictly business, maybe the credits wouldn’t taint the growing feelings between them.
She jumped as Kumisarc suddenly invaded her personal space, resting one arm on her chair, leaning close, caressing her shoulder with his fingertips.
“I was thinking after dinner we should take a stroll to the docking bay, let me show you my yacht, so you can advise me on installing a dance floor and the…other amenities,” he said, stroking her cheek. “Get to know me better.”
Shifting sideways in her chair, she batted his hand away. “I have a date.”
Clearly Kumisarc didn’t like her refusal. His lips tightened and his eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “Let me make it clear, you’re on overtime tonight as long as I say so.”
Before she could answer, the sound of shots came from the Casino entrance and a group of grim-faced men in miners’ uniforms rushed in, brandishing weapons and yelling orders.
Unable to believe what she was seeing, Rose gasped. The other women screamed.
“Calm down,” Kumisarc said. He stayed seated, lolling casually in his chair as if unconcerned by the violent intrusion. “This is a private party, gentlemen. I’m willing to assume you didn’t know. If you leave now, there’ll be no repercussions.”
“Shut up.” Weapon raised, one of the younger men snarled the command.
Rose recognized Cade, her nemesis. She’d heard rumors he might be one of the ringleaders in the recent mine work stoppages, which had been another factor in her decision to break up with him.
Given their personal history, being caught in the middle of a hostage situation with an armed Jak Cade was terrifying.
He glared at her but didn’t say anything.
Slowly she slid her hand into her pocket and squeezed the button on the golden token. There was a tiny tingling against her fingertip so she knew the device had activated. Praying to the Lords of Space that Charlie could help, she resolved to do whatever it took to get out of the casino alive.
“Take two men, go check the kitchen and the rest of the Casino,” said the older man in charge of the invaders, motioning to Cade. “Bring anyone you find in here.”
A bit reassured to see Swinson, an old friend of her late father’s, apparently in command, Rose took a deep breath and concentrated on slowing her breathing.
All too soon Cade returned, herding the kitchen staff ahead of him. He handed off the group of cowed employees to someone else to guard and returned to the main table, eyes locked on Rose for a long moment. She looked away, unable to maintain her calm under his glare.
Flanked by his men, Swinson addressed Kumisarc. “We’re here to talk, that’s all.” He pointed at the local Manager of Mines, seated at the table. “That bastard wouldn’t allow us to meet with you today and we have facts and figures to present.”
“Oh, this should be interesting.” Kumisarc toyed with Rose’s curls, caressed her shoulder as the robe slipped. He made a grand gesture. “Please, continue.”
Watching this by-play, Cade’s weapon swung in the tycoon’s direction and his face took on a pinched expression.
Swallowing hard, Swinson yanked out a chair at the foot of the table and sat.
The man next to him pulled a handheld out of his pack, setting the device next to Swinson.
After a quick glance at the screen, apparently to refresh his memory on what they’d wanted to tell Kumisarc, the old man said, “We, the employees, we think you weren’t given all the data on the exhaustion rate on the newer mines.
Once you see the anticipated yield going forward, and the reserve analysis, you’ll rescind the decision to close the Sector down. ”
Kumisarc laughed. “I’m fully aware of the remaining reserves. And the entire Sector doesn’t hold enough to make it worth my company’s time and continuing investment. We’ll do better by writing off the operations, taking a loss on the books and moving on.”
Ashen-faced, Swinson sat back in his chair as if he’d been punched. The man beside him said, “What about an employee buyout then? We’d operate the mines ourselves—”
“Sorry, not interested in charity.” Kumisarc stood, throwing his napkin on the table, “We’re done here.” He reached for Rose’s hand. “Come along.”
Dismayed, her hopes for a peaceful conclusion to this meeting shattered by the executive’s refusal to even give the employees a hearing, she stood but shook off Kumisarc’s hand. Just let me get out the door alive. Her knees threatened to buckle as she took a step at the mine owner’s side.
“I told you the bastard wouldn’t make a deal,” Cade said, voice hoarse. He blocked their path, weapon pointed at Kumisarc’s head.
“We had to try.” Swinson blinked, rubbing his chest as if in pain.
“All right, you tried reasoning with him, old man. Now it’s my turn.
” Cade pivoted, shot Swinson in the back and drilled the man next to him a moment later.
As Rose stared in utter disbelief, she watched the two miners fall from their chairs, blood spewing on the table and carpet.
Events seemed to go into slow motion and she couldn’t move, not even to avert her gaze. She heard someone screaming.
“Shut up now or I’ll shoot you too.” Cade threatened the occupants of the table with his weapon.
Two of the younger men moved to flank the new leader, faces set in grim lines, weapons at the ready.
“You, sit,” he said to Kumisarc. “It’s a different game now.
I know your old man’s a generational billionaire and I’m betting he’ll pay anything we demand to get his son back in one piece. ”
“You bastards can’t seriously expect to get away with holding us here for ransom?” The executive who’d been silent through dinner took umbrage now on his boss’s behalf. “Bunch of backSector wannabes.”
Cade shot him. Eyes wide, mouth open, the man tumbled to the carpet, a pool of red spreading ominously around his twitching body. The dancer seated next to him screamed again, leaping from her chair and sprinting toward the casino’s entrance. One of the other rebels shot her.
There was silence, broken by sobbing from the three remaining women. Rose felt she was in a nightmare and couldn’t wake up no matter how hard she tried. She refused to give in to tears or terror. She had to keep her wits about her to survive.