Minnie Chase Makes a Mistake (30 page)

Greene extended a hand across the diner’s plastic table. ‘You underestimate your own importance. Nine months has been knocked off the deadline. You’ll be compensated accordingly.’

‘Thank you,’ said Minnie, briefly taking his hand. 

She wanted to ask him how he was feeling but the timing was off; he seemed much happier to be back in the world of business – a welcome escape from the real world. She could relate to that.

22

Show me the money

Minnie woke up the next morning in a strangely reflective mood verging on melancholic. After her meeting with Greene at the diner, she returned to the motel alone and had fallen asleep on top of her bed with her clothes on. At some point during the night, she had pulled the covers over her but had no recollection of this. 

This would be the last time she would wake up in this room. Her flight back to London was later on that night. She would be reunited with James George. She had well and truly forgiven him.

She should have been feeling on top of the world but seemed to be crushed under the weight of it instead. She couldn’t understand it. She had come to San Francisco and done what she had set out to do. She had made great progress with Greene. She had arranged to meet him at his office later in the morning to key in some final code that would correspond with her handwritten notes and calculations. He never once mentioned her public speech or reprimanded her for not issuing a denial of his disease. Her furious outburst when he was drowning his sorrows seemed to resonate with him more. 

Parker Bachmann was on good form too. She even found time in her hectic schedule to suggest that she and Minnie should meet for lunch. Minnie accepted because it was looking increasingly likely that Jackson wasn’t going to take her up on her offer – he had disappeared off the face of the earth. Minnie repeatedly called him and sent texts but there was no response. Voice messages didn’t seem to get through to him either. She would return to London without saying goodbye. This saddened her because he was the one person, aside from her parents and Angie, who saw the best in her and not the worst. He had only ever wanted to help her. She had hurt him in return. She felt as though she had taken advantage of his good nature and sunshine disposition.

Or perhaps he was a more forgiving man than she gave him credit for. As she stepped out of the lift to go to her meeting with Greene, she discovered there was an enormous bouquet of flowers waiting for her in the foyer. The receptionist grinned. ‘Someone wants to impress you.’

Minnie matched the grin; the melancholic mood lifted. This is how she wanted to leave San Francisco – a proper goodbye with Jackson. Then she thought about James George. In that order. 

‘Guests will be thinking we’ve gone five star,’ giggled the girl behind desk in delight, ‘or that we’re hosting a celebrity wedding.’

It was an eye-poppingly bright sight. There were enough poppies stuffed into the elaborate flower arrangement to fill an entire field.

Minnie eagerly read the card and then lost the grin, replying simply, ‘Oh.’

It said:
Welcome back to Jones & Sword
. 

As she knew all too well, news travelled fast in her world. Greene had wasted no time finalising the deal and probably suggested to A.A Jones, in no uncertain terms, that Minnie should get her job back. Armed with this information, Minnie eyed the poppies in a new light. The exotic blood-red blooms looked as though they would send her to sleep forever and she would never make it home.  

‘I’m returning to London tonight,’ explained Minnie hastily to the receptionist, ‘therefore, there is no point taking the flowers up to my room. Would you like to keep them in reception?’

Minnie had never been to Greene’s office in Silicon Valley. There was a definite buzz about the place. It was business as usual. She was shown to a private elevator, reserved for Greene’s use only, apparently, and immediately rocketed up to the top floor. 

Greene was waiting for her. His opening line wasn’t ‘hello.’ He said instead, ‘I’d like to set up a charitable foundation.’

‘Oh,’ said Minnie.

‘You seemed surprised.’ 

‘Well, I suppose I am,’ replied Minnie carefully. He hadn’t mentioned Parkinson’s. She didn’t want to presume.

‘You’re lucky,’ answered Greene deadpanning. ‘Nothing – and no one – surprises me anymore.’

‘Tell me about the foundation,’ said Minnie.

‘Parkinson’s Inc.’

‘Oh,’ said Minnie, acutely aware of her restricted vocabulary.

Greene frowned. ‘I thought you would be pleased.’

‘I am,’ replied Minnie hastily. ‘I think it is a great idea.’

‘But?’

‘It sounds like a business model.’ She shuddered and thought about Levchin. 

‘It is,’ said Greene. ‘I intend to raise enormous amounts of money for research.’

‘Would you consider putting your name to it – to make it more, um, real?’

‘More personal, isn’t that what you mean?’

‘Yes,’ said Minnie. ‘I suppose it is.’

‘You need to stop prioritising people over making money.’

‘Then we should finish the natural gas deal,’ said Minnie stiffly, changing the subject, ‘if making money is so important to you.’

‘Greene Parkinson’s,’ said Greene reluctantly.

Minnie shook her head. ‘It sounds too environmentally friendly. There is nothing friendly about this disease.’

‘Most people find it easier to agree with me,’ said Greene with a hint of a smile. ‘You should give it a go.’

‘Parkinson’s Greene,’ said Minnie ignoring his advice. 

‘Greene looked doubtful. ‘It sounds like Golden Gate Park for Parkinson’s. One of the natural wonders of the world.’

‘It sounds like a place where people can come
together
,’ said Minnie, refusing to be intimidated. She felt more confident than ever now she was leaving. It was a feeling she could get used to.

Greene wrote down a number on a piece of paper and slid it across the polished boardroom table towards Minnie. It seemed like a very legal procedure; negotiating a settlement, although there was no one else in the room to advise Minnie. 

‘Payment for the algorithm,’ stated Greene. ‘This is a one-off amount. You sign the details over to me completely. It means that you are not entitled to any future profits from the natural gas deal. Does this seem fair?’

Minnie took a sharp intake of breath when she saw the amount.
Holy shit
, she thought shakily. It seemed more than fair. 

‘It includes an additional $200,000,’ explained Greene. ‘Levchin’s fee for the research he wrote suggesting I had stress instead of Parkinson’s. I’m not publishing his paper. In fact, that man doesn’t deserve a cent. Think of it as compensation.’

Minnie flinched at the mention of Levchin’s name.

‘You need to file a complaint with the police,’ urged Greene, noting her reaction. ‘I have the voice recording. Levchin has been informed that I have it.’

‘It will not be admissible in court,’ said Minnie. She had thought about this a thousand times. 

‘I have a formidable legal team.’

‘It is his word against mine.’

‘Fight back, isn’t that how it goes?’ said Greene, a reprimanding tone to his voice. ‘Or do you not care to practise what you preach?’

‘I care very much,’ said Minnie, stung at Greene’s suggestion. ‘I just happen to think there are more effective ways to expose – and hurt – Levchin, starting with Levchin Care Clinics. I’ve already started looking into his accounts and have made some
very
interesting discoveries.’

Greene’s mood improved. He looked impressed. ‘In that case, the Greene legal team is at your disposal.’

 Minnie nodded curtly and turned her attention back to the piece of paper on the table. She thought carefully before she spoke, an action that still didn’t come naturally to her. ‘It
is
a very generous offer,’ she said.

‘How much more?’

‘How did you know?’

Greene smiled knowingly. ‘People
always
want more.’

Minnie wrote down a new number. It made her feel much better looking at the sequence. She slid the piece of paper back towards Greene. It was a solid, reassuring number bookended by two 1s: $1,000,000.01, much better.

He raised an eyebrow. ‘It couldn’t be one million? It had to be an
odd
number?’

‘Odd to you, perfect to me.’

Greene shrugged bemused. ‘I guess one extra cent won’t break the bank.’

‘Thank you.’

‘You
need
to work on your negotiation skills,’ said Greene, waving the piece of paper at her. ‘I would have gone much higher.’

‘Actually,’ said Minnie tapping her watch. ‘I need to go home.’

Minnie didn’t leave the office there and then. She tried to persuade Greene to have lunch with her and Bachmann. 

‘No, thank you,’ said Greene without missing a beat.

‘Free lunch,’ said Minnie. ‘I’m picking up the bill.’

‘I hope you plan to invest this lump sum and not squander it,’ chastised Greene. ‘I’ll put you in touch with a financial adviser who will talk you through some viable share options.’

Minnie nodded. She wasn’t about to let him know that she had already spent the money in her head – a new marital home; somewhere where she and James George could start over. The cost of the wedding was now covered, as was the honeymoon fund. It was a life-changing windfall and a remarkable turnaround for someone like her. 

‘I would still like to buy you lunch,’ said Minnie.

‘I don’t want to get married to Parker Bachmann,’ said Greene sharply. ‘It’s over.’

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t help orchestrate the perfect break-up,’ confessed Minnie. ‘The transportation of natural gas, yes, but I’m the worst person in the world when it comes to relationships ending; I want everyone to live happily ever after.’ 

Greene kept his expression neutral but Minnie realised it was an insensitive remark. 

She quickly U-turned the conversation. ‘No matchmaking, just lunch?’

Greene’s response was interrupted by a video call. 

‘It’s your boss,’ announced Greene. ‘I made it clear to Ms Jones how invaluable you are.’

‘Oh,’ said Minnie, flattered and surprised. ‘How did she take that?’

Greene told her everything she needed to know without answering her question.

He hit a control and A.A Jones appeared on the video link. The triangular helmet of hair and flawless face loomed down on Minnie from an enormous high-definition screen on the wall. 

‘Mr Greene,’ she beamed.

‘Ms Jones.’

A.A Jones’s warm greeting fell flat when Minnie moved into the picture. ‘Oh, Miranda. It’s you.’

‘Yes,’ said Minnie, feeling the old sense of dread and inadequacy return. ‘It’s me.’

‘Did you receive the flowers?’ 

‘Yes,’ confirmed Minnie, nodding. ‘Thank you.’

‘Return to work on Monday. Jones & Sword will reimburse travel costs. Speak to Ross about it.’

The stilted manner in which she delivered the words made Minnie realise that the reimbursement had to be Greene’s suggestion. 

‘I would like to discuss a matter with Mr Greene,’ continued A.A Jones. Minnie nodded. A.A Jones added waspishly, ‘Alone.’

Minnie automatically, obediently, turned on her heel and then she stopped. Greene looked at her. Minnie turned and stared at A.A Jones. 

‘Actually,’ said Minnie. ‘I won’t see you on Monday.’

A.A Jones tutted. It was a loud, spitting sound that carried around the room. ‘I think you’ve had
quite
enough time off. I want you back at your desk on Monday.’ Her indignant tone suggested that Minnie had been frolicking abroad on a paid sabbatical. 

Minnie stood her ground. ‘I’m not coming back.’

Minnie was as much surprised at this announcement as A.A Jones was. Greene was the only one who didn’t let his feelings show. The words had just come out. Minnie had literally talked herself out of a job. 

‘You’re
not
coming back on Monday?’ repeated A.A Jones. Her tone had an incredulous edge but her cosmetically smooth face couldn’t confirm this. ‘When
are
you going to grace us with your presence?’

‘Never,’ said Minnie, now warming to the idea. ‘I’m
never
coming back to work at Jones & Sword.’ She smiled hugely. This was such a good idea; she couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought about it until now.

A.A Jones’s startled mouth parted to show off those perfect, luminously white teeth. ‘One month’s unpaid leave. Then you will return.’

‘No,’ said Minnie. ‘I really won’t.’

Greene intervened. ‘Ms Jones, we’ll leave it here for now.’ He disconnected the call but not before Minnie caught one last glimpse of A.A Jones. The look on her face was priceless. 

Minnie turned to Greene and said earnestly, ‘I am grateful, I truly am. No doubt you persuaded A.A Jones to give me my job back?’

‘She didn’t take much persuading. She’s an astute businesswoman. I simply pointed out that you have the potential to make Jones & Sword a
lot
of money.’ 

‘I can’t go back. I don’t belong there. I never did.’

‘You should have asked for a significant pay rise before making up your mind,’ instructed Greene. ‘It might have made all the difference. You
definitely
need to work on your negotiating skills.’

Minnie smiled and shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t have made any difference to me.’

Greene nodded. ‘Come and work at Greene Inc. I need more people like you.’

Minnie’s eyes popped wide with surprise. Even though she knew there was no one else in the room with them, she had to confirm the offer. ‘Me?’

‘Yes. I like working with you.’

‘Gosh,’ said Minnie, enormously flattered. ‘Thank you.’

‘I like spending time with you,’ added Greene. His face gave nothing away.

‘The feeling soon wears off, trust me,’ said Minnie in all seriousness. 

‘Think about the job offer. I will arrange for you to have the luxury suite at the Four Seasons.’