Chapter 45: In Moscow

April 26, 2001, Chicago, Illinois

🎤 Steve

“Seriously, Liz?” I asked with a sigh as we began our ‘working lunch’ at Takumi.

“Think about it, Steve. The risks are just too great. This isn’t a ‘guilty until proven innocent’ situation, it’s a smart, defensive move on our part. Yes, it costs us a bit of money, but as the king of risk analysis, you have to understand it’s money well spent. Think about what happens if we’re wrong about Lee? Why create a bad situation to save a few bucks.”

“Optics,” I replied.

“Yes, of course, but there’s a simple way out of that - that we can’t block one of the bedrooms in the NIKA apartment for five weeks. It’s not like anyone is going to stand up and say that we don’t trust Lee if a female employee is in the other bedroom. You KNOW the potential problem. So, just as you admit ‘ordered liberty’ HAS to trump your sometimes outrageous anarcho-capitalism, in this case, prudence has to trump principle.”

“I love you,” I replied flatly.

Liz laughed softly and smiled, “And I love that you can’t say ‘I hate you’ to me under ANY circumstance!”

“And yet...” I chuckled.

“Oh, I know what you MEANT, but you can’t say it! Not even on a dare!”

“True,” I admitted.

“So we’ll have Cindi put Lee in an extended-stay hotel.”

“Fine. What about Margaret’s lawyer?”

“I don’t want you at the meeting, for what I think are obvious reasons, but I might call you in for a single statement, if necessary.”

“Afraid I’ll tell the lawyer to fuck off?”

“Certain of it, though you’ll be a bit more polite about it, unless she gets under your skin, you know, the way Jesse always did with Birgit.”

“I love you,” I said flatly.

Liz laughed softly again, “Thank you.”

“So what’s the statement?”

“Just four words. You come into the conference room, I say ‘Steve?’ and you say ‘I do NOT settle!’, with that emphasis, then turn and walk out. I’ll have it all set up if it gets to that point.”

“Playing on her aversion to court, well, what we assume from her track record. And I’m the majority shareholder, so I’m the one who has the most at risk, so to speak.”

“Exactly.”

“What is her game here? Simply extracting money from us?”

“That does appear to be her track record,” Liz confirmed. “That said, I have no doubt she’s had plenty of legitimate cases. The problem is, we can’t know for sure because when you settle out of court everything is sealed and there are NDAs which prevent anyone from speaking.”

“Thus furthering her, and I say this privately only to you, blackmail and extortion racket. She trades on fear, uncertainty, and the threat of bad PR. Well, not only am I fearless, but I’m better at the game than she is!”

“I’m almost afraid to ask, but what did you do?”

I chuckled, “It pays to have the right friends. You remember my friend Jasmine, right?”

“Sure. The reporter at the Trib.”

“She and a female reporter from Crain’s are doing a story on women in the executive suite. NIKA is held up as an example, and our treatment of women across the board, including our benefits program, is being touted. She also interviewed Kassidy and Iris about our internship program. A couple of law firms and management consulting firms are being called out for what amount to misogynistic practices.”

“And when is this running?”

“Next Monday. The full article is in Crain’s. The Trib will run an abridged version focusing on the benefits angle.”

Liz shook her head, “I’m in awe.”

“You had to know I wouldn’t take this lying down!”

“I have to say I think Doctor Al is right! You ARE a sneaky, underhanded, conniving bastard!”

“Thank you! Any concerns?”

“The only potential problem would be tainting the jury pool, but the chances that someone who reads Crain’s would ever end up on a jury are infinitesimal. There’s simply no way of excluding everyone who read the Trib. And any taint would be in our favor, so that would be their problem, not ours. I’m going to keep this between us until next Monday. I’m assuming nobody else knows?”

“Just you, me, and a pair of friendly reporters who owe me massive favors.”

“Can I, just this once, ask you about your business, Don Stephen?” Liz smirked.

I chuckled, “Consigliere, you know ALL my business. Let’s just say I’ve provided intel and background and leave it at that unless and until I need your help in one of those areas.”

“More interesting stories to come!”

“Without a doubt!”

Later that afternoon, Liz executed her plan, and I made my statement, then turned on my heel and left the conference room. About an hour later, Liz, Elyse, Stephanie, Bob, and I met in Stephanie’s office.

“She’s going to fold,” Liz said. “She has to. It might be tomorrow, but it’ll certainly happen next week.”

“Why next week?” Bob asked.

“She may want to think over her options, of which she has none,” Stephanie said. “And honestly, how hard is she going to push? What possible thing could Margaret gain from this? It’s obvious we’re not going to fire Lee, and I’m fairly sure Margaret was relying on the NIKA «kami» to protect her from any retaliation.”

“My guess,” Liz said, “is that when Margaret made the complaint, she talked to the attorney beforehand, and this is now the attorney’s game, likely telling Margaret about all the success she’s had in the past. And then it took on a life of its own. Margaret’s attorney made no threats, she approached this as someone who simply expected to be paid off to avoid what Steve might call ‘Imperial entanglements’. Steve’s not afraid, and won’t be cowed, so the only bolt left in the quiver is an actual lawsuit. I may be young, but I’d never, ever go into court with such flimsy ‘evidence’, and neither would any of the other attorneys I spoke to - Gwen, Deborah, and Megan. According to Megan, even movie studios who pay these settlements all the time would fight something this flimsy because they could hold it up as proof that all the rumors are wrong.”

“Right,” I chuckled. “As if the ‘casting couch’ never existed and doesn’t exist?”

“The fiction is working for them,” Stephanie said.

“Until it doesn’t,” I replied. “One day, somebody big is going to be caught, and some big-name actresses are going to speak out.”

“We call them all ‘actors’ now,” Bob said.

“YOU do,” I replied. “But let’s not have the Newspeak argument again, please.”

“I think this is all settled,” Stephanie said. “I spoke to Joyce and Dad about self-insurance, and they have the same general reservations you have, but they also said that it’s your company, and you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak. I’ll do an email vote by the Board which will be confirmed at the next Board meeting in July, but which can take effect as soon as Elyse, Bob, and Liz work out the details and update our policy and procedure manual.”

“You know there will be a next time,” Bob said. “You can count on it.”

“Sadly, I’m sure you’re right,” I replied.

April 28, 2001, Chicago, Illinois

“Steve, I’d like you to meet my friends Elsa, Nickie, Kim, and Tessa!” Suzanne said, bringing her four friends into the kitchen as I prepared lunch on Saturday following karate. “Girls, this is Steve!”

“Pleased to meet you all,” I said.

I’d decided a bit of goofiness was appropriate, so I took each girl’s hand in turn, and kissed the back of it, causing Birgit, who was helping me make lunch, to roll her eyes.

Elsa had an obvious German accent and was a thin brunette with gorgeous brown eyes and a killer smile.

Nickie had a flat Midwestern accent, and looked like the proverbial farmer’s daughter - blonde hair, blue eyes, and lots of curves.

Kim was Oriental, and if I’d had to guess, had Korean ancestry, but somewhere along the line, someone had married a Caucasian. The combined genetics made for a gorgeous, thin girl with soft Oriental features.

Tessa had an English accent and reminded me a bit of Pippa, though much, much curvier, with a body that rivaled Cindi’s when Cindi was in college, but her most striking feature was the combination of black hair and green eyes.

“I guess chivalry isn’t QUITE dead!” Tessa laughed after I kissed her hand.

“It’s on life support,” I chuckled. “And I do my best to keep it breathing! Suzanne, lunch will be in the dining room.”

“And shall we use the good china?” she asked, playing along.

“If we had any!” I chuckled. “You know my take on that! Our ‘good’ china is just a trio of Oneida ‘Academy Blue’ sets.”

Suzanne and her friends left, and Birgit and I put everything on trays to carry to the dining room. Once we set them on the table, Birgit rounded up everyone else for lunch. When we finished eating, Birgit and Kara volunteered to do the dishes and I went to hang out with Suzanne and her friends in the ‘Indian’ room.

“What are your majors and years?” I asked.

“Physics,” Elsa replied. “I’m a Freshman.”

“Business,” Nickie said. “Junior.”

“Stereotypically, math!” Kim smirked. “Sophomore.”

“International relations,” Tessa said. “Sophomore. I hear you’re some kind of computer mogul!”

“I run my own computer company,” I said. “May I ask where you’re from?”

“London. Do you know it?”

“I’ve been there a few times.”

“I’m from Watford, which is north and west. My dad’s firm moved us to Chicago just under two years ago.”

“What’s he do?”

“He works for BAE, the defense and space consortium. They have quite a few big contracts with your military.”

“And you, Elsa?”

“Berlin. My dad works for Arthur Andersen and is involved in auditing and reviewing the financials of companies in the energy sector. He’s on long-term assignment to Chicago. Have you been to Berlin?”

“Oh, I might have,” I chuckled. “I was living in Sweden as an exchange student and my host father took a wrong turn and we ended up on the wrong side of Checkpoint Charlie without the correct documents.”

“When was that?”

“December of 1979,” I replied. “So it was before you were born!”

She laughed, “I was eight when the wall came down. All my friends and I went to watch them tear it down that day. We all brought former Easterners to our houses for tea and cookies.”

“Kim?”

“California. My dad is from Korea, my mom is American, though her family traces itself back to Spain.”

“I’m originally from California,” I replied. “Los Angeles. Well, Lynwood, to be exact.”

“The Valley for me.”

“And Nickie?”

“Land spreadin’ out so far and wide ... Nebraska.”

I chuckled, “And did you have to climb the telephone pole to make a phone call?”

She laughed, “No!”

“I was always partial to Petticoat Junction,” I chuckled.

“Of course you were!” Nickie laughed. “I mean, ‘Hooterville’? Seriously?”

“Well, at least Suzanne didn’t introduce you all as Betty Jo, Billie Joe, Bobbie Joe, and Kate!”

“What ARE you two talking about?” Elsa asked.

“A pair of old American TV shows,” Nickie replied. “Green Acres and Petticoat Junction. They were in the same universe, and there was some interaction between characters. They were about living in rural areas like where I grew up, but in the fifties and sixties.”

“I don’t think I even saw a farm until I was twelve and went on what I think you call a ‘field trip’ in school,” Elsa said, shaking her head.

“Lots of citrus groves, artichokes, and other stuff when I was growing up,” Kim added. “But a lot of them have been replaced by houses and businesses now.”

“My parents had a small holiday cottage in the north of England, so I saw lots of farms growing up,” Tessa said. “Steve, why were you in Sweden?”

“I was an exchange student for my Junior year of High School. I’ve been back a few times.”

“Suzanne said you’ve traveled a lot.”

“Yes. Mostly to Sweden, Russia, and the Netherlands, but also to England, Austria, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil. Plus most of the US, as well as western Canada and northern Mexico.”

“She also said you’re a black belt,” Kim said. “What form?”

“Shōtōkan. 6th Dan.”

“I’m 1st Dan in Taekwondo.”

“You should come to JM Martial Arts some time and practice with us.”

“Somehow I think you’ll kick my butt!”

I shook my head, “We’ll never know because I’m not permitted to spar. I had two concussions, from accidents, not karate, and the second time I had post-concussion syndrome, so my doctors forbade me from sparring. A blow to the head could cause serious problems. But come visit. We like visitors, especially ones who practice a different style.”

“All of those kids at lunch are yours?” Nickie asked.

“And three more besides,” I replied.

“Wow!” Elsa exclaimed. “That’s a large family and I would never have guessed that Professor Adams had seven kids!”

I laughed and shook my head, “She doesn’t. It seems Suzanne hasn’t told you the ‘rest of the story’, as it were. I think I’ll go join my wife and daughters and let Suzanne tell you. Have fun this afternoon!”

I got up and left the room, closing the door behind me, and went to join Kara and the girls in the sunroom. Albert, without a Scout activity, was in his room playing with his flight simulator.

“One of your students is about to be enlightened,” I chuckled.

“Elsa? She’s a physics major, not a chemistry major, despite my best efforts to change her mind!”

“Suzanne didn’t clue them in about things here; she’s doing that now. It ought to be interesting!”

“You didn’t stay to hear?”

“No, I figured it was better for her friends to be able to ask her questions without worrying about what I might think or say.”

“Then come join us. We’re having a mother-daughter tea!”

“Do I look like a mother or daughter?” I asked.

“You could borrow one of Mom’s dresses,” Ashley teased.

“Only if I get to take a picture!” Birgit smirked.

“You should, Dad!” Stephie giggled.

“What do you say, Snuggle Bear? Are you secure enough in your manhood to wear a dress for tea?”

“YOU aren’t wearing a dress!” I protested.

“Coward!” Kara teased.

“Please, Dad?” Stephie giggled.

“No cameras!” I declared.

“Hah!” Birgit smirked. “I am SO taking pictures!”

I knew I’d regret it, because I was certain the pictures would find their way to Jennifer, Melanie, and Penny, but I also knew the girls would get a serious kick out of it, so I acquiesced, and ten minutes later, wearing one of Kara’s sundresses, and with tissues stuffed into one of her bras, I made my first appearance in drag, with my girls laughing so hard they were in tears. Birgit could barely hold the camera steady while she took pictures, and then we drank our tea. I managed to escape after about thirty minutes, and thankfully without Suzanne’s friends seeing me, and then returned to the sunroom in my sweats and t-shirt.

“You were a good sport, Snuggle Bear,” Kara said, giving me a quick kiss. “Your girls will never forget it!”

“And I’ll never live it down when my Pumpkin shares those pictures!”

April 29, 2001, Chicago, Illinois

On Sunday morning after Kara and I walked Jess to work, we had breakfast and then Suzanne and I went grocery shopping.

“So how did it go yesterday?” I asked as I drove down Hyde Park Avenue towards the Jewell.

Suzanne hadn’t arrived home until after Kara, Jessica, and I had gone up to bed, so I hadn’t had a chance to speak with her.

Suzanne laughed softly, “Which part? The two wives? The «cortigiana onesta»? Your sexual freedom? The Southside Philosophy Club?”

“You can more or less sum that up as Cirque du Steve,” I chuckled.

“I’d say we could invite all four of them to Saint Martin and they’d be more than happy to entertain you!”

I chuckled, “Probably not the best plan of action, but noted.”

“Seriously, though, do you think I’d develop a close friendship with anyone who wasn’t open-minded enough to accept my situation?”

“Probably not.”

“I plan to include Leigh once she graduates from High School. Her parents are a bit too conservative to allow her to hang out with five college girls. They’re OK with her coming here two Sundays a month because you’re a karate instructor and they approve of your mentoring.”

“I’m glad you’re finding friends. What about Val?”

“WAY too into Archie and her books to have time to get down here except for the Rap Sessions. They have their own clique at Northwestern. We talk, though, so it’s all good.”

“So they’re all cool with your situation?”

“Yes. Tessa has the hots for you!”

I groaned, “Black hair and green eyes - I’ve never seen that combo before and it was stunning!”

“She noticed!” Suzanne declared mirthfully. “And that bit with kissing their hands? I think all four of them were creaming their jeans!”

“Good to know,” I chuckled.

“Seriously, no pressure, but consider a week in Saint Martin in August, maybe the week before you go to Mayo for your checkup. There’s no Iron Mountain this year according to Kara because of Hawaii and her month at Stanford.”

“I’ll think about it,” I replied. “Are any of them interested in the Philosophy Club?”

“I think all four of them, which would basically solve the membership problem.”

“OK. Feel free to invite them. They all seemed mature enough to handle the conversations, and honestly, I’d pretty much never doubt a European.”

“One of the reasons I befriended them is that I knew they’d be more like us. They were the first ones I hung out with, then Kim, then Nickie. They’re all excellent students and not into the college scene, if you know what I mean.”

“I do. I was never really into the college scene, either. Elyse checked it out when we first moved to Chicago, but she quickly gave up on that. Kathy wasn’t into it, nor was Bethany, though Bethany’s roommate was a major party animal for her first year. Then she buckled down. That said, she met her future husband on one of her booze-fueled sexcapades as a Freshman, so you never know!”