Chương 97: Chapter 98: Jessie's problem

"So what did you decide in your meeting, Mr Smith?" Jessie asked as she lounged back on her chair with her feet on her desk.

"We begrudgingly accept your terms."

"Marvellous, when can I expect someone to collect the product and transfer me the credits?" Jessie asked.

"Because of the nature of the product, we want a handoff on neutral ground." Jessie frowned when she heard this and took her feet off her desk before asking, "Is my club not good enough, or don't you trust me?"

"Both, we won't conduct business in a brothel of all places, and you have already increased the price once; how can we trust you won't try something else?"

"It's just business, Mr Smith, you tried to acquire the product mid-transport by intercepting my courier, who could have been killed after you refused my first generous offer. As a recompense, I doubled the price."

"How can it be recompense when you didn't suffer a loss?"

"But I could have suffered a loss, and it's not like you would have offered me compensation, is it?"

"Regardless, those are our terms, an exchange at a neutral meeting point outside of sector eight six six."

"Did you have a specific location in mind, Mr Smith?"

"The Trillion neutron reactor plant at midnight, I believe that no gang dares to claim that as their territory because those above you wouldn't like it."

"Fine," Jessie replied before ending the call.

"Shit." She cursed before contacting someone on her uniband. A moment later, the door opened and Joe walked in.

"We have a problem," Jessie said in an annoyed tone before he even had time to sit down. 💫💫💫"Let's go," Stacey said as she and Susan approached Adam.

"Lead the way," Adam said before he followed behind the two ladies.

"Oi, perv, get your eyes off my butt," Susan said as she flashed him a look over her shoulder.

"What?" Adam asked in confusion as he hadn't been looking at her ass at all, though now that she mentioned it, he couldn't help but check it out.

"Stop teasing him, Sue," Stacey replied as she shook her head in exasperation. Susan winked at Adam with a cheeky grin before looking ahead again. Adam rolled his eyes as he followed them, now purposefully checking out the two women's asses as revenge. As they left the hackers' den, Adam said, "After I drop you back at Becky's, I need to visit the closest sky tower."

"Why?" Stacey asked as both girls looked at him curiously.

"I need to borrow some information from their database," Adam replied.

"You want to hack the sky tower security database? Are you nuts?" Susan asked, "That's a closed network; even we at the hackers' den can't access it."

"That's why I need to visit the closest tower so that I can plug in directly."

"Your boyfriend's nuts, Stace." Susan said before continuing, "Even if you could gain access to the security branch there, you wouldn't be able to download the data before they discovered you."

"Sue is right, Adam, sky tower security is not like lower level security, where it's essentially run by the gang whose sector it's in; they're proper security who answer only to those who live in the towers. Also, he's not my boyfriend." Stacey replied. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I can handle that, don't worry, I was just letting you know so you don't go wandering around."

"Hey, I lived on these streets all my life, I can look after myself, thank you," Stacey replied defensively"Then why did you hire me?" Adam asked.

"Because of the cargo."

"Then you don't need me anymore, and our contract is done? Can I get paid then?"

"No, that's not what I meant," Stacey replied with slight panic before turning her head with a pout and saying, "Hmph, fine, just do what you like, but our contract isn't finished yet." Susan watched this with a smile. She had known Stacey most of her life, and they were very close friends; she could honestly say she had never seen her act this way around a guy before.

This was mainly because Stacey was worried that once he found out who her grandmother was, he would no longer want to be with her for the same reasons. However, it was different with this Adam since he already knew and seemed not to care. It wasn't long before they reached Becky's and, like before, skipped the line and went straight inside thanks to the girls at the door recognising Stacey.

"You're back, and this must be the friend you told me about," Joe said as they approached the bar.

"Joe, this is Susan. Susan, meet Joe. I'm sure you have heard of each other." Stacey said, doing the introductions.

"A pleasure, Susan."

"Likewise, Joe."

"Right, since that's done, I will be back in a bit," Adam said as he turned to leave, but was stopped when Joe said something.

"Hold up a sec, Jessie wants a word with you in the back. She has a job for you."

"For me? Not Stacey?" Adam asked, confused, as Stacey also gave Joe a questioning look.

"This isn't really Stacey's area of expertise; she can join you in the back if she wants, though," Joe replied. Adam looked at Stacey, who shrugged before saying, "Might as well hear her out." Adam nodded before the three of them followed Joe through a door next to the bar and then down a hallway to a door near the end. Joe opened the door and led them inside to find Jessie sitting on a chair behind a desk with her feet resting on it.

As she heard the door open, she looked over before smiling and sliding her feet off the desk and then standing up while saying, "You're back, this must be the hacker friend of yours." Stacey did the introductions again before Jessie said, "Can we put our talk on hold for a few minutes since I have a more urgent matter I need to speak to this handsome guy about?"

"No issue here," Susan said as she sat down and relaxed on the couch.

"Joe said you had a job for me, but bear in mind I'm still contracted for protection work for Stacey here, so I might not be able to help," Adam said before Jessie could speak.

"Stacey mentioned as much when we spoke earlier," Jessie said before continuing.

"It's about the product you helped Stacey deliver. The mega corp finally got back to me and accepted my price, but there's a problem."

"What problem?"

"They want to meet at a neutral location, the Trillion neutron reactor plant at midnight. It's not controlled by any gangs, and I have a feeling it's a set-up."

"What makes you say that?"

"They took too long to get back to me. He made some excuse about needing to have a meeting because of me doubling the price, but that's total bullshit. The price I'm asking is a drop in the ocean to these clowns… if Trillion had oceans." Jessie answered before continuing.

"Also, my people tell me that some strangers have been scoping out the brothel and local area since I doubled the price."

"So why not call the whole thing off?" Adam asked.

"I can't. We're talking about a lot of credits if this deal goes through, and I can't risk hanging onto the product much longer."

"Is it that valuable?" Stacey asked.

"You don't know?" Adam asked in return. Stacey shook her head before saying, "I was paid to transport it, that's all."

"Ever the professional Stacey," Susan said with a giggle.

"Anyway, yes, the product is that valuable and is also a hot potato."

"A potato the size of a planet," Joe commented, causing everyone to look at him.

"I told you this was a bad idea at the start, Jessie." Joe continued.

"I know, I know." Jessie said while waving her hands dismissively before saying, "So yeah, I wanna hire you as some extra muscle. I did a bit of research on you on the universal subspace net, and your viewers who post about you say you're pretty good in a fight."

"Thanks, but it's not my call. Since I'm still under contract, you will have to ask my boss." Adam said as he looked at Stacey. Stacey thought for a moment before saying, "Fine, but only if I can come too."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Stacey," Jessie replied.

"She's right, Stace, you might be able to handle yourself in a street fight, but I doubt that will be enough if a mega corp plans to double-cross them," Susan said with concern.

"That's my offer, take it or leave it," Stacey replied stubbornly. Jessie looked at Joe, who shrugged before saying, "Fine, but I can't guarantee your safety if shit kicks off."

"Good," Stacey replied with a smile while Susan sighed and shook her head.

"Fine, but if that's the case, I have a few conditions," Adam stated.