Kelan weight the potential options. He needed more information.
"What would happen if Kerrigan simply vanished? You say she is an orphan, right? I have desires that need to be met, you have crystals and power you want from me and my father. With Kerrigan simply gone, and an image of her in a car with this man... perhaps she drove off into the night with a lover."
Zadok considered that. "No. As much as I would like to simply have her vanish, she has too many loyal supporters still. And while it worked once on her parents, there are still enemies in the shadows from that endeavor. There are too many variables"
Kelan made a mental note to seek out more about Kerrigan's parents. His interest had initially been purely lustful, but Kerrigan had grown into a powerful woman in her own right. Dragon Corporation under her guidance was a prize that would make his father truly proud and set up the Benedict legacy for generations. "would these photos and a leave of absence from her be enough to cause the board to consider alternative options for management?"
That got Zadok's attention. "What do you have in mind?"
"If Kerrigan is gone, even for a month or two, say on a tryst with this man, perhaps it would be enough to leverage the board into considering more dedicated management options. Right now, you of course are a prime candidate to be the CEO of Dragon Corporation. Your spiritual wisdom would be a guiding light to the corporation and a direct blessing from Abraxas. If you have a strong Chief Operations Officer (COO) to run the day-to-day things for you, it would be easy for you to guide the direction of the company. Such a position would make you highly sought after on the lords counsel and economics committees for the whole kingdom." Kelan felt he might be laying the flattery on a bit thick but Zadok's ego was easy to manipulate.
Zadok seemed to consider this new notion. "Me as CEO? It has always been tradition that that position was held open for the blessed of the dragons. Kerrigan checked enough boxes with her background and natural wit that Rania giving her the presidency was not too out of place. She clearly made good use of it. But yes, if she were gone, it would be natural for me to need to step up now that I am Prima I should take over." Zadok narrowed his eyes at Kelan, "Why the sudden interest in discussing making Kerrigan disappear? I thought you were interested in her personally. Are you wanting to keep her as some personal slave out of the public eye?"
Kelan recoiled, trying to mask any worry. "I only ask because my father has always considered working with the temple of Abraxas a high priority, and my business dinner with Kerrigan was less the satisfactory. I want to be able to consider all options, and if she is a problem, the Benedicts know how to remove problems."
Zadok seemed mollified, "Well, don't act rashly. As much as I hate to admit it, that one has a unique situation that prevents even me from acting directly against her. But if we can discredit her with your photos and a few well-placed rumors, then, there very well might be a chance."
Kelan leaned forward. "Should you become CEO at the behest of the board, you will want to appoint a good COO to run the company. Someone who has business experience and has connections in several provinces. Be sure to conduct in depth interviews."
"Yes, you mentioned that. I will give it some thought. It would be taxing to have to run the temple and Dragon Corporation, but I am sure I can find a strong candidate. Thank you, Kelan, for bringing this to me. I need time to think how best to apply it."
"Right, of course. I will leave you too it." Kelan rose and headed for the door before he could give anything away.
Kelan made his way back to the trolly and stared out at the icy world and the car descended, his heart dropping with it. If Kerrigan was dead, his father might just kill him too if Kelan wasn't able to secure Dragon Corporation in the aftermath. He tried dialing the number again, but it never connected. Either his contact was dead or had discovered something about Kerrigan after he had done the job and had gone to ground for a while. Kelan suspected the latter, knowing how deadly and efficient the man was. That begged the question, what did he know, that Kelan should have known?
When the trolly reached the bottom, he hurried to his car, bracing against the frigid wind. He would never get use to the cold here. Even now, when his home would be experiencing the first hints of spring, this miserable mountain hell was icy and covered in snow. When he reached his car, he cranked the heat and dialed his father.
"What do you need Kelan?"
"Hello to you too father."
"Are you in trouble or need something?"
"Can't a son just call his father?"
"Fine, we will play your little game. Hello Kelan. How is your day going? Any new bastard grandkids I need to be aware of?"
"Thanks dad. Real charming."
"At least tell me you have managed to make something of yourself then. If you have moved on from trying to repopulate the kingdom single handedly, then perhaps you are making the Benedict name some money."
"On that account, I am actively working on bringing you the Dragon Corporation." Kelan held his breath as he heard his father splutter and choke on whatever liquor he had been drinking.
"Well, that would be a pleasant surprise. Did you manage to get the bitch to spread her legs for you?"
"Not exactly. But I am making good friends with your old pal, Prima Zadok."
"Zadok? Is he still bitching about those crystals? If he asks again, tell him I will find some just to shove down his skinny little throat. He is asking us to find diamond dust in a freaking coal mine. Sure, it's there somewhere, but fuck's sake if anyone is ever going to find it!"
"He did mention that, but he was more willing to make a deal with me when I mentioned inviting him to the lord's assembly next quarter."
"And why would I extend such a generous invitation to him?" his father sounded less than amused by the notion.
"Well, If I became the new COO of Dragon Corporation, we might have new interests to discuss." Kelan explained. That got his father's attention.
"COO? We could work with that! what about the bitch? Would she still be in play?"
"She may not be an issue anymore. But dad, I must ask, what do you know about the Lokir family? Zadok said Kerrigan was an orphan but there might be other reasons for me to not mess with her."
"He said what?"
The low, murderous tone in his father's voice sent chills down Kelan's back.
"Dad? What do I need to know about the Atholl-Lokir family?"
"That they don't exist. it just a name for orphans. There has not been a line of Atholl-Lokir's in twenty years. I made sure they would never mess with our family ever again." The hatred was palpable across the phone line.
"So, if I bring you Dragon Corporation, that would be a good thing?"
"If you bring Dragon Corporation into the Benedict Group, you will have secured our legacy for generations. As for the bitch. If Zadok has been holding out on me all this time" he said with a pause, "I knew she was smart, and it was interesting to have her as an opponent. I had hoped you might conquer that one, but if that slime ball lied to me and the girl escaped all those years ago... I will make her disappear for good this time, and I will do it myself."
"Give me a bit of time father, I believe by the time the snow melts here, I will have Dragon Corporation well in hand."
His father snorted, "Then I will not bother holding my breath. Velyki never melts. Good luck in your frozen hell. Maybe next time you pick an impossible challenge you will be smart enough to do it somewhere warm." The line with dead without waiting for a reply.
Kelan sighed. Perhaps he would never earn his father's approval, but if Kerrigan was truly gone, as he suspected, then perhaps he could win glory after all.