Never like this

OK, one last cocktail. She felt like having another Mai Tai. It’s pretty hard, she only had three and was already more than tipsy. We’ve got something to celebrate after all. I should have gone for a tad lighter drink though. I’ll still have to get rid of that annoying journalist as well. One last sip, she finished the drink and tried to stand up from the inconveniently low armchair preserving as much dignity as possible. She looked around but no one seemed to notice or pay attention to her. A coffee will be great! No, perhaps it’s too late for that.

Norika strolled through the hotel lobby. The air felt damp and hot, not the nicest to be honest. The receptionist waved at her, she got mail, but it was just an invite to a housewarming party. It’s always fun to have a party at a place that has got an infinity pool. Next time she moves she will make sure to have that. But this couldn’t divert her attention from the ever-growing problems, they were like a dark raincloud constantly looming above her head.

While waiting for the elevator, it rushed through her mind: They will never forgive me. It’s one thing to be a bit selfish, but this time I really did overstretch it. Not everyone in the team will understand what I did and I’m pretty sure Damian and Tom will do everything to get the source-code back. Good thing is that they have like zero clue where I am. Too bad, this AI project could have really been something majestic. It is strange that the guys always emphasized the defence applications of the algorithm and how large budgets the defence ministries are sitting on. To me the civil application seemed the be the clear winner. No restrictions, no screenings, no audits and down the line we could clearly help society, especially if the medical side of the project gets completed. If only they would have treated me as an equal part of the team. It is like they were afraid to let a woman head up the commercial department. It is always the same story. I was clearly the best at what I do. Heck, I still am! If I get my money selling this algorithm, I will definitely start up a woman only company, or at least an equal opportunity employer, don’t know yet. Let’s just get there first. The elevator stopped at her floor. She was a bit lightheaded: I like this Mai Tai a lot, but need to change to something lighter for sure, I’ll have a terrible headache tomorrow. Let’s not forget to have a glass of water and an aspiring before I go to bed.

She tried the chipcard, first it didn’t work. The lock was beeping and flashing red for the second and third attempt as well. Come on, just had reception replace this yesterday. Then she got finally a green and happy beep and could open the door. She threw the bags onto the bed and opened the balcony door. There was a slight breeze from the ocean and the air had this strange, vibrating atmosphere one usually feels before thunderstorms, quite pleasant actually, the complete opposite of the lobby. She went to the bathroom, removed her jacket and took a good look at her tired face in the mirror. If I could choose, it’s sure as hell I wouldn’t do it like this, not in a million years.

When she went back into the room, something was not right, she could feel that straight away. The balcony door was closed, and all the lights have been dimmed. There was a bit of a movement in the far corner of the room, and Norika could see a petite, elegant woman, dressed in a black minidress. The only problem with her was that she’s pointed a gun at him equipped with a silencer. Or a suppressor? Isn’t that the same? Oh, well… she wanted to ask her something, but totally blocked down. By the time she gathered the courage to ask her, she could only see two sudden flashes from her gun right after each other and her vision became blurred. She fell like a tree.

The assassin came forward from the corner. She could see Norika trying to say something when she shot her. I wonder what she wanted to say? Trying to bribe me perhaps? Probably. Anyway, now I’ll never know. Next time I could wait a tiny bit more perhaps. She quickly stepped over to the body lying on the ground, checked her pulse and started going through her clothes and luggage systemically, until she has found the external disk drive, she was looking for. Good things she didn’t put it in the safe, those are a pain to open. In the other pocket she has found a bundle of banknotes, twenty thousand US dollars to be precise. Today could just be my lucky day!

And she stroked through the name of Norika Bolton in her little black notebook. Probably it is a bad idea to write down names like this, I’ll have to figure out something clever for that. But striking through just feels too satisfying, no phone gesture could replicate this.

She thought: Actually, it is funny, normally sales people are hired for their little black books. But never like this.