Page 109 of Pride and Protest

Liza and Janae crouched over Janae’s phone while Maurice went up to the third floor of the hotel. When the elevator doors opened, they were able to immediately make out WIC’sface half-covered behind Maurice’s lapel and hear him greet people. “Welcome, young investors. The party is about to get started. Let’s invest in our people.”

The phone bounced as Maurice walked out of the elevator. Then they heard, “Hey, I know you. You’re Liza’s brother, right?” Liza could hear the wariness in WIC’s voice.

“Hey, man. I’ve recently come into a bit of money; Deya told me you know a little about flipping cash?”

Maurice adjusted his jacket, and Liza and Janae could see WIC’s face crack open in a wide smile.

“For a friend like you, I can set something up with you immediately. Let’s get you to the money room, where the men are.” They walked and chatted, mostly stuff that the mic didn’t pick up because WIC was too far in front of him.

“Catch up, Maurice,” Janae whispered.

Liza could see the predatory gleam in WIC’s eyes. “How much are you thinking of investing? If I’m using my personal account, it can’t be for peanuts.”

“Does... one hundred thousand dollars sound like peanuts?”

Janae’s eyes bugged out, and she dropped the phone and pushed Liza to the bathroom of the jet. “Liza, I can’t move that kind of money! That number’s way too big!”

“Does it have to be real money?” Liza asked.

“So now I have to make up money and put that fake money into his account? That will take days.” Janae paced. It was just then that Liza noticed the glint of a ring on Janae’s finger.

“Janae, what the heck is that on your finger?”

“Oh... this.” Janae looked away. “I told you I would tell you if anything changes with David and I and... things changed.”

“Okay, we’re in a crisis here, so we’re going to talk about thislater and make sure this is a good idea. But you could pawn that ring now and get us halfway there.”

Janae crossed her arms. “Liza, you have a lot of nerve...”

“Okay, okay. We obviously have a lot to talk about, but right now we need a hundred K in ten minutes.”

“Well, Dorsey is richer than God. Why haven’t you called him? He probably has this kind of money in a billfold.”

“Janae, I can’t. It’s not like that.”

“Um, you’re flying in your sworn enemy’s private jet and wearing his shirt. Whatisit like?”

“Dorsey is not some kind of sugar—” Liza’s phone rang, and Liza quickly picked it up to silence it. Any sounds would disrupt the video call they were on. “It’s Dorsey.”

“Just in time. Let’s ask him.”

“Janae, I really don’t want to do that.”

“Fine, you don’t have to.” Janae plucked the phone from her hand and walked back to the bathroom. Liza was going to be sick. How could Dorsey even stand to look at her after today? She took and took. She waited for Janae, who padded back from the bathroom with a suspicious look in her eye.

“What?”

“It’ll be in my account in two minutes.” Liza’s stomach dropped.Maurice’s plan had better work.“Liza, he didn’t even pause. Oh, you have awholebunch of explaining to do. That was not booty call concern.”

They picked up the conversation with Maurice and an increasingly impatient WIC.

“Nah, I’m still not seeing it, bro.”

“What is wrong with the internet here? Should we go down to the lobby? I think the Wi-Fi may be stronger down there.”

“Nah, I have a room full of curious potential investors, and Ishould really get back. Hit me up when your money is right, though.”

“Look!” Maurice almost screamed. “Th-there it is, a hundred grand, just like I said. Right in your account.”