Page 64 of The Atlas Maneuver

Which might explain how those two cars located her yesterday on the highway north from Luxembourg City.

“She also knew I’m Nakamoto and that I now control the bank’s bitcoin private keys,” Kelly said. “How is that possible?”

An excellent question. “Kelly, I need you to listen to me. What you’ve done is bad. You’ve hurt me beyond measure. But I’m not your enemy and I certainly brought no harm to you. If your life is in danger, let me help. Come back and we’ll work this out. I can offer you full protection.”

“Will you stop the Atlas Maneuver?”

“I can’t do that.”

“Katie, you have more money than you could ever possibly spend. You have power. Prestige. A glowing reputation in the financial community. Leave the world alone.”

“It’s far too late for any semblance of morality,” she made clear. “And I’m doing nothing more than offering nations a choice. A way to free themselves from American and Chinese monetary influence. They don’t have to take what I’m offering.”

“But they will. It’s too enticing. They just don’t know that they’ve traded one problem for another.”

A fear pulsated through her. She realized that Kelly could use the private keys as a bargaining chip with the CIA. They’d surely make a deal for that kind of control.

Yet Kelly had called her. Why?

“What do you want?” she asked. “What can I give you?”

“Sadly, Katie, you have nothing that I want.”

The world would be a different place if everybody thought alike. If people spontaneously conformed to other people’s every wish, every thought, every feeling. But life did not work that way.

Which was why negotiating came to be.

She’d learned five things over the years that made all the difference in deal making. First, establish a relationship, get a feel for the other side. Be open. Sincere. And, most important, believed. Second, focus on the win-win. Never think only of yourself. Know what the other side wants and try to give it to them. Third, embody your inner adult. Never, ever think childishly. Be the stable adult at the table. Don’t argue. Instead, understand. Fourth, respect the rhythm of the relationship. Don’t force things. Allow them to flow naturally so the other side has time to reflect and consider. And finally, always choose honey over vinegar. But the honey must be genuine. Real. Desired.

Never just create an agreement.

Instead, cultivate a long-term relationship where the other side wants to willingly make a deal.

This was perhaps the most critical negotiation she’d ever faced.

Everything was on the line.

You have nothing I want.

Time for that honey.

“You’re wrong, Kelly. I have what you want most in this world.”

CHAPTER 35

CASSIOPEIA REPLAYED THE CONVERSATION WITHCOTTON IN HER HEAD. She understood his dilemma and reservations. Confronting your past was tough. She herself had come face-to-face with a man from her own a while back in Denmark. That had ended badly and nearly cost her entire relationship with Cotton. So who was she to judge? Cotton was a big boy and he’d deal with the situation, and she had to trust him to handle it. She realized this was not about an old lover resurfacing. That was way too simple. Instead, this was about mistakes and memories.

And Gary Malone.

Cotton’s wife had dealt him a blow there. Deep. Hard. Painful. Becoming pregnant by another man, telling no one, and allowing Cotton to raise the boy thinking him his own. That took a huge amount of callous resentment. Pam had only revealed the truth, in anger, as the marriage dissolved, to hurt him, fifteen years after the boy was born. Luckily, Gary had grown into a fine young man, handling all of the revelations in a mature manner. He and Cotton enjoyed a great relationship. They were close. The boy was even talking about following his father and grandfather into the navy. But they were still a year or so away from that decision. How Pam Malone held that truth in for so long was hard to understand.Anger for Cassiopeia had always been open and immediate, with no hesitation. Long ago she had learned that nothing good ever came from keeping volatile emotions inside. They were like a cancer that affected everything.

Excise and heal. That was what worked.

At least she now knew why they were still in this fight.

She and Koger had stayed at Citrone’s house for the night, taking turns keeping watch. Interestingly, their host slept soundly in his room, deep snoring signaling not a care in the world. Which added more suspicion to their already growing list. She’d showered and even washed her hair, now ready for the day. The staff were arriving, shocked by the state of the house. Some had started cleaning up, while the kitchen crew prepared a light breakfast of bread, cheese, juice, and coffee, which she and Koger enjoyed.

“Interesting that none of these people were here yesterday,” she said to Koger.