Chapter 17 - Early Retirement

I felt mildly sick after three slices of pizza, Andrea choked down two and could do no more. We ate in silence as we both digested the events of the day and deep in thought of the events yet to come. We would occasionally look up from our feast of food and thoughts. Sometimes an uncomfortable smile would break our lips. Not because we were scared to death. It was one of those encouraging smiles that would let the other person know that all would be okay, when in fact you were more worried than they were.

The remaining pizza carnage sat in the box, some remaining crusts, leaked cheese, and greased, which was enhanced by the painstaking ritual that Andy did by letting every drop of grease ooze off the point of her slice. I could look at it no more. I took the last gulp of Coke, then moved the box to the corner of the Pergo floor where it would do no harm and be out of the way. I leaned under the desk to toss my can in the trash and remembered the spare Blackberry between my thighs. I lifted it up, this time more daringly above the desk.

I looked up at the clock 5:19.

"You gonna email Jake?" asked Andrea.
"Yeah," I replied, then typed:

Jake, what's your status?
I set the Berry back between my thighs, I would feel it vibrate when he responded. "Andy, we should start working on the press release. It help abate Stephan when he comes around after dinner. And it will distract us while we wait for Jake."

"Good idea," she responded.

I opened a Word doc on my laptop prepared to start typing in the fashion I had done many times before with Andy and I working the delicate weaving of words to encourage investment in Nextec. Although she is the CEO and hired me long after her business started, I was with her before we went public. That was the reason she hired me. I had apprenticed as a Controller under another CFO that took a local medical supply company public and learned how the process worked. Andrea needed a CFO with this experience, but one who would be young enough to not demand a seven figure starting salary. At the time I was yet to earn six figures and jumped at the chance to break that threshold.

"Okay lady, we need a tag line to work towards. Our stock was trading at $35.25 at the Friday close. I have no idea what it closed at today since we have been locked up here, but imagine it is within a buck. We need it to soar five dollars in fifteen minutes at the bell tomorrow morning, so this must be an earth shattering press release," I said.

"How about 'former Microsoft CFO to replace Randall Scott, who took an unexpected early retirement package.'" joked Andrea.
"Should I be looking for a new job?" I half joked back.
"I dunno," said Andy,"do you think you will be able to show up for work anytime soon?"

I wanted to laugh but couldn't. I actually freaked. I was alive for now, and that was good, but. But what about the deaths of Rachel, Jerry, and Pete. Was I to end up in jail? Flee the country? Regardless, if Nextec was to survive, I had no choice. "I will resign Andy," I said with sorrow and conviction.

"What?" she responded. "I was just kidding," she backpedaled.

"I have no choice Andy, the company cannot survive the news that will be released about the murders surrounding me. Even though I am innocent, the stock price will plummet and I have a fiduciary responsibility to our stockholders. I will need some significant cash for my defence, so please make the severance sweet."

"Randy," she said in her CEO, I am the Boss way. "You cannot resign."
"It's early retirement," I said consigned to the fact that it is the only option.
"Make it noted that I protest this decision,"
"Duly noted Madam CEO."
"Five Million," stated Andy as if at an auction.
"What?" I questioned.
"Your severance. Five Million," she repeated.
"But..."
"There will be no negotiation," she stated.

"Yes Ma'am," I acquiesced, although I suspected I only needed half of that for defense. She knew that after the dust settled, whether found guilty or innocent, I could no longer have the earning capacity that I do now. Any company that I applied to for a job would perform due diligence on my back ground. Especially if a public company with Sarbanes Oxley and all that crap bestowed by the Enron fiasco. This would be added to my nest egg and stock options. Actually with the paid for condo and Porsche, I could retire and write books. This may not be all that bad.

The joke is now reality. "Fortune 100 CFO to replace Randall Scott who has taken early retirement from Nextec."