All That Glitters Ch. 22

She picked up the armour and gave it to Liea who found it surprisingly light. The armour got passed around and eventually wound up in Kim and Analisa's hands, who took a good long look at it. When they were satisfied with it, the passed it back. Ohi put it back on the dummy and activated it.

Everyone stood back as Ohi pulled a pulse rifle from under a shelf. She aimed it at the dummy and waited for the charge to build before she fired. The burst of fire struck the target dead center and created an incredible colour show around the target. The charge dissipated a few moments later. Instruments on either side of the dummy showed no bleed off from the target, which meant that people around the target would be safe.

She put the pulse rifle away and pulled a high-energy eight millimeter rail gun and aimed the thirty-six centimeter long barrel at the dummy and fired. Six solid eight millimeter rounds quickly impacted the vest, leaving only slight marks on the vest. Sensors indicated that the vest absorbed most of the impact, and that which impacted the dummy would leave a bruise, but otherwise would not leave permanent injury to the wearer.

"By the Gods, Ohi," Liea blurted. "You've just made us a lot richer."

"Well, not as rich as you would want," Annette intervened. "There is the royalty to Gerrard Guillemette, the cost of the armour from Les Armuriers Laundray, the cost of the upgraded material to make the shields, and the cost of the new M/A generator specifically made for this vest. We won't get much from each vest, but we will get a good cut all the same."

"I would suggest that we cut a deal with Gerrard, to lower the cost of royalties for individual units," Raymond suggested, "then sell the required parts to Les Armuriers Laundray who will make the specially made armour vests. Michelle's group would be under contract to Liramor Holdings for electronic parts for the vests. They couldn't get the specialty parts from elsewhere nor could they get the specialized generators from any other lab. We will do alright with the royalties and just selling the parts for each vest. Once word gets around, Michelle's group will suddenly find themselves a very lucrative business and we will be the sole source for the parts. We both win."

Ohi smiled, Michelle smiled, Annette smiled, Liea smiled, and Raymond smiled. Lynne Ducharme quickly created the necessary paperwork for all to sign, and the business deal was ready before anyone could change their minds.

"You might find yourself trying to justify this proposal to your father," Annette told Michelle.

"He will rant and rave for all of half-an-hour but will understand just how lucrative this deal will turn out to be," Michelle informed the group. "In the end, he will agree that this is a good deal and will not seek to change the contract.

"I'm more worried about Phillip Gallant, our company lawyer. He will want to change the deal, but that is because he can make no profit on the already completed deal. Les Avocats Gallant et Associates are bleeding us dry with all of their costly business law tactics and they are not doing us any favours with our clients nor other business associates.

"You will note that I had your PA word this specifically to make me the holder of the deal. If father listens to Gallant's grumblings, I will retire from the business taking this new deal with me and leave father to flounder. We must cut our ties with Les Avocats Gallant. Les Armuriers Laundray can no longer afford their tactics." Michelle told them.

"If that occurs, come and see me directly," Annette told Michelle. "We will float your new business until it gets off the ground."

"Liea, this vest was made for you," Ohi said. "I want you to put this on under your evening gown to see how it looks. Sorry about the damage, but this is just to see what changes might have to be made in the event you would be wearing it."

Liea turned her back to Raymond, who unzipped her gown taking the tab all the way down to her ass. Liea lowered the gown and casually stepped out of it, placing it across Raymond's hands, leaving her wearing only a thong and her high heels. She picked up the vest and slipped it on, then took the gown from Raymond and stepped back into it. Raymond helped her zip back up. This gown was a little looser than the ones she normally wore, so fit well over the vest. A quick look in the mirror showed that little of the vest was visible except for the shoulder straps, which were thicker than those of the dress.

"We might want to consider a bustier style vest to go under gowns with thin shoulder straps or for strapless gowns," Liea remarked after looking at herself in the mirror. "Otherwise, the fit is pretty good. I would have my dress maker modify any future dresses to incorporate the armour, or maybe have the dress made with the armour as part of the gown. What do you think, Michelle?"

"Both are good options. I think it would be good to hire a dress designer for our new line. You may take that off now if you want. We will have a new one for you in a couple of days. We can make them in eight hours since we already have your measurements. However, everything is closed now until after the New Year." Michelle said.

"We will keep you busy, I'm afraid," Raymond stated. "I will want my security team, our personal bodyguards, our PA's, and certain key individuals for the ship outfitted with at least two of these each. We have a dress maker on the ship, who has a laser measuring device. She can provide laser scans for all our staff and crew that need the vests. We will be leaving in two weeks for New Hadria and their Seventy-Fifth year anniversary celebrations of the founding of their planet. I want those vests ready before we go to that celebration so you will be conducting industrial scale production for a few days."

"Good," Michelle replied, with a nasty smile. "An order on that scale will give me the chance to override anything Gallant tries with my father. Our business can not afford to lose that kind of order."

Liea once again removed her gown and de-vested herself. Raymond gallantly helped her back into her gown, much to the amusement of all.

"You're just jealous Annette, that Raymond didn't help you out of your gown," Liea simpered.

"The night is still young," Annette purred in return, leading them to the waiting transport.

Les Armuriers Laundray, Liramor Prime, Liramor System

It was the first business day of the New Year when Michelle came into her father's office just before the opening of the shop.

"Papa, I have a contract for the new amour vests we are going to make in conjunction with Le Laboratoire Aruna. This is an order for over 500 vests to be made up in the next two weeks.

"In addition, they have contacts with people in the Navy and we could gain significant orders from them if we do a good job with this order," Michelle informed her father.

"Michelle, how are we supposed to make that many vests in just two weeks?" a suddenly furious Marcel Laundray asked his daughter. "We cannot deliver on such an order!"

"Yes, Papa, we can, and we must," Michelle shouted her father down. "The old line is still there and functional, it just has not been used for awhile. We can rehire many of the people who once worked here. We will need those people if we commit ourselves to making vests for the military and security forces. These new vests are our future, Papa. Without them, this company will die."

"Did Phillip agree to the contract?" Marcel asked, taking an electronic copy from his daughter.

"No, Papa. He knows nothing about it," Michelle admitted. "And he should not. I have told you before, Papa, we cannot afford to keep M. Gallant and his office as our lawyers. They are bleeding us. Our future does not lay with them, Papa. Why can you not see that?"

"If Phillip does not agree with the contract, it will be renegotiated," Marcel told his daughter.

"No, it will not, Papa," Michelle told him in no uncertain terms. "The contract is not to Les Armuriers Laundray, it is to ME in the name of the business, Papa. If Phillip insists on changing the contract to suit his firm, I will quit and open a rival business, Papa. I already have the necessary backing to due just that."

"How dare you!" the elder Laundray suddenly shouted. But Michelle just raised her hand to stop his tirade.

"Read the contract, Papa. It is ironclad. If we do well on the contract, we get introductions to military and security sources planet wide, and even connections to the Union Navy.

"We could be billionaires by the end of the year, or bankrupt in two months if our current trend continues. Papa, I know which direction I want this company to go in, I just hope you are man enough to let me take it there. If you are not, then I will take the contract and start a new firm.

"Please, Papa. Work with me on this, do not let this company go down without a fight now that we have the chance to do something worthwhile," Michelle pleaded.

For a moment, Michelle thought she had struck a chord with her father. She could see the light go on behind his eyes. Then, the light died. Marcel Laundray was a beaten man and Michelle did not know why.

"The plant is going to open shortly, Papa. I intend to start making the new armour for the contract. Do not get in my way, Papa." Michelle turned her back on her father and swiftly left his office, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her father had given up. To what? And Why? She did not know.

************

The end of the day snuck up on Michelle. She turned to her staff with a smile. They had completed more than fifty armour shells, ready for the electrical portions of the equipment. Each of the shells was made to a specific person, and each was labelled by name. At this rate, she would be able to complete the contract well within the time limit. The shells were placed in the painting room, ready for the next morning when they would receive skin tone colours of their respective wearers. She was ready for the next day and sent the staff home with pride in her heart at their hard work.

Michelle contacted Annette and informed her of what they had accomplished this day. Annette informed her that Ohi's lab had almost 100 sets of electrical hardware ready for her, including the new M/A generators. They would be sent over the next day.

The two chatted for a bit before Michelle signed off and shut down the office. As she was closing the shop up, she was hit from behind with a stun gun. She never saw the person who fired the shot.

Michelle woke up with a blistering headache, a feature of severe stunning. Whoever had shot her had seriously upped the voltage on the weapon. She slowly opened her eyes, the bright lights sending blinding pain to her brain. Her corresponding moan alerted those in the room she was awake.

"Ah, Michelle. So good to see you awake again," said a voice she recognized immediately.

"Phillip? What is happening?" Michelle asked, rather groggily suddenly realizing she was bound to a padded surface. A medical bed?

"Well, Michelle, you seem to have side-stepped an important part of the legal processes of Les Armuriers Laundray. Everything is supposed to go through our law firm. We, your father and I, are not pleased, Michelle.

"We are going to terminate your contract and order a new one. One that is more inclusive of your father's position as head of the business, and less favourable to you specifically." The words were softly spoken, but there was no doubt as to the menace behind them.

"No." Michelle returned.

"I beg your pardon?" Phillip asked, startled. It had been a long time since a member of the Laundray family had stood up to him.

"And I do not give it, Phillip" Michelle stated. "You are bleeding this company dry, and that is going to cease. I have the ability to turn around the fortunes of Les Armuriers Laundray, but that will not happen as long as you are the head of our legal department. So as of this moment, we are no longer using your firm for our legal work. You are dismissed, Phillip Gallant, you and Les Avocats Gallant."

"Ah, well, unfortunately for you, you do not have control of your company," Phillip responded, amusement in his voice. "That rests with your father. It is his responsibility to hire or fire employees of the business and it his decision as to who works with or for the business, and that means my firm stays."

"My father will support me on this one, Phillip," Michelle told him. "You will not win this time."

"Really?" Again, Michelle heard amusement in his voice. "Why don't we ask him?"

Phillip turned to look elsewhere in the room and Michelle followed his gaze, immediately wishing she hadn't as nausea from the movement swiftly asserted itself. She closed her eyes and forced back the swimming feeling before opening her eyes again.

Her father was standing there, at the back of the room. Tears were streaming down his face. Several men stood around him, all of them armed. They did not look like any security team that Michelle had ever seen. They were not armed with stun rods as most security would be. They were armed with pulse rifles, electric prods, and what looked like solid batons made of metal. They looked more like armed thugs, which they probably were.

"Why, Papa?" she asked.

"I'm so sorry, Michelle. They threatened to kill you if I did not change this contract. I could not let that happen," her father told her.

"No, Papa. This is not right. He will take everything we are working for. He is nothing more than a thief. He needs to go," Michelle replied to her father.

"I cannot see you murdered, too, Michelle," her father responded.

"What do you mean, too, Papa?"

"Your mother was killed by these people, Michelle. They have false evidence that I was the one who murdered her. If I do anything against their wishes, that evidence will wind up in the hands of certain police officers. Members of the police who are working for Gallant. I, and our company, would not stand a chance, Michelle."

Now she understood her father's reluctance to stand against Phillip and his clique. He was being blackmailed by Phillip.

"Father, they cannot allow me to live," Michelle told him. "I now know your secret, and I, unlike you, am not afraid of them. As soon as you change that contract, I will die, and you will likely die soon after, your will changed to give control of the company and it's assets to Phillip Gallant."

Gallant laughed. "Do not listen to your daughter, Marcel. As long as you do as you are told, she, and you, will be safe."

Marcel looked at Phillip. The man was lying to him. He could always tell when Phillip was lying. He gave it away in his eyes. His daughter would not be safe, and neither would he. Marcel made up his mind. He would act as soon as he could to bring this man down and save his daughter. But, for the moment.

Michelle watched as her father folded in on himself, surrendering to Phillip's demands. She could see the glee on Phillip's face. He knew he had won.

The loud bang behind Michelle came out of nowhere, catching everyone in the room by surprise. A second bang at the room's only door, immediately followed the first, blowing the door off its hinges and into the room. Stun shots rang out and people collapsed all around the room. In mere moments, the only person standing was her father.

People swiftly entered the room, efficiently searching and disarming the thugs then binding them in electronic restraints. Phillip too, was searched and bound in the restraints.

Someone stood next to her. Michelle recognized Kim, Liea's bodyguard? What was she doing here?

Kim released the restraints on Michelle, then gave her an injection and some water. "That should ease the stun effects," Kim reassured her.

"How? What?" Michelle began, but Kim shut her down. "Weight for the injection to take effect, then we will explain. In the meantime."

Phillip was unceremoniously dumped into a chair and given a shot of stimulant to wake him. The stimulant worked quickly, and Phillip woke up and started yelling at the people around him.

"How dare you!" he shouted. "Do you know who you are dealing with? I am Phillip Gallant, senior partner of Les Advocates Gallant! I will ensure that all of you will spend YEARS in jail for this affront!"

"That's enough, M. Gallant," said C. Supt. Maria Sanger, shutting him down instantly once he recognized who was speaking. "We heard everything that was said in here, M. Gallant. You have implicated yourself and your business in active criminal cases. I note that you did not refute M. Laundray's assertion that you were responsible for his wife's murder. Something that we were not aware of as her death was listed as an accident. We will look to see if the coroner of that case is a 'client' of yours M. Gallant.

"We will shortly be executing search warrants of your business, sir. I am sure we will find all kinds of things there that will interest us. We will also be going through all of the business accounts your law firm is responsible for. I am just as certain we will find more items of interest in that investigation as well. You are under arrest, sir. For now, the charges are kidnapping Michelle Laundray, blackmail of Marcel Laundray, and forcible detention, but I am sure there will be additional charges laid by morning.

"As Les Armuriers Laundray is now conducting contracts for government officials, your criminal acts to gain control of that company means that you are going to be charged in a Planetary Court, and possibly even a Union Court. You are going away for a very long time, M. Gallant. Unless we find that you did order the murder of Madame Laundray, in which case, the death penalty will apply.

"Do you have anything you wish to say, M. Gallant? No? I'm surprised, sir. Most lawyers do not listen to their own advice and speak out while they are being charged. Something about blustering because of their status as lawyers.

"Take him away," she ordered of her staff.

"How are you feeling?" Sanger asked of Michelle, who was now sitting up on the bed.

"Much better now that the stimulant has started working," she assured her.

"Good," Sanger replied. "Kim here has explained why you were kidnapped. I want to see this new armour of yours. If it is as good as she said, IPPF will be very interested in it."

Marcel was suddenly hugging his daughter, crying into her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," he repeated again and again.

"Papa, I understand now what was going on. You were being blackmailed and you wanted our business to fail so that Phillip would lose interest in it and you," Michelle told him, hugging him tight.

"You pulled me out of my depression, and you pulled this company out of the spiral I and Phillip put it in. I am surrendering my position as CEO of the company. From now on, that is your position," her father told her.

"Papa, I need your insight, I need your council," Michelle told him.

"And you will have it, as Director of Operations reporting to the CEO, you," her father stated. "YOU are going to save this company, Michelle, not me. I will follow your direction, and work hard to return this company to the position it once had, as premier armourer."

Marcel suddenly sagged against her. "Papa!"

"It's OK. Just very tired all of a sudden," he told her.

Sanger acted immediately and had him taken to medical attention.

"Are you certain you are alright?" Sanger asked Michelle.

"Yes," she replied. "I apparently had a good rest while I was stunned."

That got a smile from Kim, who clapped Michelle on the back.

"Then let's take a look at what all this fuss is about," Sanger suggested.

Before the end of the night, Les Armuriers Laundray was working out another very lucrative contract.