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“Dollars, yes,” Chase confirmed. “Chump change for me, and a nice vay of getting zees beeznees relationsheep off to a good start, yes?”

“Y-yes, indeed.” Garibaldi licked his lips eagerly. “What business are you in right now, Mr. Abromavich?”

“Oh, a leetle beet of zis and a leetle beet of zat. But we like the candy, isn’t that so, sweet puss?”

“Ve like ze candy very much,” Odelia agreed with a purr.

“Everybody likes the candy,” said Garibaldi, his eyes now taking in Odelia’s form. “I like the candy, you like the candy—they like the candy.” He gestured to the four cats, who were all staring at the scene, as if having a hard time grasping what was going on.

“So I vanted to ask you,” said Chase, settling back and adjusting his tie. “Zertain rumors ave reached my eers.”

“What rumors?” asked Garibaldi, reluctantly dragging his eyes away from Odelia.

“Ze dead voman–she vas your aunt?”

Garibaldi swallowed.“Not my aunt,” he said, shaking his head.

“Zen oo ees she?”

“I have absolutely no idea,” said the CEO. “But I can assure you her unfortunate death has nothing to do with Garibo whatsoever. No matter what you’ve been told—”

“I’ve been told your aunt disappeared tventy years ago and now she turn up dead.”

“No, no, no,” said Garibaldi, shaking his head in quick motions. “No, she isn’t my aunt. My aunt disappeared, that’s true, but the woman that was found—she shares a vague resemblance to my aunt. But apart from that—”

“You are zure, Mr. Garibaldi?” asked Chase, arching an inquisitive brow.

“Yes, absolutely. No connection to Garibo Enterprises whatsoever. You have my word on that.”

Odelia noticed how the little guy was getting more and more nervous, perspiration beading on his brow as he spoke.

“I ave another qvestion for you.”

“Shoot,” said the manager.

“Your uncle—he owns Garibo Enterprises does he not?”

“Yes—Uncle Quintin is the company’s owner.”

“And he’s retiring soon? Leaving you in charge?”

“No, well, yes.” The little guy cleared his throat and flashed a nervous smile. “The thing is, Uncle Quintin has a hard time letting go. So even though I’ve been running the business for the last twenty years or so, technically he’s still in charge. But since he’s pushing eighty, he obviously realizes a transition is the best thing for the future of the company.”

“And has dees transition taken place?” asked Chase, giving the manager a hard stare.

The man wilted a little under the onslaught.“Um, well, I can tell you in confidence that a transition is indeed in the works, and that you are looking at the future owner of Garibo Enterprises.”

“Beecause if you are not ze boss, and Quintin Gardner ees ze boss, you understand ve vould like to speak to ze real boss instead of you.”

“Oh, no, I understand—absolutely. But rest assured, I am the man in charge. So if you’re ready to invest, I’m the guy to talk to—one hundred percent your guy.”

“Very good,” said Chase, satisfied.

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door, and the receptionist came in, followed by two ladies.“I’m sorry, sir. They insisted to speak to you.”

“Ve are two Russian investors and ve vould like to invest in your company!” the first lady bellowed. Odelia was surprised to discover it was her own grandmother, dressed up like a model, complete with fishnet stockings, a tight dress and about an inch of makeup.

Next was Scarlett Canyon, teetering on the highest heels Odelia had ever seen.

“Ve vould like to invest money in your candy,” Scarlett announced. Her top was cut even lower than usual, her bust practically spilling out and causing Garibaldi to make a whimpering sound as he caught sight of it.

And then Gran suddenly noticed Odelia and Chase and her smile vanished. She pointed at them.“Vat are zey doing ere?”

“What?” asked Garibaldi feebly.

“Zey are thieves, Mr. Garibo,” said Gran. “Zey vork for KGB. Zey are spies—here to steal your candy-making secrets!”

Garibaldi’s head turned so fast it actually creaked. “Is this true?” he asked, his voice a squeak now.

“Of course not,” Chase assured him. “Ve are honest investors, here to invest our meelions of dollars.”

“Lies!” Gran cried. “Zey ave no munney. No munney at all. Only lies and cheating!”

Scarlett, who must have sensed things were getting out of hand, came teetering up to Garibaldi, then actually fell down on top of the man.“Oopsie poopsie,” she said as she clung to him. “I vant to know all about you, Gari. Vill you tell Svetlana all about candy?”

“Y-yes,” said Garibaldi. “O-of course.”

“Oh, for crying out loud,” muttered Chase, suddenly not sounding like a Russian oligarch at all.

And things would presumably have gone downhill even further, if the burly security guard from last night hadn’t walked in at that moment. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked, then caught sight of Gran and Scarlett and his expression darkened.

“Didn’t I tell you two to get lost and stay lost?”

“Wait, you know these people?” asked Garibaldi.