58. Negotiations 3

"Well, now I know how you became a Senator, Christian. Those are some nice arguments" Grant said with a smile on his face. "But they don't matter. If you want to know how capable I am, I can send you the number of missions I have completed for you to see that I am not joking around. As for SHIELD the only reason that Hydra was able to infiltrate it, was because the politicians at that time wanted to use the scientists from Germany for their benefit. So you could say that if not for the politicians of that time SHIELD would have been Hydra free."

"And just so we are clear, don't even think about trying to peddle Christian's sob story to anyone else ever again. The man who helped me Escape from Juvy suspected that you might try to make trouble for me, so he got all he could on you. I have everything from pictures of what I used to look like after one of your 'unfortunate methods' of discipline to doctors' reports and personal statements from teachers and employees who were too scared then to come forward. If you ever lie about me, I will ruin your reputation in no time flat. Child abusers are despised and you won't be any exception. My friend also gathered evidence of financial chicanery and shady dealings you had done up until the time I left. That doesn't even include the new evidence of embezzlement, fraud, and weapons trafficking that I have on you. Do you think SHIELD won't let me do anything to you? Trust me they won't be able to stop me." Grant said as he leaned back on his chair.

Dead silence. Then Belinda sighed. "Grant, you have given us a lot to think about in a short time do you have specific offers both from SHIELD and from you personally."

Grant nodded, "I do." He leaned over low rolled up his pants leg and took out a thin, flesh-toned cylinder. He unrolled it and took out two pieces of paper he almost grinned at the expressions on their faces. "As you might imagine, these are unofficial. One is from SHIELD. The other is from me detailing my monetary requests. It also contains several links to the evidence that I have gathered." He gave a taunting half-smile. "Just in case you doubt the veracity of my claims."

He got up from his chair and handed them to Belinda. She took them and without even glancing at them coolly met Grant's eyes. "We are going to need some time to go over these. What kind of deadline do we have for making a decision?"

"I can give you 30 minutes." He tilted his head towards the window. "I will be right over there when you are ready to talk"

"Thirty minutes is an impossible amount of time in which to make such a huge decision!" Belinda snapped "It's traditional to give at least 24 hours and allow us time to discuss without being overheard."

"Traditional isn't how field does things. They need and answer quickly and so do I." He put on a fake serious expression. "I will do my best not to listen."

Belinda searched his face, probably trying to see if he could be bent to her will. She apparently decided that he couldn't because she then gave Grant what he remembered as her public 'you have made me very angry and I will deal with you later look' that promise pain and anguish. Grant of course didn't feel a thing from it after all there was nothing she could do to him. "Very well then. Please excuse us while we discuss."

He nodded, ostentatiously set his watch, and walked over to the window. It was far enough away that it would have been difficult to hear what they were saying had he been a normal human being, but after getting these abilities of his. Hearing from such a distance was easy. At first, Grant let his mind wander a bit since they were just talking trash about him, expressing this may at the position in which they found themselves and outrage at the amount he wanted. It wasn't necessary for him to hear that, besides he was taping everything from the recorder in his watch. If he went back over the table later and found something he needed to address, he could.

"Mother, I really don't see that we have any choice. Yes, it's an insane amount of money, and we're going to have to shift a lot of assets to get it. But with what he has owners I would definitely lose my Senator seat and we would all is a go-to prison or be forced to spend almost all of the options on a lawyer supplemented with away a repetition would be ruined I wouldn't be surprised Anna divorce me over there and their connection to her family would be severed." Christian stated

Grant smirked as he reflected that the requested reversal of their attitude towards SHIELD was a no-brainer. It was the money that had them truly upset.

"Belinda, Christian's right. I don't see their much we can do Grant doesn't leave us with much but at least this way we have a chance to recover losses eventually. If we go to prison or get into a big legal battle we will have nothing." Cort said

Belinda looked at Cort and frowned. "It's clear that I am outvoted." She shrugged. "Maybe it will be worth it to get rid of Grant for once and for all. There are also may be opportunities " she lowered her voice even further "with Hydra and other allies to get back some of what we are losing. And since Grant is on SHIELD's side, surely HYDRA has no love for Grant."

Grant smirked as he heard her say that, 'something else to look into' thought Grant as he turned his head towards them.

His watch on the table beeped. He walked over and turned it off. "Time is up. SHIELD and I need an answer." He waved his hand at the couch as if urging them to sit. "Please"

Belinda looked at Cort and nodded. They all took their previous places as did Grant "You have once again put us in an impossible position." Belinda started holding her head high and speaking in dignified tones, "But we never the less consent to SHIELD's request and to your's as well. We can fulfill SHIELD's requirements almost immediately, yours will take a little more time. We can" t just hand over millions overnight."

"Actually you can my share of Grams' estate is just sitting in an account in the Caymans, Almost like it's waiting for me. I am not sure what you were going to do with it. But it's easily transferable, something I expect you to do within an hour of my departure. However, you are correct that the rest of the money will take some time together since you will have to liquefy a lot of assets. 2 months should give you ample time."