Chapter 7 Chapter Six
Salander came to the office building near Slusen where Milton's security guards were located. She took the elevator from the basement to the seventh floor, which was the top floor of the three floors Milton occupied.She opened the elevator door with a card lock she had stolen several years ago.Naturally, he glanced at his watch as he walked into the unlit hallway.Sunday, ten past three in the morning.The night guard would sit in the alarm center on the fifth floor, far from the elevators, and she was almost certain that there would be no one else on the floor but her.She was as surprised as usual that the security company would make such a low-level mistake with its own security system.
In the past year, the seventh floor has not changed much.She went first to her old office, the cubicle Armansky had put her in, behind a glass wall in the hallway.The door was unlocked.Aside from someone putting a cardboard box of waste paper inside the door, nothing has changed: desks, office chairs, trash cans, an (empty) bookshelf, and an outdated Toshiba laptop with a woefully small hard drive.
Salander could not see any sign that Armansky had vacated the office for others to use. Although she thought it was a good omen, she also knew it was meaningless.There is hardly any use for such a space.
Salander closed the door and walked down the corridor to make sure that no night owls were in any of the offices.He stopped by the coffee machine, took a cup of cappuccino, and then opened the door of Armansky's office with a stolen card lock.
Inside, too, it was exasperatingly tidy as usual.She took a quick look around and checked the bookshelf before sitting at the desk and turning on his computer.
She removed a CD from the inside pocket of her jacket, inserted it into the hard drive, and started a program called Asphyxia 1.3.It was written by herself, and its only function was to upgrade the web browser IE on Armansky's computer to a newer version.The process takes about five minutes.After the update is complete, take out the CD and restart the computer with the new version of IE.The program looks and works exactly like the original, only slightly larger and slower by about a millionth of a second.All installations remain as they were, including the installation date, so there is no trace of new documentation.
She typed a server's FTP address in the Netherlands, and a command screen appeared.Press "Copy", add "Amansky/Mibao" as the name, and press "Finish", the computer immediately starts copying Amansky's hard drive to the server in the Netherlands.A clock on the screen showed that the whole process would take thirty-four minutes.
When the transmission was in progress, she took out the backup key of Armansky's desk from a jar on the bookshelf, and spent the next 30 minutes looking through the materials in the top drawer on the right hand side of Armansky to find out his latest information. important work content.When the computer rang after the transfer, she put the files back in the original order.
Then, she turned off the computer and desk lamp, and took away the finished coffee cup.She left Milton security the same way, at 4:12 in the morning.
After walking home, she sat down in front of the computer, logged into the server in the Netherlands, and started the copied Asphyxia 1.3 program.A window appears asking for the name of the hard drive.There are a total of forty different options, and she scrolls down one by one.Among them is the "Nice Biermann" hard drive, which she usually checks every other month.When she saw "Michael Bloom/Laptop" and "Michael Bloom/Office", she paused. These icons hadn't been clicked in for more than a year, and she hesitated whether to delete them.Later, it was decided that it should be kept in principle-since all the effort has been made to hack into a computer, it would be foolish to delete it like this, not to mention that one day the whole program may have to be restarted from scratch.The same is true for another icon called "Wennerstrom" that has not been opened for a long time.That person is dead.The icon of the last created "Armanski/Mibao" is at the bottom of the list.She could have copied his hard drive earlier, but she never did, because she was working in Milton and had easy access to information that Armansky wanted to keep from others.She hacked into his computer without any malicious intentions, but just wanted to know what cases the company had accepted now, and wanted to know the situation.She clicked, and a new folder called "Armansky Hard Disk" immediately opened.She tests to see if she can access the hard drive and checks that all the data is there.She read Armansky's reports, financial statements, and e-mails, and she didn't finally get into bed until seven in the morning and slept until half past twelve.
※※※
On the last Friday in January, Millennium held its annual general meeting, attended by corporate accountants, an accountant, and four partners: Erica (30 percent), Blomkvist ( 20), Krist (20 percent) and Hayley Van Yell (30 percent).Marlene came to the meeting on behalf of other employees as the chairman of the magazine's labor union. The union members included Marlene, Rota, Kertesz, Monica and marketing director Sonny Magnussen.This is Marlene's first board meeting.
They started a one-hour meeting at four o'clock, and spent most of the time discussing financial statements and audit results.It's clear that Millennium is on solid footing, not the same situation it was in crisis two years ago.According to the accounting statements, the company made a profit of 2.1 million crowns, of which about one million came from Blomkvist's book on the Wennerström affair.Everyone also agreed with Erica's proposal to set up a separate fund of 1 million for future emergency use; allocate 250,000 for capital investment, such as the purchase of new computers and other equipment, and the repair cost of the editing room, etc. ;Another 300,000 yuan was used as a salary increase, and he could also sign a full-time contract with Kertesz.For the rest, each shareholder can get a dividend of 50,000 kroner, and distribute 100,000 kroner equally to four employees, regardless of full-time or part-time.Sonny didn't get a share of the bonus.According to the contract, he can draw commissions from the advertisements sold, and he is the highest paid among all employees.These proposals were all passed without objection.
Blomkvist proposed cutting the freelance budget to allow for a freelance reporter.He was thinking of Dag.That way, he could use Millennium as a base for freelance writing and, if things go well, he could be hired full-time.But Erica objected, on the grounds that the magazine could not survive without a large number of freelance manuscripts.Hayley also supported her view; Krist abstained.In the end it was decided not to touch the budget for freelance manuscripts, but it may be possible to investigate whether other fees can be adjusted.Everyone wanted Dag to join the team, at least as a part-time writer.A brief discussion of future management and development plans follows.Erica was re-elected as the chairman of the board for the next year, and then the meeting was adjourned.
Marlene didn't say a word from the beginning to the end.She and her colleagues can get a dividend of 25,000 crowns, which is more than the monthly salary, and she is very satisfied.
After the annual general meeting, Erica holds a partner meeting.So Erica, Blomkvist, Krist and Hayley stayed behind after the others left the conference room.Erica announces the meeting.
"There's only one item on the agenda," she said. "Hayley, according to Henry's agreement with us, his co-tenancy period is two years, and now that the deadline is approaching, we have to decide that you—or should I say Henry— Equity changes in Millennium."
"We all know my uncle's investment was impulsive under very unusual circumstances," Hayley said. "Now that the circumstances have been lifted, what do you propose?"
Christ frowned angrily.He was the only one here who knew nothing about the unusual situation, and Blomkvist and Erica had to keep it from him.Erica only told him that it was a private matter that Blomkvist would not talk about anyway, but Blomkvist's silence was clearly related to Hedstadt and Hayley.He didn't need to know all the details to make a decision, and out of respect for Blomkvist, he didn't make matters worse.
"The three of us discussed it and made a decision." Erica looked Hailey directly in the eyes and said, "But before we explain our proposition, we want to hear your thoughts." Hailey turned to the three of them. Sequence glanced at it, and finally his gaze stayed on Blomkvist's face, but he couldn't decipher any information.
"If you want to buy our family's shares, it will cost about three million plus interest. Can you afford it?" She said softly.
"Yes." Blomkvist replied with a smile.
The elderly corporate tycoon paid him five million kroner after he completed the task for Henry.Ironically, part of the mission is to find out what happened to his grandniece Hayley.
"Then it's up to you to decide." Hayley said, "It's stated in the agreement that you can no longer let the Van Yeer family hold shares. I will never sign such a casual contract like Henry. "
"We could buy your shares back if necessary," Erica said, "but the real question is how you want to do it. You're the president of one—or two—large corporations, and you The amount of a deal negotiated over a cup of coffee may be our annual budget. Why are you willing to spend your time on a fringe cause like "Millennium"?"
Hai Li looked at the chairman calmly and didn't speak for a long time.Then turning to Blomkvist, he replied:
"I've owned something since the day I was born. And I'm busy running a company with more intrigue than a four-hundred-page romance novel. I'm joining your board of directors for the first time just to fulfill An obligation that I cannot ignore. But you know what? Over the past eighteen months, I have found more enjoyment on this board than on all the other boards combined."
Blomkvist listened thoughtfully.Then Hayley turned to Crystal.
"The problems you face at Millennium are small and can be solved. Of course you want to make money running a company, that goes without saying. But all of you have another purpose, you all want to accomplish something."
Having said that, she took a sip of water, and then looked at Erica steadily.
"As for what exactly, I'm not quite sure. The goals are pretty vague. You're not a political group, you're not a group with a special purpose, you're just responsible for yourself. But you're pointing out the ills of society and don't care about fighting public figures .You guys often try to change the situation and really make a difference. You all pretend to be cynical and deny the meaning of all existence, but in fact you are using your own morality to steer the direction of the magazine, and I have found it a few times. Quite a special moral. I don’t know how to describe it, but maybe Millennium has a soul. It’s the only board I’m proud to be a part of.”
She was silent for a long time, and Erica couldn't help laughing.
"That's good, but you still haven't answered my question."
"I've hardly ever been involved in anything so weird and ridiculous, but I enjoyed being with you guys and had a great time. If you want me to stay, I'm happy to."
"Okay," said Crist. "After much discussion and agreement, we're going to buy back your shares."
Hailey's eyes widened.
"You want to kick me?"
"When we first signed the contract, we were eager to kill. We had no choice. From the beginning, we have been counting the days to buy back the shares from your uncle."
Erica opened a folder, spread a few pieces of paper on the table, and pushed a check for the exact amount in front of Hailey.After reading the document, she signed it without saying a word.
"Okay." Erica said, "It's really simple. I want to express my gratitude to Henry for everything he has done for "Millennium", and I hope you can pass it on."
"I will." Hayley said flatly, without any emotion.In fact, she not only felt hurt but also deeply disappointed. Unexpectedly, after they asked her to say that she wanted to stay, they still decided to kick her away.
"Now, I want to see if you're interested in a completely different contract." Erika said as she took out another document and pushed it to the desktop.
"We don't know if you are personally interested in becoming a partner in Millennium. The price is the same as the check you just received. There are no deadlines or exclusions in the contract, and you will be responsible for the same as the rest of us. responsible official partner.”
Hayley raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Why do you have to turn this corner?"
"It's a matter of time," Crist said. "We could have renewed the contract every year, or we could have kicked you out until the directors disputed it. But it's always a contract that has to be undone sooner or later."
Hayley propped her chin on her hand, examining him sharply.Then look at Blomkvist, then at Erica.
"We signed Henry because we were having financial trouble," Erica said. "We're signing you now because we wanted to. Unlike the old contract, it won't be easy to kick you out later." gone."
"That makes a huge difference to us," Blomkvist murmured, the only thing he said during the discussion.
"Actually, we think you're not just financially supporting the name Van Yeer, but also adding something to Millennium," Erica said. "You're smart, sensitive, and constructive. You have been very low-key until now, visiting us almost like a guest once a season, but you are a symbol of stability and direction to this board that has never been seen before. You have a business mind. You have asked if you can trust Me, and I have the same doubts about you, and now we both have answers. I like you and trust you, we are all the same. We don't want you to be one of us through some complicated and confusing legal form. We I hope you are a partner, a real partner."
Hailey picked up the contract and looked at it for five minutes.Finally looked up.
"All three of you agree?" she asked.
The three nodded together.Hailey took a pen and signed it.
※※※
The partners of "Millennium" went to "Samir's Pot" on Tawas Street for dinner.It's a quiet dinner, with wine and lamb, to celebrate new partners.The atmosphere of the conversation was relaxed, but Hayley was visibly flustered.She felt a little like a first date: something was going to happen, but no one knew what it was.Hailey is leaving at seven thirty.She apologized and said she had to go back to the hotel and go to bed early.Erica wanted to go home, but her husband was still waiting for her, so he walked with her for a while and broke up in Slusen.Blomkvist and Krist remained for a while longer, until Kristard excused himself, saying he, too, had to go home.
Hailey took a taxi to the Sheraton, went straight back to her room on the ninth floor, changed her clothes and bathed and put on the hotel bathrobe, then sat by the window and looked at Knights Island.She took a pack of Dunhill out of her bag.She only smokes three or four cigarettes a day, so she considers herself a non-smoker, and feels no guilt if she occasionally smokes one.At nine o'clock, someone knocked at the door, opened the door and saw Blomkvist, and let him in.
"You bastard," she said.
He smiled and kissed her on the cheek.
"I really thought you were going to kick me out."
"Even if it were, we would never use that method. Do you know why we renegotiated the contract?"
"Of course, very reasonable."
Blomkvist lifted her bathrobe, put one hand on her chest, and stroked it gently.
"You bastard," she said again.
※※※
Salander stopped in front of a door with "Wu" written on it.Just now I saw the lights from the street, and now I heard music coming from inside. It can be seen that Miriam Wu is still living in the suite on Tontebo Street near St. Eric's Square.It was Friday night, and Salander had hoped that Miriam would be out playing and the place would be dark.The only questions left to be answered now were whether Miriam still wanted to have anything to do with her, and whether she was still alone.She rang the bell.
After Miriam opened the door, she raised her eyebrows in surprise, and then leaned against the door frame, pressing her hips with her hands.
"Salander. I thought you were dead or something."
"not dead."
"what you up to?"
"There are many answers to this question."
Miriam looked around the stairwell before staring at Salander again.
"Tell me one and listen."
"I just wanted to see if you're still alone and if you want a company tonight."
Miriam seemed to be taken aback for a few seconds, then laughed out loud.
"After disappearing without a trace for a year and a half, I only know one person who dares to ring my doorbell and ask me if I want to have sex."
"Do you want me to leave?"
Miriam stopped laughing and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Liz... oh my god, you're serious!"
Salander waited.
Finally Miriam sighed and opened the door.
"Come in, I can at least buy you a cup of coffee."
Salander followed her into the room, and she sat down on one of the two stools placed by the small table in the hallway.The interior area is twenty-four square meters: there is a crowded room and an antechamber.The kitchen was really just a place to cook in the corner of the hall, and Miriam had connected a water pipe from the bathroom to the sink.
Miriam's mother is from Hong Kong and her father is from Borden.Salander knew that her parents lived in Paris, that she herself was studying sociology in Stockholm, and that an older sister was studying anthropology in the United States.Miriam's short-cropped black hair and slightly Asian features were obviously inherited from her mother, while her father gave her a pair of blue eyes.As for her big mouth and freckles, they are not like her parents.
Miriam is thirty-one years old and likes to wear leather clothes and patronize performing arts clubs—sometimes performing herself.Salander hadn't been to a club since she was sixteen.In addition to attending classes, Miriam works one day a week at a "masquerade fashion shop" on a street next to Svia Road.Customers who come to "Masquerade Clothes" are eager to find something like a rubber nurse's uniform or a black leather witch's costume. The store designs and manufactures the clothes.This store was jointly opened by Miriam and several girlfriends, and it is not without small supplements to pay a few thousand kroner a month for student loans.Salander first saw Miriam at a strange performance during the Gay Pride Day celebrations a few years ago, and later in the day at a beer stand.Miriam was wearing a strange lemon-yellow plastic dress that showed more than it covered.Salander didn't find that outfit intriguing at all, but because she had drunk too much, she suddenly wanted to hook up with a girl dressed like a lemon.To Salander's great surprise, the lemon looked at her and laughed out loud, kissed her unabashedly and said, "You are exactly the one I want." So they went back to Salander's residence , having sex all night.
"That's what I am," Salander said. "Fleeing from everything and everyone. I should say goodbye."
"I thought something was wrong with you. We didn't communicate very often during your last few months here."
"I am very busy."
"You're so secretive and never talk about yourself. I don't even know where you work or who to ask when you don't answer your phone."
"I don't have a job right now, and you, like me, want sex but don't particularly want a stable relationship. Or do you want it?"
"You're right," Miriam said after a while.
"Me too. I never make any promises."
"You've changed," Miriam said.
"Not much."
"You look older, more mature, dressed differently, stuffed in your bra."
Salander didn't say much.Miriam, who had seen her naked, would of course have noticed the change.Finally she lowered her eyes and murmured, "I'm going to put on fake tits."
"What did you say?"
Salander raised her head and raised her voice, but she didn't notice the provocation in her tone.
"I went to a clinic in Italy and had breast implants. That's why I disappeared. I've been traveling since then. Now I'm back."
"Are you joking?"
Salander looked at Miriam blankly.
"I'm so stupid, you never joke."
"I'm not going to apologize, I'm just telling the truth. If you want me to leave, just say so."
Miriam laughed.
"Please, I haven't seen the result yet, so of course I won't let you go."
"I've always loved having sex with you, Miriam. You never cared what job I did, and when I was busy, you went to someone else."
Miriam discovered she was gay early in middle school.At the age of seventeen, after several attempts, I finally understood the mystery of sex while attending a party organized by the Swedish "LGBT" Human Rights Alliance in Gothenburg.Since then, she has never considered other life forms.At twenty-three, she had once tried to have sex with a man, and she had done everything mechanically without pleasure.Plus she's one of those few, uninterested in marriage, fidelity, and cozy evenings at home.
"I've been home for a few weeks. I need to know if I need to find someone else, or if you're still interested in me."
Miriam bent down and pecked her lips lightly.
"I was going to study tonight."
She unbuttoned Salander's blouse.
"But who cares..."
She kissed her again, and continued to unbutton.
"I have to see this."
kiss again.
"Welcome back."
※※※
Hayley fell asleep around two in the morning, and Blomkvist was awake listening to her breathing.After a while, he got up and secretly took a Dunhill from her handbag, then sat on the chair by the bed and watched her.
He hadn't planned to be Hayley's lover, didn't even think about it.After his time at Hedstadt, all he wanted was to get away from the entire Vanyell family.He and Hayley only meet each other at board meetings and always keep their distance.They know each other's secrets, but aside from Hayley's role on Millennium's board, their deal is over.During the Whitsun holidays of the previous year, Blomkvist had gone to the cottage in Sand Harbor—the first time he had been back in months—hoping for a quiet getaway, to sit on the porch and watch him detective novels.On Friday afternoon, he ran into Hayley on his way to the newsstand to buy cigarettes.Evidently she, too, felt the need to get away from Hedstadt, and booked a hotel in Sand Harbor for the weekend.She left as a child and never came back.He left Sweden at the age of sixteen and returned to his hometown at the age of fifty-three.It was Blomkvist who had found her.
After the two greeted each other in surprise, Hayley fell into an awkward silence.Blomkvist knew her story, and she knew very well that he had violated his own principles in keeping the Van Yells' horrific secrets secret, and partly because of her.
Blomkvist invited her to the cabin.He made coffee, and they sat outside on the porch, talking for hours.This is the first time they have talked in detail since Hailey returned to China.Blomkvist couldn't help asking, "What do you do with the things in Martin's basement?"
"You really want to know?"
"yes."
"I cleared it myself, burned everything I could, and tore down the house. I couldn't live in it, and I couldn't sell it for someone else to live in. All the associations it made me were evil. I intend to Build another house to replace it, a hut."
"Won't others be surprised when you demolish the house? Such a luxurious and modern house."
She smiled. "Dickie Flood made up that the foundations of the house were too wet and it would be too expensive to rebuild, so they just demolished it." Flood was the family's lawyer.
"How is Floyd?"
"He's almost seventy. I keep him busy."
They eat lunch together, and Blomkvist finds Haley confiding to him the most intimate details of her life.He asked her why she did that, and she thought about it, saying that no one else in the world could make her so open.What's more, it's hard not to open up to the children I took care of as early as forty years ago.
She has had relationships with three men in her life.First her father, then her brother.She killed her father, escaped from her brother, and after she survived with difficulty, she met another man and created a new life with him.
"He was tender and loving, honest and trustworthy. I was very happy with him. After twenty happy years we had together, he fell ill."
"You never remarried? Why?"
She shrugged.
"I have two young kids in Australia and I run a big farming business, so there's no way I'm free for romantic weekends. And I don't miss sex at all."
They were silent for a moment.
"It's late, I should go back to the hotel."
Blomkvist made no intention of getting up to see off the guests.
"You want to seduce me?"
"Yes." he replied.
He stood up and took her hand, led her into the cabin, and climbed up to the bedroom mezzanine.She stopped him suddenly.
“I didn’t really know how to do it. It’s not something I do every day.” They spent weekends together, and later spent nights together every three months after the magazine’s board meetings.Such a relationship cannot last.She works around the clock, travels a lot and has to return to Australia every other month, but she still cherishes the occasional tryst with Blomkvist.
Two hours later, Miriam got up to make coffee, while Salander was lying naked and sweating profusely on the quilt, smoking a cigarette while looking at Miriam through the door.She was envious of Miriam's figure, muscular and easily impressing.She goes to the gym three nights a week and one of them does Muay Thai or some shit karate or something to get her in such great shape.
She's just charming, not as beautiful as the models, but quite alluring indeed.She likes to provoke and tease people, and when she is dressed up for a party, anyone who sees her will be interested.Salander didn't understand how Miriam would like an idiot like her, but she was still very happy.Having sex with Miriam completely liberated Salander. She enjoyed the process with ease, giving whatever she asked for and giving back with all her might.
When Miriam came back, she put the two mugs on the stool next to the bed, climbed onto the bed, rolled over, and nibbled on Salander's nipples.
"They're fine," she said.
Salander didn't make a sound, just looked at Miriam's chest.Miriam's boobs aren't big either, but they look perfectly natural on her.
"Liz, if you want me to be honest, you are really beautiful."
"Don't be silly. My boobs are the same at all, but at least I have boobs now."
"You really can't think about your body."
"You're exercising like an idiot yourself, and you're saying stuff like that."
"I work out like an idiot because I love it. It's exciting, almost as good as sex. You should try it."
"I do boxing once in a while."
"Damn it... you box at most once a month, and it's for the pleasure of beating dudes who don't know what to do. That's not the same as working out."
Salander shrugged, noncommittal.Miriam then straddled her.
"Liz, you care too much about your body. You should also know by now that I like sleeping with you not because of your appearance, but because of the way you act. I think you are hot as hell."
"You too. That's why I'm coming back."
"Not out of love?" Miriam said with feigned sadness.
Salander shook her head.
"Who are you dating right now?"
Millie hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"There should be, there is, there might be. Anyway, it's a bit complicated."
"I'm not spying."
"I know, but it's okay to tell you. It's from college, a little older than me, married for twenty years, but my husband is out a lot, so we hang out when he's not home. She didn't 'come out.'We started last fall and it's getting a bit boring now.But she is really charming.In addition, of course, I will go out with the original group of people. "
"I just want to know if I can see you again in the future."
"I do hope to see you again."
"Even if I disappear for another six months?"
"Just keep in touch. I want to know if you're dead or alive, and I'll remember your birthday no matter what."
"No strings attached?"
Miriam sighed and smiled:
"You know what? I think I can live with someone like you. When I want to be alone, you leave me alone."
Salander didn't answer.
“It’s just that you’re not really gay. You’re probably bisexual, but most of all you’re sexual — you like sex and don’t care about gender. You’re an uncertain mess.”
"I don't know what I am," said Salander, "but I'm in Stockholm now, and my relationships are poor. In fact, I don't know anyone here. You're the first The one who talks to me."
Miriam looked at her seriously.
"Do you really want to meet people? You're the most detached and unapproachable person I've ever known. You do have beautiful breasts, though." She reached out and tugged at the skin beneath her nipples.
"It fits you well, not too big and not too small."
Salander heaved a sigh of relief, the result of the inspection was satisfactory.
"And it feels real."
She squeezed those breasts as hard as she could, and Salander could hardly breathe.They look at each other.Then Miriam leaned over to give Salander a deep kiss, and Salander responded by wrapping her arms around Miriam.The coffee was left to cool.
Notes:
Notes: