A promotion?
A raise!
Ferdinand's eyes burned with eagerness, but he still tried to play it coy. "Wouldn't that be a bit much?"
"All I've done is serve you faithfully, boss, ready to give my life. My admiration for you flows like an endless river, like a flood that can never be contained."
He added modestly, "I only drove into people for you, nearly got beaten to death, broke a few bones, and spent two weeks in the hospital."
John watched him expressionlessly. Who knew what this man had read in the Library to come back having learned this routine?
Before Ferdinand could improvise a poem praising his magnificent boss, John interrupted his rhythmic speech.
"If you think it's too much, forget it."
"No, I was wrong! I want it. I really want it!" Ferdinand was utterly sincere.
John clicked his tongue.
"The Security Department needs someone. You can give it a try."
Ferdinand was about to agree immediately when something occurred to him. He asked hesitantly, "Then I won't be driving for you anymore?"
John nodded. "There's no need anymore."
Hearing that, Ferdinand suddenly felt a little deflated.
A promotion was nice, but he seemed to be losing even more.
Those luxury cars were about to slip out of his reach.
Unwilling to give up, he asked, "Then what if you need a car, boss?"
John glanced at him and said mildly, "I won't be needing one anymore."
"Huh?" Ferdinand was a little confused.
John waved him away.
Ferdinand looked back every few steps.
But John showed no reluctance at all. He stepped into the elevator and headed home in style.
The Wick family home.
The floor-to-ceiling windows at the front looked directly out onto New York's nightscape.
The restored New York looked just as it had when he