AWLL2 — Book 8 — NIKA¶

Last updated through AWLL2.8 ch 70.

Book summary¶

AWLL2.8 NIKA runs September 1994–July 1995. NIKA Consulting moves to West Loop; Steve resumes primary leadership. Boston Legal Systems crushed; Dante Puccini sidelined; rogue employee and partner-company threats; Lone Star Systems / EB Systems; Marcia triad; European and Japan travel; Twins medical thread; JM Martial Arts new dōjō; Albert disappearance cliffhanger. Four new lovers including virgins. Sets up Kami corporate-culture book.

Chapter summaries¶

Prologue — May 30, 2010, Charlotte, North Carolina — May 2010 Charlotte frame — Stephie daughter reflects Dad would never have married Kara if Stephie lived.
Chapter 1 — September 4, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — West Loop move-in; Steve primary CEO again.
Chapter 2 — September 5, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Parallels between company growth and family.
Chapter 3 — September 7, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Making plans for expansion floors.
Chapter 4 — September 8, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Crash — business setback opens arc.
Chapter 5 — September 10, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — …and Burn — escalation.
Chapter 6 — September 11, 1994, London, England — Chance encounter on road.
Chapter 7 — September 13, 1994, London, England — The Vibe — office culture check.
Chapter 8 — September 15, 1994, London, England — King's Head Pub London; karate demo impresses locals.
Chapter 9 — September 15, 1994, London, England — Cracking good time — UK travel.
Chapter 10 — September 16, 1994, Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Tour guides — European clients.
Chapter 11 — September 18, 1994, Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Mayonnaise? — culture-clash gag.
Chapter 12 — September 24, 1994, Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Motivations — hire ethics.
Chapter 13 — September 25, 1994, Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Syncope — health scare.
Chapter 14 — September 25, 1994, Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Dutch Treat? — Amsterdam.
Chapter 15 — September 26, 1994, München, Germany — When in Rome? — Munich leg.
Chapter 16 — September 27, 1994, München, Germany — Double Standard? — European wives' rules.
Chapter 17 — September 28, 1994, München, Germany — Feeling of Pure Evil — competitor aura.
Chapter 18 — September 30, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Damaged Goods — candidate vetting.
Chapter 19 — October 2, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Sometimes… — mercy call.
Chapter 20 — October 4, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Taking a Piece Off the Board — personnel move.
Chapter 21 — October 11, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Nurse Ratched — hospital comedy.
Chapter 22 — October 18, 1994, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — My Work Here Is Finished — consultant exit.
Chapter 23 — October 31, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Unlucky Break — injury or deal loss.
Chapter 24 — November 10, 1994, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Kiss Is Just a Kiss — Pittsburgh sauna group.
Chapter 25 — November 13, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Twins — medical surprise thread.
Chapter 26 — November 14, 1994, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Troubling Situations — internal audit.
Chapter 27 — November 15, 1994, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Success and Failure — quarter results.
Chapter 28 — November 16, 1994, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Finding Root Cause — bug hunt.
Chapter 29 — November 17, 1994, Greater Cincinnati, Ohio — Special Prescription — Mary medical.
Chapter 30 — November 17, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — And Boys Are Really Dumb! — teen boys lesson.
Chapter 31 — December 3, 1994, Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California — Flying Tiger — Asia flight.
Chapter 32 — December 4, 1994, Sydney, Australia — True Heart-to-Heart — Sydney honesty.
Chapter 33 — December 6, 1994, Sydney, Australia — You Don't Think I Will? — dare.
Chapter 34 — December 13, 1994, Narita Airport, Japan — Return to Land of Rising Sun — Sakurako revisit.
Chapter 35 — December 16, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — This Life…And The Next — spiritual frame.
Chapter 36 — December 22, 1994, en route from Tokyo, Japan to Chicago, Illinois — Putting it All Together — integration.
Chapter 37 — December 26, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Demon Barber — Sweeney Todd ref.
Chapter 38 — December 28, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Numbered Accounts — Swiss banking.
Chapter 39 — January 5, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Very Interesting Year — recap.
Chapter 40 — January 16, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Taking More Pieces Off The Board — interviews.
Chapter 41 — February 6, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — If You Remember Anything, Call Us — legal notice.
Chapter 42 — February 19, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Something I'm Missing — blind spot.
Chapter 43 — February 26, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Peeling the Onion — Dante layers.
Chapter 44 — March 3, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — War On Many Fronts — competitors.
Chapter 45 — March 7, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Interesting Developments — M&A rumor.
Chapter 46 — March 18, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Fantasyland — trade-show excess.
Chapter 47 — March 28, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Inferno — crisis peak.
Chapter 48 — April 1, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Developments and Offers — term sheets.
Chapter 49 — April 10, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Mergers and Acquisitions — Lone Star target.
Chapter 50 — April 11, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Getting Reacquainted — old lover return.
Chapter 51 — April 13, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Unwarranted Actions — rogue employee.
Chapter 52 — April 14, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Rules and Exceptions — HR policy.
Chapter 53 — April 18, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Turning Thirty-Two — Steve birthday.
Chapter 54 — April 23, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Proper Valuation — deal math.
Chapter 55 — May 1, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — You're pulling my leg — disbelief.
Chapter 56 — May 11, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Lone Star Systems — acquisition fight; Penguins playoffs.
Chapter 57 — May 13, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Due Diligence — auditors in.
Chapter 58 — May 19, 1995, Reno, Nevada — Game is Afoot — detective mode.
Chapter 59 — May 22, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — 'I Told Dave I Quit!' — Dave rupture.
Chapter 60 — May 27, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! — Marcia Brady gag triad.
Chapter 61 — May 29, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Celebrations — milestone party.
Chapter 62 — June 3, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Reorganization Plan — West Loop staffing.
Chapter 63 — June 6, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — 'Plan A' or 'Plan B'? — contingency.
Chapter 64 — June 8, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — All Hell Broke Loose! — simultaneous crises.
Chapter 65 — June 12, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Settling Things Down — triage.
Chapter 66 — June 13, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — Fresh Wisconsin Beaver — Cindi comedy.
Chapter 67 — June 17, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — New Dojo for JM Martial Arts — Will site.
Chapter 68 — June 29, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — The Rules — martial and corporate.
Chapter 69 — July 14, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — European Vacation — wrap travel.
Chapter 70 — July 23, 1995, Chicago, Illinois — What's Changed? — Jasmine flirt only; union man calls; ALBERT IS MISSING.