Page 75 of Mafia and Protector
I was with Gabriel in the office at Matrix when Jacob came to see us. He had Bella with him. “You have a visitor,” he announced.
“Bella,” Gabriel greeted, narrowing his gaze as he took in the dark circles under her eyes. “Is your mother alright?”
She shook her head. She cleared her throat and tried to make her voice strong. “She died two days ago.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that.”
“I don’t need your sympathy,” she snapped.
Gabriel clenched his jaw. “What can I help you with then? You know, we promised your mother to look out for you. And we’ll keep that promise.”
She held her head high and looked us in the eye. “I need to borrow some money to pay the bill for the funeral.” She was silent for a couple of seconds. “I lost my job two weeks ago—I had to stay home with my mom. The priest at our church had access to a charitable fund which paid for a nurse, but I still couldn’t leave my mom, not when she was suffering so much and I knew I only had a short time left with her. The diner couldn’t keep my job open for me. So I need to borrow some money to pay for a decent burial.” Blinking back a tear, she quickly added. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I get a new job.”
“Fine,” I said before Gabriel could respond. “We’ve got a job going here for a hostess in the nightclub. You can do that.” Matrix was one of our classier establishments—I didn’t want her working in any of our seedier joints.
She looked taken aback. “That’s not what I was asking. I don’t need you to give me a job. I can find my own. You don’t have to worry—I’m a hard worker and I’ll find a new job quickly and then I can pay you back within a couple of months. I’m not going to disappear without paying you back if that’s what you’re worried about,” she said bitterly.
“I know you won’t run off without paying your debt to us—because you’ll be right here working for us.”
“You’re being an asshole,” she spat.
“You should watch how you speak to me if you want a favor from me.”
“I don’t want a favor. I want you to do the decent thing,” she hissed.
Gabriel started to speak. “I think we can just—”
I cut Gabriel off. “You can start work next week. That’s the deal on the table. Take it or leave.”
She considered my offer for a couple of minutes before reluctantly nodding. It was obvious she had no one else to borrow money from.
“Do you have the bill for the funeral with you?”
She nodded and handed it to me. “We’ll deal with it. The money will be deducted in installments off your wages. The manager will work it out with you.”
“You can just take all my wages.”
“No, you’ll need some money to live on. The job comes with a place to live too.”
“I’m not taking your charity,” she said tersely.
“I’m not giving it. The club needs someone living on site to fulfill insurance requirements. The person who did it left last week, so you’ll be his replacement. You’ll be working as a hostess in the club five evenings a week and you’ll sleep here every night. One of my men can help you move your stuff in.” I wasn’t going to give her an option over this.
“I can manage by myself.”
“Just make sure you’re here by 6pm tomorrow to start work.”
She looked at me as if she wanted to say something. “What is it?”
“I’m a hard worker and I won’t do anything dishonest,” she said quickly. “I’ve worked honestly for all the money I’ve earned so far in my life, and it’ll be staying that way.” Her voice dripped with disdain, making clear her hatred of us and our way of life.
“Is that all?” I asked.
“No. I may be working for you here, but I don’t want anyone knowing our connection,” she spat in obvious hatred of us.
“Fine,” I gritted out.
She nodded and then walked out of the office.