Julie

The past few weeks went by smoothly. I fell into a comfortable routine that consisted of school, work, and sleep. Compared to those initial days, things have certainly died down. I’m convinced I may have become addicted to the drama that seemed to revolve around Giovanni and me.

He’s been keeping his distance from me. I cant tell whether it was intentional or not, but I haven’t seen him. Maybe once, and that was in the club from afar. I guess it was the smart thing to do. Although our bantering gets my blood flowing, I don’t know exactly how smart or safe it was if it continued. It was kind of like playing with a  loaded gun and hoping the safety was on, but knowing deep down the gun didn’t have a safety. I’ve just been chalking it up to being a blessing, I guess. There was no real need to keep playing Russian roulette. Plus, he was technically my employer, and I didn’t want to lose my job.

Thankfully today was Monday. I just finished up my last class for the day and needed to head home. I had to work tonight, but I would have a few hours beforehand and all day tomorrow to get my paper done for my child development class and study for my French exam. I began the trek home. The whole time my mind was preoccupied with my assignment trying to determine what I wanted to focus my paper on. It wasn’t one of my favorite classes. There was a lot more material that was movie based, and I wasn’t used to that. I much preferred to read about things. I mean, I could be a visual learner, but it would have to be something that captures my attention. These flicks were some of the most boring things I ever saw in my life. How did my professor really expect someone to learn something from this crap when I could barely keep my eyes open for it? I really screwed myself over this year with my class choices.

When I got home, it appeared to be empty. I was surprised when I found Taylor in our room fast asleep. Yea well, whatever. Ever since Giovanni was crazy enough to come into my home, my mother and sister have been trying to corner me. I’m about positive that Taylor told our mom who he was because my mom was suddenly looking at me with dollar signs in her eyes. Avoiding them has been more difficult than usual, but so far so good. Plus, I didn’t really have anything to tell them.

I pulled out my textbook and the no doubted boring DVD I needed to watch and went over to my computer. I hit the power button… and nothing. The light didn’t come on or even flash. I frowned, what the heck. I tried again, and again, and again to no avail. I groaned and got out of my chair and got down on my hands and knees on the floor. I crawled under my sketchy desk to make sure the computer was plugged in. I was mystified when it looked perfectly fine and reached out a hand to make sure the plug was all the way in.

I paused at the last second when a drop hit my hand. I frowned and peered up. There was a small puddle of liquid at the edge of the desk and I hopped up like my ass was on fire. I looked behind the books at the edge of my desk, and there was a cup flipped on its side with just a small pool of liquid left. I peered down behind the desk, and it looked as though the cup was knocked over and spilled directly over the plug. My face immediately flushed with anger, this could not be happening. I crawled back from under the table and stood.

“Taylor,” I called out.

“TAY – LOR!” Still nothing.

I screamed in frustration, turned around and snatched the red plastic cup off the desk that no doubt held alcohol at one point. I threw it at Taylor, and the cup bounced off her head and rolled on her bed. She still didn’t move an inch. I grabbed a sheet of paper and a black permanent marker and wrote her a note,

 

TAYLOR,

YOU BROKE MY COMPUTER!

EITHER FIX IT OR REPLACE IT, BITCH!

 

I taped the note to the door, and gathered my work and left the house. I walked the ten blocks to the library to use the computer there. Naturally, school just got out, and the place was packed with grade school kids. All of the computers were in use, and the sign-up sheet was packed. There were like ten names in front of me. Thankfully they had six computers, so I shouldn’t be waiting long.

You know it kind of pissed me off having to sit here and wait. These kids were here using the computers most likely looking at stuff that they didn’t want their parents to find in their search history at home. Meanwhile, I got real shit to do, and I’m stuck sitting here twiddling my thumbs like a moron. It took two painful hours for me to get on a computer, and all that freaking waiting to get kicked off after 30 minutes, and I got absolutely nothing accomplished.

Completely frustrated, I walked back home. I would have to come up with something. I damn sure couldn’t afford a computer right now, not even one like the hunk of junk that I had. A computer was necessary if I was going to be able to get any homework done. I mean, whatever happened to the days that a handwritten paper was acceptable? It definitely wasn’t anymore. I groaned as I walked into the house. It was still quiet. However Taylor was now gone, and the note that I left for her had been pulled off the door and was on the floor in the doorway ripped in two. Lovely.

I was over the top frustrated, and no matter how much I tried to get reading done I just couldn’t focus. My mind was running a mile a minute trying to come up with a solution for this huge problem. Eventually, I gave up any hope of getting something done today and started going through my routine. Find something to wear – although that wasn’t too hard anymore. I did spend some cash on a few pieces. I made some steak and potatoes which I took my time devouring, then I headed out to work.

I decided to take the bus since I had a full bookbag, and work wasn’t exactly close. I wanted to get there a little early so I can work on my problem. Naturally, there was traffic, so I got to work with only fifteen minutes to spare. As soon as I stepped inside, I ran into Becca.

“Hey, honey.” She greeted me.

She was always so bubbly. “Hey, Becca,” I said returning her smile.

I looked around and didn’t see who I was looking for. I turned back to Becca. “Say, do you know if Giovanni is here today?” I asked.

Her entire face transformed into a scowl. “Yea…” she hesitated for a beat before continuing. “He came in a little bit ago.”

Good. “Ok, thanks.”

I started to walk off, and she grabbed my arm. “Why’d you ask?” She never came off as catty to me, but the way she asked sure did set off alarm bells in my head.

“No reason really.”

I walked around her and went to my locker where I put my stuff away. I made my way through the club to Giovanni’s office constantly checking to make sure none of the other staff was paying me any attention. The last thing I wanted was to raise questions or start false rumors. They might have the wrong idea as to why I was seeking him out, as I’m sure Becca already has.

I lifted my hand to knock, but his voice pierced through the door first. “Yes Julie?” he called out.

I strolled into the room and saw the two guys he’d sat with the other day in my section. “Hey, there boss man, what’s crackin’?” I asked.

He looked up at me and arched an eyebrow. “Who talks like that?” He asked.

I shrugged as I made my way to them and the bigger one of the two that I flirted with the other day got up and offered me his chair. I plopped down in the seat. “Everyone does.”

Giovanni shook his head. “What do you want?” he asked.

I grinned, and he groaned. “So, about that raise…” I said.

He closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath before looking back to me. “Get out.”

I pouted. “Oh, don’t be like that. I just need a small raise. You know, enough to buy a computer is all.”

His eyebrow flew up. “I thought you had one.”

I scoffed. “So did I. It was serving its purpose up until the moment I got home and tried to get some homework done just to see my sister spilled liquid on the damn cords and sockets. The thing won't turn on now.” I explained.

He laughed. “And that’s my problem because…?”

I threw my hands up exasperated. “Oh come on. It's not like it’s going to break your pockets. I’ll go back to my regular rate after.” I tried to negotiate.

He was grinning. “No. Now, get to work before I fire you.”

I rolled my eyes. “You and this whole firing business. It’s getting old. You cant fire me without grounds. It’s illegal.”

He looked at me like I was stupid. I slapped my forehead. “Oh right, you’re a gangster.”

The guy standing off to the side snickered, and Giovanni glared at him. “Something funny Dante?” he asked.

The Dante guy tried to stifle his laughter but failed. “No, sir.” He said with a big grin on his face.

Giovanni sighed. “The answer is no, so if that’s what you came here for you can leave.” He said dismissing me.

I stood up and stretched. “Cool. So, I’m here till closing. I’ll meet you at the doors, and we’ll head over to your place so that I can borrow yours.” I said with a nod. I was willing to compromise.

I started for the door. “Excuse me?”

I sighed. “You can’t really be that dense. I need a computer. I got papers to write, research to do, boring movies to watch. Since you’re not going to pay me enough to get my own, I’ll just borrow yours until I can replace mine.” I explained.

“No.,” he said simply.

“What do you mean no? This is where you’re supposed to bend and accept the offer since we’re trying to negotiate here.” I put my hands on my hips. “I’ll explain how that works for you. Typically when two people negotiate, they have to both compromise which means they have to give a little even if they don’t want to. I’ve already hit the bottom of the totem pole by saying I’ll use yours. There’s not any lower I can get here. You gotta work with a girl.”

“Who the fuck said anything about a negotiation. I’m telling you flat out no. I don’t have to accept anything you basket case.” He said slowly like I was missing something.

I wasn’t. I knew he didn’t agree to anything, but I was hoping to wear him down. That didn’t appear to be working so I was going to look for other options. I looked over to Dante and batted my lashes. “I’m kind of in a bind here… would you by chance have a computer that I can use?” I asked sweetly.

He grinned and opened his mouth to answer me when Giovanni slammed his hand on the desk startling all of us. “Julie, enough of your shit.” He turned to Dante and glared. “Don’t even think about it.” He said. Dante held his hands up in surrender, and I frowned confused as I watched them have a silent conversation. When I guess they were done, his eyes swung to me. “I’ll be in front with the car at close. Hobble your crazy ass to me when you’re finished working.”

I shook my head. “So sweet.”

He growled. “Don’t push your luck, sweetheart.”

I glared at him. “You know, that’s supposed to be a term of endearment. You don’t use it that way.” I pointed out. “Do you call all of your enemies that?” I shook my head. “That probably makes situations really awkward for you, huh?”

He squeezed his eyes shut, and pinched the bridge of his nose, then with his free hand pointed to the door. “Get out!”

I held my hands up. “Okay, okay. I’m going.” I grinned at him. “Don’t shoot.”

I saw him pick something up out of the corner of my eye as I flew out the door laughing. I heard it hit the closed door behind me and giggled the entire way out to the floor.

 

*****

Giovanni

The fuck.

Julie was nuts, and apparently thing one and two in here thought she was the funniest thing walking. They keep laughing at her bullshit they won't be walking at all. My head was pounding, and I was still stumped. How the fuck had, she waltzed in here and walked out still having her way? I was holding firm on her, even though I did feel a tad bit bad for her. I didn’t know a lot about her, but I knew enough to know that although she laughed and joked about it… she really did need a computer or at least access to it.

The problem is that I’ve been making sure to avoid her. If I needed to go out on the floor, I would check her on the cam and go any other way. When I came and left, I used the side door. I’m sure anyone else would think I was crazy for going through such extremes, but I was following my gut telling me that she was bad for my health.

“You like her,” Angelo stated breaking me out of my musings.

I looked at him confused. “What are you talking about?” I asked.

He shrugged. “You like her.” He repeated as way of explanation.

I frowned. “Yea, that’s a no. Have you not met the same person as me? She’s a ticking time bomb. I don’t know how she survived on this earth for as long as she has.”

He grinned. “Yea, keep telling yourself that.”

“I’m not you. I don’t like women. I fuck them. You’re the helplessly in love mother fucker.” I said to him.

He laughed. “Damn straight I love my woman. At least I’m not lonely like you two fucks.” His eyes cut to Dante and danced with mischief. “Well, at least if you don’t want her I’m sure Dante wouldn’t mind. They seem to like each other well enough.” He shrugged. “Hey, you’d be able to call yourself a matchmaker having found your brother his future wife.”

Dante rolled his eyes. “I’m not ever getting married, but she is cute.”

I felt my blood boil. I don’t know why the thought of her with him pissed me off, but it did. When she was flirting with him, I wanted to shoot out her kneecaps to teach her ass a lesson. I turned to Dante, “swear to fuck I will kill you.” My gaze swung to Angelo, “and you. I don’t mind having to explain to my ma why her boy isn’t coming home, and my sister her fiancé.” I threatened. The two fucks snickered like this was a joke. I was dead fucking serious.

You see, I trusted Angelo and Dante with my life. Dante was my cousin, but he couldn’t be any closer than my brother. I inherited the family business from my pops some time ago. He groomed me for the business my whole life. His brother, my uncle, Taz, was his partner. He got gunned down by some fucks who wanted to take over our turf when I was a kid. Before I was even fully aware of what it was my dad was into. Naturally, my father took Dante in, and he was groomed right along with me. Dante preferred to use his hands, he wasn’t much for the shit that I do which is why he’s one of my guards. We grew up together, and you couldn’t tell me he wasn’t my brother. I have never been closer to another person as I am with him. Angelo also came into the business through his family. Both his parents had hands in the business, and he came to us saying he wanted in. He hadn’t trained with us, but he knew shit. His family made sure of that… made sure he could protect himself in case shit ever went down. He had what we call a dead arm, a knockout punch, and his shot was spot fucking on. He wasn’t initially by my side, but I took a liking to him. It wasn’t long until I promoted him and kept him by my side. We grew close as fuck, shit he was there to watch my back I couldn’t have a mother fucker I couldn’t trust. It turned out, I wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on him. Him and my sister, Francesca, have been together for years and they were engaged waiting to tie the knot. I couldn’t have picked a better mother fucker for her. He blended into the family smoothly – and as ma loved to do, took him in with open arms. He was my brother too – I guess technically. Well, brothers or not they keep riling me up they’re going to be two dead fucks.

“Touchy…” Dante teased. How I dealt with these two dumb asses, no one would ever know.

I decided to ignore the two assholes and get back to work. I was going over my books, and I sighed. This shit was a pain in the ass, and really, it wasn’t worth it. Over the last few years, I’ve been changing shit up. Like the whole loan shark shit. The amount of effort and shit I have to put into it isn’t worth it. I loan a fuck ten grand, and he pays me back twelve. I only made two grand, and then you have the asses who try to skirt paying me back. The amount of manpower, time and energy to rectify the shit just wasn’t worth it. Then the risk, always the possibility with the fucking pigs looking at me. I make more than the twelve grand in a few hours at just one of my establishments, and I don’t even gotta put out any money. Well, you know what I mean. Keeping up a booming establishment, of course, has its expenses, but the turn around is much better.

I spent the rest of the night ignoring these two ignorant assholes who made it their business to point out to the fucking room every time I watched her from on the security monitors. It was like some sick fascination that I’ve had since I hired her. Honestly, I only used to come to the club for business once a week, if that. I may come for a drink or two once in a while, but this isn’t where I normally work from. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. My staff is definitely curious about my unusually consistent presence, but fuck them it wasn’t any of their business.

I kept telling myself the reason that I was there was to make sure that shit didn’t hit the fan because of my newest employee, but that was bullshit even to my own ears. It was clear within her first couple of days that she was fully capable of doing her job and was damn good at it. She garnered a lot of male attention, and I knew she had to be racking up tips like crazy. She also did a good job of handling the men with their come-ons and attention without offending them. Which brings me to question, what the hell is wrong with her?

These men were far more harmless than I was and she still pushed my buttons as much as she could. Maybe she was hell-bent on making me crazy. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if some dick was trying to make a move to take me out and put her in place to make me mental. That would sure as fuck explain a lot.

Really, I hated the attention she got. The way these douche bags would ogle her like she was just there for their eye candy. I wanted to stab every fuck in the eye who looked at her. There was something downright primal in the feelings she invoked in me, and they were so damn foreign, I didn’t know what to do with it. It sure as hell didn’t make any sense because I didn’t really want her.

When we shut down for the night, I had Angelo and Dante pull the car around front. I walked out and leaned back against the passenger side door and watched as one person after another trickled out of the club. Eventually, she came sauntering out with a huge bookbag slung over her shoulder. I watched as she waved goodbye to a few people before bouncing her way over to me.

“Sup boss?” she asked cheekily.

I grunted and opened the door. She looked at me and grinned. “Oh yea, today was alright. My feet are hurting a little bit from standing in heels for so long but overall, it wasn’t that bad. Thanks for asking.” She said before sliding into the car. I looked up to the sky praying for patience before I slid into the backseat beside her.

“Where to boss?” Dante asked from the driver's seat.

I caught his eye in the rearview mirror and gave him a face that clearly said, you cant be that fucking stupid. He got the message and nodded. “We’ll be at the cabin in ten.” He said.

I groaned. The cabin is where I took my hookups and business acquaintances when I needed something private. I never used my crib, that was off limits. That was information that I liked kept limited to people. That’s where I rest my head and should be the safest place for me. Wouldn’t be all that safe if every fuck in the City knew where it was. As far as the streets knew, the cabin was where I lived.

I shook my head. “No idiot, take us to my place,” I said.

I watched as both Dante and Angelo’s faces transformed to one of shock. I never took anyone there but the closest of my personnel and family. I don’t know what made me take here there before, to begin with. “You sure boss?” Angelo asked warily.

I nodded. “It’s not like she hasn’t been there before,” I grumbled.

That was also news to them, and I watched Angelo’s face as a hundred different expressions crossed his face. The concern was evident – you can see why I’ve got him right? His first concern was my safety and what it could mean having her in my spot. Up until today, my gut has never failed me, and like the other day in the club, I didn’t take her for one to run her mouth about certain shit. Sure she had a few screws loose, but she seemed street smart – just not smart enough for her own safety.

Dante gave me a tight nod with a scowl and drove us to my place. Julie noticed the tension in the car and shifted in her seat uncomfortable but didn’t ask any questions. See what I mean? She knew when to fall back, she knew it wasn’t her business, and it wasn’t her place to pry.

 

*****

Becca

Something was definitely fishy here. I thought it was odd on her first day how she interacted with Giovanni. They had to of known each other, and I got an odd feeling he’d gotten her the job. When she touched his face, I wanted to claw at her eyes. When he didn’t do anything but say a few words, and she laughed it off, I wanted to claw his eyes out. How is it that she was able to get away with that shit? I was here far longer than she was and we had something. He came back more than once for more, so what is it that this chick is up to? Is she trying to sleep with the boss because that’s my job? He’s just been busy lately and hasn’t had time to hook up. I know once he gets some spare time he’ll come find me so I can give him what he needs.

Plus, I know he’s a smart businessman. Wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong ideas about us or anything. You know thinking there was some type of favoritism or something going on. He was trying to keep what was blossoming between us on the low and separate from our work relationship. I totally got it. Why this heffah is pushing up on my man, I don’t get.

When she came in today and asked about him, my hackles rose. When I asked her why she tried to brush it off as if it were nothing. If there were no reason, then she wouldn’t have asked. I’m no fool. I kept my eye on her and saw when she slinked out into the hall leading to his office, and I waited until I saw her come back. She was gone for a while, but not long enough even for a quickie. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. That’s what you get… I could only imagine the rejection he just gave her.

I was feeling a lot better by the time we were closing. I pulled a shift and a half, I was supposed to leave at eleven, but someone called out, so I ended up staying until closing. I watched as Julie flounced out of the locker room right ahead of me with this awful bookbag on her back and she’d piled her hair up on top of her head in some messy bun. What look was she going for? Innocent school girl? I laughed under my breath, this girl had no chance.

No sweat off my back.

I stopped to say goodbye to Rick and see if he drove in to get a ride home. Turns out he didn’t drive, and I huffed as I made my way out to go to the bus. I spotted Giovanni leaning against his car, and I grinned. He didn’t seem so busy now, and it was after hours. Maybe I’d give him a ride if he gave me one. I fixed my boobs and took a step his way, and I froze in my tracks.

I felt all of my breath leave me as I saw Julie approach him. He opened the door up as though he’d been waiting for her and beats later, he slid in beside her. I watched as the car drove down the block and continued to watch until the car was out of sight.

I snarled. Game on bitch.