Page 36 of Sweet Prison

Her new husband has been under a lot of work stress lately, though. He’s not happy with the new direction the management is pressing him to take. But with the aid of well-gathered data, Nera helped him realize that the company stakeholders would not be pleased to learn of his past transgressions, especially of his involvement in the early retirement of the previous CEO. So, after he carefully reviewed the presented documents, he now understands that change is in everyone’s best interest, and I’m sure he won’t put up any more fuss.

Nera is also adjusting to her new role in the firm. Apparently, there was a personnel issue that came up yesterday that required immediate attention. One of the employees was caught slipping proprietary company info to a major competitor in New York. Upon discovery, management insisted that Nera fire him herself. Shouldn’t those kinds of tasks be handled by HR? My sister takes her job responsibilities seriously, but she still spent the rest of the night throwing up in the bathroom.

Zahara

PS: Are you still having trouble sleeping?

Letter #160

Zahara,

I understand your sister’s unhappiness with being pressured to personally handle the personnel issue, but she knew the stakes when she agreed to take on the job. In business, maintaining the stakeholders’ respect is always a concern. They will only remain loyal to the brand if they are continually assured that the leadership is capable of making hard choices and standing firm when required. She’ll need to get used to rolling up her sleeves and doing things herself, on occasion. This time, I’m sure it was necessary to make an example of the employee who broke the NDA. Company policy would have required it.

Nera mentioned that my Balkan friend was very efficient in washing and detailing her car last month. With such prompt and thorough service, she might be tempted to make frequent returns to his establishment in the future. However, she should keep in mind that top-level service commands proportionally high rates. She mustn’t throw away her money and should only use that place when the local guy, Primo, isn’t available.

As for your question—the answer is yes. But that’s okay. I got used to functioning on three to four hours of sleep a long time ago. Last night, an inmate next door was snoring so loudlythat his bunk buddy tried to suffocate the cunt with a pillow. He failed, unfortunately. I might try getting myself thrown back in the hole (that’s solitary confinement) one of these days. With the right attitude, the experience is almost like being on vacation. The only downside, the absence of people starts fucking with my head if my trip lasts more than a few days.

I didn’t believe the bullshit about humans being pack animals until the first time I ended up in the hole. Did you know that silence has a sound? It’s a faint grind, like the creak of wooden boards in an old, abandoned house. You don’t hear it at first. But after a while, it feels as if your fucking skull is cracking from how loud it is. Once when my lonely ass was stuck in that six-by-six hole for an extended stay, I started talking to myself, and I don’t mean just mindless mumbling. One time, I had a very heated, hours-long discussion with my inner voice, trying to convince the motherfucker that it was not the right time to invest in government bonds. I won.

So, why haven’t you sent me any new sketches? Are you on a sewing hiatus? Or are you mad at me because I mistook the dress you designed for Salvo’s mother for a bathrobe? You can’t hold that shit against me. What do I know of women’s fashion? But you… You do. You’ve got talent. You should follow your passion and open your own shop.

M.

PS: Tell Peppe that I need my laundry done next Sunday.

Letter #207

Dear Massimo,

Batista Leone is not doing well. Last night we had to call the family doctor for an urgent home visit because Batista was having trouble breathing. His blood pressure was through the roof, and at first, we thought it was the result of him spending three days in a row getting wasted at one of the clubs. However, the doc said there are other worrisome health factors.

Nera has been going out of her mind over the possibility of something happening to her husband. She’s scared shitless about us ending up alone again. It’s still too long until we’ll have you by our side. How will we manage?

Nera’s work has also been causing her stress. The new chicken supplier from the South wants to renegotiate the rates. They demanded an urgent meeting next Wednesday. I managed to convince Nera to have Salvo attend the meeting in her place. She’s in the last trimester of her pregnancy and shouldn’t travel.

Just so you know, I’m pretty sure she’s pissed about being put in this situation. She may never forgive you for getting her into this mess. To be honest—I won’t, either. Even though it was the lesser evil among other, more terrible options. I’m curious if you feel even an ounce of remorse for doing it. Even a little? Even if the end justifies the means? Do you feel ashamed for putting my sister through so much grief? Is there, somewhere deep down inside you, a tiny frisson of self-reproach, perhaps hidden under that loud, ruthlessly cunning, and manipulative persona?

Anyway, I digress…

The C-level execs finally got used to the new management structure and have stopped voicing concerns every second day. That only happened after Nera was successful in expunging theproblematic investments our lovely neighbors were allowed to make in the entertainment venues. Hopefully, things will stay calm from now on. Although Brio still makes a cutting remark here and there, no one pays much attention to him anymore. Adriano, however, is once more very insistent on expanding into the hotel market. His voice is heard loud and clear.

Speaking of Mr. Deep Pockets… You know, the more I think about it, the more I’m certain he simply doesn’t care about his wife’s skanky antics. But for the life of me, I don’t understand why someone like him would choose to stay with a woman like her. The other evening, I saw the two of them during a working lunch at the Villa, and there’s no love between them, as far as I can tell.

Zahara

PS: Do you regret it? Killing the guy who shot Elmo? Would you do it again, knowing the consequences?

Letter #208 (draft 1)

Why are you interested in Adriano’s relationship with his wife? Do you like him? Has that shithead been hitting on you? Because if he has, I’ll arrange for one of his own transport trucks to run him over and then back up to plow into him in reverse! There’ll be nothing left of that dickwad other than a red fucking stain on the road!

I crumple my letter and throw it in the trash can.

Fucking hell!

***

Letter #208 (draft 2)

---