Page 5 of Playing to Win

“I see. Well, she doesn’t usually clean personal properties. What are you willing to offer?” I already knew I’d have to sweeten the deal. She’s a smart woman and would be dumb not to ask for more than I’m paying as it stands.

“Double the pay for both you and Danica.”

“She won’t accept. You’ve met her once. I’ve known her for years now. Money doesn’t mean as much to you or myself like it does Danica. She’d rather work three jobs than accept help.” I guess it’s time to up my offer.

“Alright, double yours, triple hers. But I want her exclusive to my penthouse. Throw in she’ll have to make dinner or whatever. And, Mallory, if this falls through, you know what will happen.” I leave the rest open ended. Clean and Gleam works at Four Brothers headquarters as well. It’s a wonder I’ve never met Danica before now, though with her weird-as-fuck schedule, it would make sense.

“Mr. Goldman, I’ll see what I can do. Clean and Gleam values you as a client as well as Four Brothers. If Danica doesn’t agree to the terms, we may have to sever our partnership. That being said, I’ll see what I can do.” Would I actually severe a contract with Mallory personally? Fuck, yes. I mean what I say, and I’ll do anything in my power to get what I want. And what I want is Danica. As for Four Brothers, they’ll make us talk it out like a bunch of old ladies meeting at bridge club.

“Hopefully, we can come to an agreement. I’ll look forward to your call back, Mallory.”

“Likewise, Mr. Goldman.” We hang up, and while I’m sitting in my car contemplating how I’ll pull up to take Danica to her class, I have an epiphany. Instead of waiting, then talking her into a ride she’ll begrudgingly take, I dial another number to place yet another phone call. The damn thing has been glued to my ear for the past twenty minutes, and I’m hopeful this will be the last call I have to make.

“Mr. Goldman, how can I be of service?” Bellamy, one of our trusted drivers, answers on the first ring.

“Hello, Bellamy, I need someone picked up, dropped off, and then taken home after her class. Are you available?” Bellamy is an older gentleman, unlike the other drivers, who wouldn’t bat an eye at flirting with Danica.

“As a matter of fact, I am. Text me the address, and I’ll head over there right away.” The tightness in my chest recedes. Gone is the worry that some other male driver will be picking her up. I’m all too aware she’d have no problem putting someone in their place. That doesn’t mean I want her to have to deal with more than what she is already. I’d bet her landlord, Brian, gives her more hell as it is.

“Thank you. I’ll send the information over now. If you’ll let me know when she arrived home. Also, please walk Danica to her apartment door this evening.” The promise of a threat I left with Brian may cause some blowback on Danica I’d rather didn’t have to deal with.

“That’s not a problem at all, Mr. Goldman,” he replies.

“There’s one other thing. Her elevator doesn’t work. She’s on the third floor, and conveniently so is her landlord. He’ll probably give you trouble. Keep me posted if he does.” It’s going to take more than a few hours to roll her apartment building into one of our company names that can’t be traced back to Four Brothers, meaning Brian won’t be dealt with yet.

“Never a problem, and I’ll have you on speed dial should something happen that I can’t control.” This is why Bellamy is a valuable asset to Four Brothers—he’s ahead of the game before it starts.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” We hang up, and I put my car intoDrive, taking one last look at the stoop of her apartment, hoping to get one last glance. She’s not there. Who is there is Brian, smoking a cigarette, so I make it known that I’ve got my eyes on him. I roll my window down while driving by at a snail’s pace, making sure he knows I’m watching him.

NINE

Danica

“Okay,this is too much. First, you picked me up to take me to school, brought me home, and now you’re taking me to work?” I ask Bellamy the next morning after walking out of my apartment and passing by Brian, who made a lewd remark about how he had a way of lowering my rent. Disgusting, vile pig. It wasn’t the first time he mentioned I use my mouth to pay for a roof over my head. The problem with kneeing him in the balls is he’d retaliate, and I’d be out on the streets, so my tongue has permanent bite marks from holding back. A few more months before I can maybe be out of this shit hole. What is it with men being sleazy anyways? Bellamy is waiting like he did yesterday, standing beside the back door, car running and double parked.

“Mr. Goldman didn’t want you to take the bus or metro unnecessarily, Miss Powers,” Bellamy greets me while opening the door.

“Instead, he unnecessarily has you driving me around?” I follow up before sliding into the backseat. Putting up any type of resistance had Bellamy pulling out a playing card I didn’t see coming yesterday. I was had. The older gentleman talked about how this is his job, he’s made it a career and would never want to leave a woman in a situation that could lead her into danger while walking the dark nights in New York.

“I’d be out of a job if I weren’t driving you around. There’s no need sitting around on my behind when I could be working,” he replies once he’s in the driver’s seat.

“You’re laying it on thick again.” He winks in the rearview mirror. Between Bellamy and Theo, the wordnohas become increasingly hard to use. Theo for obvious reasons—he makes me feel free, allowing me to by myself, and the banter between us has me on my toes. Bellamy, well, he’s the grandfatherly type who can somehow cajole you into letting your guard down because he’s busy looking out for you.

“And it’s working,” he replies. I pull my phone out to find the last text I received last night during class. It was unknown, and until Theo made his presence known, well, let’s say the bottom of my stomach sank to my feet. I’m going to stop this madness starting now. This is getting to be absurd, and while my back and feet are loving not having to walk, I now feel like I owe Theo.

Me: You have got to tell Bellamy to stop giving me rides.

I put the phone down figuring it’s early in the morning. Theo is probably at the office making millions, if not billions, with whatever it is he does at Four Brothers. The four of them made a name for themselves, it’s hard not to know who they are, especially when you have a radar like mine. So, I’m surprised to feel my phone vibrate against my leg.

Cave Man: No.

Me: Why? This is a waste of money and his time.

Cave Man: Either Bellamy gives you a ride, or I will.

Me: Fine.

---