Page 27 of The Mafia's Property

He marched into the room and headed for the closet. A few seconds later, he was out with a shimmering blue-black dress in hand. He threw it on the bed next to me. “That’ll do.”

“Oooh. Are we expecting to dine with diplomats? It would be nice to tell me where you’re taking me.”

“Clubbing.”

It was not like the clubs I was used to. He was right about being an embarrassment. Even though it wasn’t an uptight establishment, far from it, it was on the high end of the places I’ve been to before. People called it the modern Studio 54. They granted few entry and if you were lucky; you had to be hot or have a bank account that made up for your deficiencies in other areas. Most people here were socialites, sports stars, some movie stars and a smattering of people I had seen referred to as being on Forbes list of billionaires. “You own the joint,” I said as we were being ushered by the hostess to one of the VIP areas. It was easy to see from the everyone was treating him.

Crowds parted when we walked. Some people would even try to rush over to speak to him and all were blocked by Skits from even getting a couple of feet near us. Enrico was like a king in his castle. There were even a few envious glances thrown my way by some women.

We sat down in the section that overlooked most of the club and I watched as the patrons danced the night away while a few people came over to either greet or try to get a chance at talking to Enrico. Skits, who was standing by the entrance of the section, pretty much dismissed them all. “Do you want to join them?” he asked as the hostess poured champagne into two flutes. He handed me one without waiting for me to say yes or no. I was feeling a little thirsty and a little nervous, so I took the drink.

“Who? Them?” I shook my head. I’ve little desire to join a throng of people on that floor.

Enrico sat back in his seat and threw a hand over the couch. He had taken the double sofa while I sat on the stool opposite him.

“Sit with me,” he said. Was it notable that his voice sounded seductive, or was that the champagne making everything lively and interesting? I wasn’t in the mood for fighting, so I went over to his side. His hand immediately went to my shoulder and drew me closer to him.

“And here I thought you found me repulsive.”

“I do, but you have a role to play tonight. Do it well and you might have your privileges extended.”

“Really?” I tried to remove the eagerness in my voice, but couldn’t. “Like not having to follow you everywhere?”

“Within reason, yes.”

“Okay. What game do I have to play?”

He took a sip of his drink. “There’s an investor I need to talk to, and he has to think you work for me.”

“I thought I already did.”

“As a lawyer.”

I almost choked on my drink. “Lawyer! I have the vaguest of notions of what that job entails. How am I supposed to pass as your lawyer?”

“Most women in your position before have been able to pull it off. Maybe because most of them were educated enough and some of them were lawyers, but I’m sure you can fake knowing a thing or two about the law.”

Thanks for reminding me how inadequate I am to you. “Why? Why here? Why now and in a club?” I clasped my drink tightly, afraid I would spill over my dress as nerves got the better of me.

“It’s the nature of the investor. He loves mixing work and partying.”

“Uh-huh. That’s not making it easy at all, though. Just because he loves mixing the two doesn’t mean I’ll be able to make it work.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give you pointers and guide you towards what you need to do. The guy wants to invest in this club. He wants a controlling stake in the business and he can’t have it because—”

“It’s Family business.”

He smiled, knowing the exact meaning of what I meant when I said Family. Not the usual family owned, but the Mafia meaning of the word. “He’s trying everything to force my hand into making him take the stake, including buying competitors and pouring money into them so they can compete against us.”

“And is it working?”

He shook his head. “That’s not how you run a business like this, but he doesn’t know it and he’s starting to realize it. Hence the meeting.”

“A meeting in a club surrounded by people gyrating to loud music.”

“I’ve done deals in worse environments.” He didn’t need to say more for me to believe him. He’s probably done deals while surrounded by dead bodies and rotting corpses.

“Well, I haven’t.”

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