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“Jerry,” I say, “We’re not going on dinner dates, we won’t be curled up on a couch together. We aren’t going to get seats for games or concerts. There isn’t going to be cookies and milk and the chance of Netflix and chill is less than zero. So. Cut to the chase. What’s the bottom line?”
“You have to understand how important all of this is. There are complicated issues at stake here. Some delicacy is called for. What I’m here to offer would mark a historic turn in the organization’s history.”
My skin prickles. “Let me help you along. We have a profitable territory. You want a slice. As far as I can see, what you’re ready to offer amounts to some kudos and a big-boys’ badge. You’ll want a regular piece of the action across the state.”
“Two states. Oregon and Washington.”
“What?”
“We propose that the Fortuna family will take the top position in charge of Washington and Oregon states.”
“What?” I don’t usually repeat myself like that, but I am blindsided. “You propose to give us what we already have, plus a big chunk of stuff that you also don’t have.”
“But we can help the Fortuna family take it. All of it. This is the future, Ms. Fortuna.”
“Donna Fortuna. If you don’t mind. And, seriously? Have you got any knowledge at all of the region? The history? the demographics? Do you even know the terrain? How things work around here? Do you have any idea what you’re proposing?”
His voice darkens.“We know how things work.”
I’ve shoved him so far to the edge of his comfort zone, he’s teetering on freefall.
I can’t hide my impatience anymore. “This is not Chicago, Jerry. We’re not about industries that are a hundred years old. This is where most of the planes that fly around the world are built. We make the software that drives the world. Here was where the biggest revolution in consumer marketing the world has ever seen came from.” I draw a breath. I’m going too far. But I can’t hold back any longer.
“You’re seriously going to come from the city of meatpacking, trucking, and smoking factories to lead us up the path to the future? Excuse me?”
His neck glows red.
“It’s going to happen, Lucrezia.” His tone of arrogance makes my teeth grind. “Whatever you think about it, this it’s coming. You just need to decide if you’re going to be on the bus or under it. Think about whether you want to be the one to hold this whole region back and stand in the way of everybody’s
“Well, I’ll keep all of that in mind, Jerry.” I start to get up to leave.
“Look.” His hands lift off the table. “We can take care of you.” He opens his hands. “Step aside. Leave with some grace and let the boy have his dignity and honor. We’ll see that you’re well looked after. Nice house, nice lifestyle. No worries, you won’t have to work again. If one of the two younger boys wants to go on seeing you, I don’t suppose anything will be done to stand in your way.”
I don’t trust myself to speak.
He says, “I’m here with gifts, Lucrezia. Sweeteners. But I haven’t come to negotiate. I want your agreement. And I need it now.”
His chair scrapes with a metal howl of pain. When he stands, he’s huge.
He moves around the table to stand in front of me. The shocking size of him pins me back in the seat. He stands, looming close in front of me. Stiflingly close. Too close for me to read the expression on his face.
His eyes ignite when I reach up and take hold of his balls through the tailored silk suit.
“They’re big,” I tell him. “Even swollen, maybe.”
I tug firmly downward and tilt my chin. His eyes flash and dance as he moves his face closer to mine.
Loud enough that he can hear, but no-one else can, I tell him, “You should maybe get them checked.” His eye twitches. “If you still have them later today.”
I close my hand tighter. “Definitely swollen, I’d say. Now,” I soften my voice more. “I’ve got a ten-inch blade that I could shove straight up your ass. You wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it.”
The entitled bully in the back of his voice is making me mad. “My men would kill you in an instant.”
I smile as my head shakes. “We’re too close together. They won’t risk it. I could make you walk out in front of me.”
I squeeze. Hard enough to make his eyes pop wide.
His voice skips as he says, “You came here armed?”
