To be loved by him

A light flickers above the two men sitting at a desk located at the back of the local grocery store. The gentleman sitting behind the desk brings a lighter to the cigar hanging from his lips flicking the switch to bring the flame to life and lighting the nicotine and inhaling the bitter smoke. Pausing briefly he lets the poison circulate through his lungs before slowly releasing it to begin his discussion with the man sitting opposite him. “Jerome, I’ve already given you thirty days more than what I give most people. Now, I like you but I love my money more and I’d like to have it back…today,” The man now known as Jerome stiffens in his seat for a brief moment before forcing himself to relax and put on an aloof mask. He knows that if the figure sitting behind the desk senses his fear he’ll attack like the shark he is; and Jerome doesn’t want that. He needs to force a calm facade to try and talk his way through more time. “Pedro mi amigo, you know me! So you know I’m good for the money. I just need a little more time to get it… seeing as I’ve run on some hard,” he starts before Pedro cuts him off “Do I though? We gave you $20,000 in product and my partners and I still have yet to see a dime of that money. Now if I’m being honest it doesn’t feel like we are amigos, it feels like you’re using me Jerome. You’re not using me are you? Because you know what happens to those who use me right… amigo?” Pedro asks condescendingly. “No! Of course not! You’ll get your money Pedro trust me,” Jerome says forcing an air of relaxed and confident air. Trying to hide the fact that he’s sweating his ass off from the fear coursing through him. The two men sit in silence. One eyeing the other with a blank face contemplating the other’s promise. The other man fights everything that’s in him to not shift or squirm in his seat. Desperate to keep His relaxed demeanor in front of this shark that’s before him, sure that the predator is just waiting for him to slip up ready for the kill. Finally after what feels like forever of sitting in silence Pedro speaks breaking through the quiet. “Fifteen more days. Get me my money Jerome and don’t make me look like a Pendejo. You won’t like what happens if you make me out to be one,” Jerome swallows harshly before making a show of standing up and grinning like a fool to hide the fact he used the large motions to wipe the nervous sweat from his palms before he offered one of them for a handshake. Pedro stands as well although much slower and calmer. Taking the offered hand and giving a firm shake to seal their deal. “Gracias Mi amigo! You’re not gonna regret this,” Jerome forces through a large grin that he hopes doesn’t seem overly fake. “Until I see that money I’d hold off on the mi amigos comments,” Pedro states dropping Jerome’s hand and walking around his desk making his way to the doors that lead to the main store… towards the two bulky men with impressive rifles. Reaching the door to exit with his guards Pedro pauses and without turning around states clearly. “Remember fifteen days Jerome, not a day later or else,” Motioning to the two men standing guard the three daunting figures leave the back room of the grocery store stalking their way through to the front of the store and out the sliding glass doors to the parking lot. Jerome waits a moment before collapsing into the chair below him face-palming at the thought of having to gather all $20,000 in fifteen days. “Joder mi vida,” he curses out under his breath