Gangsters Girl

Chapter 5 - Accountant

***Oliver’s POV***

When I left her hotel room, I was more than turned on, and it was everything I could do to keep from kissing her. I wanted this girl, and I always get what I want, but this time, I wasn't going to just take it. Tommy was right about one thing, she was too sweet. What he was wrong about, is that she didn’t belong here in my world. She did, right next to me.

The next day when she came to work she was wearing a pale blue dress with a lace over skirt, and had her hair down except for one barret over her right ear. I didn’t realize how long her hair was, and I had to catch myself from staring as I thought about wrapping her hair around my arm three or four times. Ugh, get a grip man. She came straight over to me, and set the ledger on the table. “Good morning Mr. Payne. This one is only two shillings off, but after checking their figures it seems it was a simple mathematical error, and not of malicious intent.” She smiled.

I was relieved to hear it, “Very good Miss Fox.”

“Thank you sir.” She began. She smelled like roses. “Will I be on the floor or in the office today?”

“You’ll be in the office Miss Fox. You go ahead, and I’ll be up shortly. There should be a stack of ledgers waiting for you to get started.” I told her. She curtsied and went up to the box. I went to Tommy, “Send her fresh tea every two hours, Tommy.”

“Yes sir. Thanks for taking her off the floor.” He said to me.

“She’ll be on the floor two days a week, the lightest days so you can worry less, at least until we can get you some decent help. Don’t hire any hookers.” I told him, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Thank god.” He laughed as he went back to work.

When I went up to the box she was sitting at the small desk in the corner. I didn’t like that. I didn’t say anything, I just went over to her and took her hand, stood her up, and picked up the ledger she was working on and led her into my office through the door at the back of the box. I never used my desk, and my private office had a sitting area in it. I sat her down in my chair, “You work here Elle, it’s less exposed.” I walked out and came back with an armful of ledgers. “Take your time. I’d rather be thorough than rushed.” She nodded her head.

Just as I was about to turn and leave, she set her pencil down and looked up, “Did you have groceries sent to my room this morning?”

“Yes.” I said simply.

She looked nervous and embarrassed. “Why?”

“You’re quite thin. I figured it had to be because of your odd hours you have to keep working for me that you haven’t been able to go to the market properly. I took the liberty so you wouldn’t have to worry yourself.”

“Sir, this is too much. No one does this much for a person without wanting something in return. So what is it?” She asked as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

She was beautiful every day, but she was gorgeous when she showed she had a spine. I smiled at her, “I think you’re stunning Elle, but even if you told me to f**k off I’d still want you as an employee, and my employees are well taken care of. It builds trust, and loyalty.”

“It can build debt and contempt as well.” She said, “I don’t want to be indebted or a slave to any man.”

“I can assure you, that is not what this is about. You have a valuable skill set and a pleasant demeanor. I am infamously difficult to be around because most people annoy the s**t out of me. You do not, which adds to your value. If the money is a problem for you, we can negotiate a smaller sum, but if you weren’t here, I’d be losing more than that to these thieves, so it’s no nevermind to me. I feel you deserve it.” I explained. She sat back in the chair and looked at me.

“Very well sir, I’ll continue work immediately.” She said and picked her pencil back up.

“I have meetings today in the box, if you need anything.” I said as I turned to leave. Tommy brought her a fresh teapot every two hours, and she worked diligently, only stopping a couple times to stand and stretch for a moment before returning to her seat.

I was talking with Jacob and another of my men Leo when she came out with a ledger, “Excuse me gentlemen.” She said politely.

“Yes Miss Fox?” I asked and she came and sat beside me to show me what she was talking about.

“There is a large discrepancy that I don’t understand. These orders don’t match up with what’s in the ledger, and there are several handwritten receipts where I can’t make out exactly what was being purchased. It seems that the receipts have been inflated to hide a great deal of money sir.” She said, showing me why she thought this. “Furthermore, there is a charge monthly for seventy three pounds for a gardener at this boxing facility, and if I’m not mistaken sir, this building is in the middle of town.”

“You are not mistaken.” I said with a calm smile and angry eyes.

“Hot damn Oli, you said she was good.” Jacob laughed as he shook his head a little bit.

“Elle, this is Jacob Barton and Leo Edwards. Jacob is my partner and Leo works for me. Boys, this is Miss Fox, our new accountant.” I introduced. “Leo, go and have a chat with Dougie about these, discrepancies, and get an explanation.”

“Sure thing Oli.” He said with a smile, “Miss.” He tipped his hat before he left.

“Nice catch, Miss Fox.” Jacob said to her. “Brilliant and beautiful. Deadly combination.” He smirked.

“Watch it.” I growled at him.

“Just a compliment there mate.” He smiled at me. Jacob was a womanizing man w***e, and while I normally could care less about that, she was different. “I’m gonna go down and get a drink, don’t forget the Italians will be here in an hour.”

“Thanks Jake.” I grumbled at him as he walked out the door. I turned back to Elle, she looked nervous. “Are you alright?”

“Am I going to be the cause of someone's death?” She asked.

“Did you force them to steal from me?” I asked.

“Of course not.” She answered.

“Then you are not the cause of them doing anything. They chose to steal from me, you are just uncovering their betrayals. That’s on them, not you.” I told her. She nodded and started to make her way back into the office. I followed her and laid on the couch. “I’m going to take a rest before the Italians get here. Wake me in forty minutes.” I smiled as I put my hat over my face.

“Yes sir.” She smiled at me as she shook her head and went back to her figures. It wasn’t long before she started to hum sweetly as she worked, and it quickly lulled me to sleep. So damned pleasant.

“Oliver, it’s time to wake up for your meeting.” I heard her sweet voice say. I opened my eyes and she was sitting next to me, peeking under my cap to see if I was indeed awake. She smiled sweetly. “Good evening sir.”

I smiled at her and brushed my hand across her cheek. “Good evening Elle.” I could get used to this. This was much nicer than Jacob slamming doors and smacking me awake.

She handed me a whisky as I sat up. “Your meeting is in 20 minutes. I’ve informed Tommy of your drink order and tidied up the box a bit.” She smiled. “Shall I be serving your guests tonight?”

“No, in fact I don’t want you to come out of this office until the meeting is over. Tommy will serve tonight.” I insisted. “And you know, you’re my accountant, not my secretary.” I laughed at her. “You don’t have to do all, this.” I gestured vaguely around the room. “I do appreciate the drink though.”

She smiled at me, “I’ll keep that in mind, sir.”

I hated that she called me sir, but I know why she did. It kept a bit of formality and made her more comfortable, and I didn’t mind so much coming out of her mouth. “Anything exciting happen while I was asleep?” I asked.

“I finished the gambling lounge ledger, and it seems you don’t have very trustworth associates Mr. Payne. Two out of five businesses are run by thieves. I have only this pub’s ledger left to review, but I can already tell you Tommy is on the level, making half your businesses bleed while the other half are earning a profit.” She said, like she was afraid I would be upset with her. “On the upside, I have some ideas that might increase your profits in all of these places, and if you put better managers in your businesses you’ll be back on track in less than a month.”

Just then I heard Jacob come in with the Italians, I kissed her cheek and got up quickly, “You’re bloody brilliant. Stay here.” I rushed out the door, but not before noticing her shock from the kiss as she sat there with her face beet red and her hand covering the spot my lips had been. Adorable.