BENEATH THE BOSS (Short billionaire mafia stories)

Episode 4

Casting a casual glance over her shoulder and in the direction of her table, Kat grinned slightly as she saw that one enterprising young gentleman already had claimed her seat next to Cecily; and that two others stood at her back, just waiting for her to, in all hopes at least, turn and acknowledge their earthly existence. “Oh I think that Cecily will be fine. Right now she kind of reminds me of Scarlett O’Hara at the Twelve Oaks picnic, surrounded by about four versions of the Tarleton twins, dressed in assorted leisure suits,” she said, adding in a lower and more serious tone, “Although I would very much like to keep an eye on her throughout the evening. We women often like to stick to the buddy system at bars and nightclubs, even as we roam around throughout the evening.” In lieu of a verbal reply, her companion once again snapped his fingers high in the air, this time drawing the attention of a burly, bald headed man who rushed to his side and asked, “What did you need, Boss?” Xavier turned to him, squaring his substantial shoulders as his tone hardened and grew more officious in tenor.

“Mitch,” he directed, pointing a firm finger in Cecily’s direction. “Please keep a close watch over the blonde lady sitting at the table in the far left corner.” Following the direction of his boss’ gesture, the man identified as Mitch grinned like a school boy as he laid his eyes on Cecily. “You’re actually paying me to stare at that babe for the rest of the evening?” he asked, his grin melting abruptly in the heat of his boss’ hardened stare. “That is to say, I’d be more than pleased to watch over the lady.” Kat nodded. “Excellent!” she praised. “Also please let her know where I am, in case she needs anything.” Meeting this request with an answering salute, a newly enthused Mitch turned sharply in the direction of Cecily’s table. The couple chuckled as the burly, manly-looking guard skipped like a third grader to the corner of the club, leaving them once again alone as Xavier offered his arm to her.

“And now, my lady,” he declared, gracing her with a dazzling white toothed smile as she took his arm in hers, “Off to the champagne table.” Katherine Murphy just had to admit it. Her life circumstances had improved considerably since the earlier part of the evening, when she’d had to share the spotlight with (or, more accurately, surrendered the spotlight to) her glamorous best friend. Now she herself felt like the main attraction, seated as she was before a lace-lined table that boasted on its surface two crystalline flutes and a full magnum of vintage champagne. It also didn’t hurt that her dashing date for the evening was hand feeding her succulent samplings of brie on crackers and chocolate covered strawberries. “So this is the champagne table?” she asked, taking yet another fortifying sip of prime bubbly before adding, “I guess ownership has its privileges, huh Chief? So tell me, is this club the only business you own?” Xavier shook his head. “My family actually owns a number of businesses in this community, everything from restaurants to movie theaters to department stores.

You could say that my father, Michelangelo Ambrose, is an ambitious man, and after earning a business degree so am I,” he revealed, adding as he seemed eager to change the subject, “Ah, but all of that corporate stuff is so dull. I’d rather hear about you. What do you do for a living?” Katherine gaped. “You mean after seeing me out there on the dance floor, you didn’t figure me for a professional ballerina or Broadway choreographer?” she marveled, waiting for his raucous laughter to subside before continuing, “No, actually I spend most of my evenings, and a good number of my days, at another type of club altogether. I’m actually the manager and, sometimes, featured talent at Chuckles Comedy Club on 8th Street.” Xavier nodded. “I’ve been to Chuckles a few times, great place!” he praised her. “And I can tell that, with your humor and energy, you have pretty much landed yourself the perfect job.” Katherine grinned. “Why thank you,” she acknowledged his compliment, adding in a wistful, faraway tone, “When I was a little girl I used to do stand up for my friends, turning our playhouse into a comedy club.

I turned all of my oral book reports and other presentations into bits and routines. I also loved drama and managed to snare the character parts in every school play. Oh you’d never catch me playing Juliet, Cecily snared all of the leading lady roles, but I turned the nurse into a real Smart Alec and some surefire comic relief for the whole production.” Xavier chuckled. “Well believe me Kat, I would have loved to see a lighter take on Romeo and Juliet,” Xavier revealed. “If I had it my way, in fact, many more comedies would grace the silver screen, not to mention theatrical stages. Life can be so dark and violent, these days we’re all in need of an escape.” Kat nodded. “Don’t I know it!” she agreed. “I mean, my childhood alone was not exactly a barrel of laughs. I was raised by a single mom in a not-so-great neighborhood, and often our only entertainment involved sitting around on the couch with a box of popcorn between us, watching reruns of I Love Lucy and The Carol Burnett Show. Or movies with funny females, like 9 to 5 and Outrageous Fortune. I tell you, Xavier, if I had it my way I would have been right up there on the big screen, starring in my own comedies like Amy Schumer and Tina Fey.” Xavier shrugged.

“So why didn’t you go to Hollywood and give it a go?” he asked, tone genuinely confused. “You would be a natural.” Kat shrugged. “After living hand to mouth for so much of my childhood, I knew that I needed to get a stable job,” she explained. “Not that I make a queen’s ransom at the comedy club, but I can pay the rent and keep food on the table. And that’s something.” Xavier thought a moment, then shook his head. “It’s not enough, though,” he informed her. “Not for a woman like you.” With these words he took her hand in his; raising it to his full moist lips for a most gentlemanly kiss. “I do believe it is high time, Katherine, for you to be spoiled rotten,” he told her with a smile. “And with that in mind, I would very much like for you to join me for dinner at one of my family’s restaurants here in Clearview. So if you’d like to tell me where I can pick you up next Friday night at 8, then I swear that I’ll show you the time of your life.” Kat nodded.

“I’d love to go to dinner with you, Xavier,” she agreed, adding with a shrug, “And as it happens, you already know my address. I live in an apartment on the third floor of Chuckles Comedy Club.” “I’ll be there,” Xavier promised, clapping his hands together as he added, “Hope you like Italian.” Kat grinned. “I love Italian,” she agreed, adding with a flirty wink, “And I’ll tell ya something else. The food ain’t bad either.” Leaning forward with a lusty chuckle, Xavier erased all distance between them at the table. “You ain’t so bad either, Doll,” he told her on a whisper, clutching her hand in his as his lips loomed dangerously close. Suddenly he seized her lips in a hot, passionate kiss, his full warm lips massaging hers as she moaned in contentment. Angling his head over hers to intensify their kiss, Xavier surged his tongue into her mouth until it merged and entangled with her own; all the while lifting his hands to cup her flushed cheeks and caress her porcelain skin.