THE RELUCTANT MAFIA BOSS

My eyes were glued on the average revolver in Philip’s hand. Throughout the years, I knew that the pistol provided extra firepower to someone like my boss. All of a sudden, I could hear my heartbeat, and my legs were shaking! I had to wipe the sweat on my palm at the back of my jeans when the revolver with a lot of power and high precision was pointed at me. Then, Philip’s voice echoed around the house when he cursed loudly! “I’m sorry, Philip.” I apologized for failing to locate the woman he asked me to find. We have been seeking someone named Sharon, but it was like searching for a needle in the middle of the night. The sketch which Philip drew himself was terrible! How could we find a woman with no complete name whom he met twenty years ago? There were times when I believed that she was a ghost or a supernatural being because, with Philip’s money, no one could escape from him; except her! “You are always sorry!” Philip’s voice roared like thunder, and I almost collapsed in fear! I looked away for fear that Philip would see it in my eyes that I trembled with terror. Through the years that I worked for him, I discovered that the older man has an awful temper, and I was terrified that I would lose my head! “Why don’t we try Ortega’s agency to search for her?” I suggested. “So you admit that you’re not good enough to find a single woman? For goodness sake Tyler, I didn’t expect you to be this…lacking! Get out of my sight now!” His words hurt. It cut deep, but I had to endure it to survive. Immediately, I left him alone because it would be bloody to provoke him some more. I just couldn’t understand his obsession with Sharon when he could afford any woman to his liking! When I got inside my bedroom, I dialed his son’s number, and I was lucky when he answered the call immediately. “Bro!”  “Is there something wrong with my father?” He asked, and I felt more neglected than ever. All of a sudden, I felt like crying. “I called to gain your sympathy, but you didn’t even bother to ask if I’m okay or not!” “Aren’t you being dramatic today?” “Am I not allowed?” “You can do it later. Look, if this is just about your hurt feelings, then we can talk about it some other time. I’m occupied at the moment, and I can’t stay on the phone much longer,” he said. “He shouted at me,” I told him. “Because?” “Because I failed to locate his woman named Sharon! Can you help me, Marcus?” “If ever that I will find her, do you think I’ll hand her over to Philip? No way,” he declared. I expressed a loud sigh that Sharon’s case seemed to be hopeless! “I suggested that he should try Ortega’s agency,” I announced. “Then, what did he say about it?” “He scolded me,” I answered with the truth, but Marcus just laughed at me. Therefore, I concluded that I meant nothing to him or his father!  After talking with Marcus on the phone, I decided to talk to Philip again. I should convince him about trying Ortega’s services, or I would be stressed forever! I just got out of the bedroom when I saw a blade coming in my direction. It whizzed near to my ear, and I trembled in fear while waiting for Philip to show up. When he did, my entire body was tensed, and I kept on wetting my bottom lip. “Do you need anything, Philip?” I asked him in a calm voice, and it was something I mastered through the years; talking calmly while being on the verge of death. “Bring Ortega here,” he ordered. “Okay,” I replied immediately, or I would irritate his mood once more. “I’ll make some preparations now.” I returned to my room, and finally, I was able to breathe normally. When Philip was mad, the best thing to do was to avoid him or risked my life, and at times like these, I envied Marcus for being out of his reach. The older man was scary! His power didn’t diminish even just a bit after he announced his retirement. Criminals were scared of him. Dirty politicians were terrified, and the list went on. If those people tried to avoid Philip at all costs, then I should do the same! No one dared to make him angry, or else hell would break loose! Whoever was Sharon, she did the right thing of hiding from Philip Madrigal! However, I supposed that she was damn lucky to win Philip’s heart. As soon as everything was prepared for my journey to bring Ortega into the mansion, I proceeded to the bar to be comforted with whiskey. On my way to the bar, I passed by a large mirror, and I couldn’t help but stop for a minute or two to check my appearance. I could tell from a simple glance that stress got the better of me, and I should remedy it as soon as possible, or no one would find me attractive.   At thirty-eight years old, I was already bald. Marcus was two years older than me, but I resembled Philip a lot in terms of wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes. My eye bags were obvious evidence that I didn’t have enough sleep at night. As I poured some whiskey into my glass, I asked myself several times. What would happen I would just kill Philip Madrigal and take all of his money? I was positive that the boys would help my cause! I would take everything, and my life wouldn’t be any better! “I’m sorry for shouting at you.” I turned around and found Philip standing nearby. When I looked down, I saw his revolver pointing at me. Suddenly, I feared for my survival. Did he read my mind? I hid my hand inside my pocket so that he wouldn’t see me trembling in fear. Philip sat beside me, and as he poured some whiskey into his glass, he kept on staring at my face. “Drink,” he commanded. My hand trembled when I picked up my glass, but when I tasted the liquor, I took the courage to kneel. “I don’t want to die right now, Philip. Spare me, please. Philip, please have mercy on me. I don’t want to die yet.” Did my voice tremble in fear? Maybe, but I had no way of knowing about it since my mind was focused on the man who can extend my life or kill me in an instant.