THE DEAL
312 Words
Chapter Two: The Deal
His office was on the top floor of The Black Rose. While the ground level buzzed with music, alcohol, and desperate flirtation, the top was a different world—quiet, sleek, luxurious.
“Sit,” he said.
She sat.
“What’s your name?” he asked, lighting a cigar. The rich smell of tobacco filled the room.
“Amara.”
He nodded, taking a drag. “Pretty name. You hungry?”
She nodded.
He made a call. Within five minutes, a plate of grilled chicken, ugali, and greens was placed in front of her. She devoured it, barely tasting the spices, just glad to eat.
He watched her in silence. Not with pity—she would have hated that—but with interest. As if she were a puzzle he hadn’t yet solved.
“My name is Dante,” he said. “You know who I am?”
She paused, then nodded. Everyone in this part of town knew Dante Muriithi. He wasn’t just the owner of The Black Rose. He was the head of the Kopa Familia—the underground syndicate rumored to control half the city’s night economy.
Drug trafficking, weapon deals, extortion, money laundering. All roads led to him.
“I need someone I can trust,” he said. “Someone who can keep secrets. Someone with no ties.”
She looked up, breath caught in her throat.
“You want a job?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes.”
He leaned in. “This isn’t a regular job. You’ll work here. You’ll serve drinks. Maybe do some errands. Some… deliveries. But most importantly, you’ll be loyal. To me. No matter what.”
Amara’s heart pounded. Her instincts screamed danger. But something deeper inside her—something buried under years of neglect—whispered: This man sees you.
“I’ll be loyal,” she said.
- Writer
