Come Closer

Chapter 24

Avelyn looked up from her papers when she heard the light knock on the door. “Enter!”

The guard came in and closed the door.

“What’s the matter?” Avelyn asked, placing the pen which was in her hand aside. The guard came in front of Avelyn’s desk, and continued to look down. “Boss, can I get two months’ salary in advance?”

Avelyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Why do you suddenly need a lot of money?”

The guard now looked up at her. His eyes were glazed with tears. “My-” His voice was caught in his throat. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and continued. “My son needs surgery.”

“And what is the surgery for?”

“He has a tumor, and it has to be removed.”

Avelyn drummed her fingers on the table. “When is the surgery due?”

“Next week, boss.”

“Hmm… Do you have the documents regarding his surgery?” She inquired.

“Yes boss.”

The guard nodded and handed Avelyn a file. The corners of her lips tugged up at that. She always wanted details in hand, and thus this guard just earned a point from her. Silence spread in the office as she looked through the papers. She nodded several times, and frowned at the charges of the hospital. “Even with your two months’ salary, you would lack money for the costs.” She frowned. “How are you going to find the rest?”

“I’ll try to find a way, boss.”

“In a week?”

The guard opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it. He had nothing to say. He couldn’t think of a way to get the rest of the money. ‘A loan maybe?’

“A loan from where?” Avelyn asked, clearly reading his thoughts. “And do you think that you’ll be able to pay it, with the interest, of the first two months, without your salary?”

“I don’t know boss”, the guard mumbled.

“That’s what I thought.” Avelyn gathered the documents in a neat pile, and put it in the file. The guard took it, and turned around to go. “Did I tell you to leave?” Avelyn’s stern voice made the guard halt in his steps. He slowly turned towards her. “No, boss.”

“Sit”, she ordered.

With hesitant steps, the guard returned to his boss’s table, and sat down. Thoughts were running inside his head. His job, his son, his salary… He could lose everything upon Avelyn’s decision. “I can arrange something for you.” Hearing these words, the guard looked up at Avelyn, surprise evident in his features. “I can pay for your son’s surgery.” She held up a hand to stop the guard from talking. “And I’ll cut half of it from your salary, each month. And you’ll be receiving only three quarters of your salary, till the half of the amount I paid for the surgery is paid back.

A huge smile spread across his face. “Thank you, boss! I can’t believe this! I’m forever in debt to you”, he said.

“No, you’re only in debt until the money is paid back.” Avelyn spoke with a blank face.

“I understood, boss. And, thank you again!”

Avelyn nodded, and waved her hand dismissing the guard. “And I’d like to see your little boy after the surgery. Bring him to me after he is recovered.”

“Of course, boss. Of course!”

An hour later, a surprised Nathan barged in Avelyn’s office. “Did you agree to give Steven a loan?”

Avelyn knitted her eyebrows together. “Steven?”

“Ah- I mean John.”

“Hmm. Yes.” She went back to resume the paperwork she was doing.

“Why? He didn’t ask for a loan!” Nathan pulled out a chair and sat in front of her.

Avelyn’s eyes ran through the document she was reading. “So?”

Nathan sighed. “So? What do you mean ‘so’? Avelyn, you shouldn’t grant anyone’s wishes here. Especially the ones that haven’t been made.”

“I didn’t grant any wish.” She signed the paper.

“Don’t you understand? They are NOT your equals! If you show any empathy, they’d try to take advantage of it!”

“Too late for you to lecture me.” Avelyn shrugged. “They joined me BECAUSE I showed empathy- I helped them. THAT made them join me.” She took another file to examine.

Nathan rubbed his face. “But it doesn’t mean you should be a donor to them, Avelyn!”

Avelyn sighed. She placed her pen at a side, and closed the file. She sat up straight, and placed her hands on her table. “Listen, Nathan, every man who joins my mafia, I trust them. And that is a bet I make. Whether they’d be loyal or not, I don’t know. Anyone can betray me.

Yes, they JOINED me because I helped them. But that doesn’t mean they’d stay with me or will stay loyal to me forever. I need them here, but they don’t necessarily need me. The moment they realize this, they would turn to another person.

I need loyal men. I can’t get it with money or force. But I can always make them in debt to me. The sense of repayment makes them stay with me. They feel an obligation towards me, to obey me. Slowly, but surely, their minds start to rely on me and me only. That’s why The Ghost and the Shadows have been able to get to this level. And I’m not changing my tricks soon.”

She looked directly at Nathan, who was silently listening. “I don’t give donations- I give loans with its not so visible binds. People never realize this. I bind them with the leash of debt. I tie the leash tight, but no not too tight so the beast can breathe. And don’t even think that I’ll let go of my end of the leash.”

“And, John was in a desperate state. Such people can do anything for money. Actually I was afraid that he would sell our information. And you know that there are many who’d buy it. So I gave him what he wanted. It’s not a large amount for us. Giving him what he wants is better than him betraying us.”