No chance
874 Words
LANEY
The men aren’t in the office for long, the door opens and they pour out. Him last, he turns and shakes hands with Tomas. “I’ll be in touch.” He says sharply as he turns on his heel and leaves without even giving a second glance. I watch as he exits the office. The Mafia? Sweet Jesus. I didn’t know that was still a thing! With being from the UK, I never knew they were still a popular thing here. Alice filled me in on the families and rivals. The dangers of them. “You don’t want to get involved with them, they’re bad news. Him especially! Ever since their last boss Joseph Maranzano got killed from their rival, he took over. Becker Ramono. He’s the worst of the worst Laney. He’s dangerous and not just the normal mafia dangerous. The man’s crazy. Heartless. No one survives his wrath. I don’t know what he wants with this company or with Tomas. But I know I don’t want to be involved. That’s for sure.”
Tomas goes back into his office after the elevator doors shut. He seems deflated, I glance at the door once more before turning my attention back to my screen. 3:45pm. I’m nearly finished the first designs for the new apartments. But I can’t concentrate. My mind keeps going to him, his harsh glare. Maybe a coffee will help me refocus. I push myself up from my chair, making my way into the staff room. I fill the kettle and start to make myself a coffee. By the time I’ve drank it and get back to my desk it’s 4pm. I notice I have an unopened email from Tomas. I settle back to my desk and click the email link to open it, he’s asking me to go to his office. Maybe it’s a review of how the first day went. I push myself up yet again and make my way to Tomas’s office door. Knocking, I wait until he shouts me in. Once I push open the door he smiles nervously in my direction. “Take a seat” I nod my head and settle myself in the seat opposite his desk. “Is everything okay?” I ask my boss, who looks stressed to bits. “Do you know who that man was?” He asks me, leaning on his desk slightly. “Ermm, Alice just informed me, but before today. No I don’t know him or much about them.” He nods his head, ponders for a moment. “He wants you to redesign his home.” My mouth gapes open! What the hell?! Why me? “You said no right?” I asked this is my first day! My first real job as a designer. I can’t design the MAFIA BOSS’S home! No way. “Of course I didn’t say no! He’s the f*****g Mafia boss! And the worst one out the lot of them. No one says no to him! I tried to steer him into a more experienced designers way. But he was adamant he wanted you. I don’t know what you did. But you’ve caught his attention Laney. I can’t help you here.” I glare at my boss in utter disbelief. “No, I’m saying no. I’m not doing it.” I stand to leave but the words spoken next is enough to freeze me in my tracks. “Laney. If you don’t. He’ll kill everyone you love. He’s a monster.” I turn and look at Tomas. “Can I do it from here?” Normally you need to go to clients homes to measure up, have meetings with the client to see what they want, what they’re feeling. Pitch design ideas to them. But if I can just do all that from here I’ll feel safer. Tomas shakes his head “sorry Laney, that’s not how we work. You’ll have to go meet him at his home and look around the estate. Work out what direction he’s going in. Create your pitch and take it from there. He’s willing to pay above standard for this. I’ve made arrangements for you to go to his estate tomorrow morning 9am sharp to get a feel for the estate, go home Laney. Get some rest. You can’t afford to slack on this one.” With that he turns in his chair. Dismissing me.
I leave the office, grab my things. Shut down my computer and leave to my apartment. I just want to lock myself away and hide. How can he want me!! I have little to no experience. Im new to this, why did he chose me? I can’t do this, but now Im afraid I don’t have a choice. And god forbid I mess this up. He’ll kill me. Or my family. I can’t mess this up. Just think of the money and focus on the work. I’ll be fine.
I take a hot bath to try relax myself and prepare for the day ahead tomorrow. Closing my eyes I let the hot water sweep over me, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. His eyes are the only thing I can see. Piecing my soul.
God help me. Please.
- Writer
