~Mafia Dealings~ (Queen of Disaster x IndulgeMe)

[IndulgeMe]

Jayson Russo was the pinnacle of Italian smugness. Drinking imported wine, sitting by the window as he overlooked the streets of New York, his ferrari parked in the alley for quick acces. His taylored suit fitted perfectly to the point it seemed to be one with his skin as he slowly moved his arm up and down summoning the waiter without bothering to remove his eyes from the landscape he was taking in. "Another glass." Jayson said in a clear American accent one would not expect from a man his skin-tone. Only when the second glass had been waiting for him on the table for 3 full minutes did Jayson shift his attention to today's matter of business. "Linsay..." He spoke turning his gaze to the woman as he picked up the wine and moved it in front of him, odours making it's way up to his nose as he swirled it in thought.

"I've been considering what to do with you Linsay." Poor Linsay sat there, a mere shadow of the brave and careless woman which he'd seen in the security footage. Trembling now that she sat opposite a man who had her plucked from the streets in broad daylight and brought to this restraunt! This place... not the waiter, nor other guests seemed to care for Linsay being dragged in kicking and screaming. Jayson's table in a far corner, a single window to his right. "I've been thinking long and hard, but to be honest with you... I have not come to a satisfying conclusion." Jayson said as his eyes slowly took in all facial features from the girl who'd not only gone round the back to break the lock on the back-door to his night-club, but also slipped a bottle of wine into her jacket when she'd left. "Not just entering from the backdoor, an attitude which I could even appreciate were it under different circumstances. But stealing..." Jayson said taking a slow sip from the crystal glass in front of him before placing it to the side clearing the table between him and Linsay. Slowly reaching out to touch the girl's hand, laying his long fingers on top of the frightened girl's. "In Arabian countries, they still cut thieves hand's to this very day..." He said in a low tone, laughing to himself as he saw Linsay's paniced reaction.

Jayson couldn't make much of her excuses, rushed, paniced words comming out of the girl's mouth as she looked left to right for a way out. Jayson let her be for a minute, ensuring she understood that there simply was no way of escaping him if he didn't allow her to before he recited some of her words back to her. "My sister is a lawyer..." He qouted with somewhat of a smile. "You know Linsay, I too have a younger sister. And many younger brothers in fact. Our parents always taught us not to use our family as a way out, hiding behind someone else to take care of your problems... It's a sign of weakness." Jayson said before he drank the remaining wine and moved to the side of the table getting up. In one smooth motion, Jayson grabbed a silver steak-knife from a nearby table and slammed it deep into the wooden table close to Linsay.

"But... they also taught us to always come up for our siblings. I will speak with your sister and see what she has to offer. If that is sufficient, you can consider your little accident forgiven. Tomorrow, 5 p.m. in this same place. Tell her to wear a dress, I plan on having dinner." Jayson said and was on his way out of the place without saying his good-byes, leaving Linsay to stare at the shining blade in front of her until the waiter came up to her. "Do you want me to call you a taxi Miss?"

 

[Queen of Disaster]

When her sister finally showed up back at the apartment after running away while having a temper tantrum she didn't expect her to look so frightened and so exhausted. She also didn't expect her much younger sister to ask in a shaky voice if she could make her some waffles with some strawberrys- when they were younger, when she was still just a student they had often told other people that Amanda made the best waffels ever. Not wanting to fight again with her sister who looked so young and timid she had stood up without a word and started preparing the most amazing waffles ever, adding some honey and cinnamon sugar. Linsay had devoured it like no tomorrow and then the most surprising thing happened. Linsay cuddled up to her. At some point she dozed off and it was such a peacful moment she couldn't help herself but tear up a little. And she usually didn't cry easy.

This night she let Linsay off the hook but it was the next morning that she finally demanded some answers. The next surprise came when instead of acting cocky and rebellious Linsay looked at the floor and explained somewhat what had happened. That she had tried to steal some wine for herself and her friends to which Amanda had to explain that friends that made her steal shit weren't real friends. Of course Linsay wouldn't be Linsay if she didn't roll her eyes at her, but at least she told her that the owner of the establishement from where she had tried to steal didn't press any charges. Instead he wanted to meet up with her. As Linsay was still a youngster, only recently turned 20, Amanda felt obligated to go to that meeting not knowing what she should expect. What she didn't understand were the worried glances Linsay always threw at her. What was wrong with her? It was as if that man was a big bad wolf.

As a female lawyer she had met her fair share of big bad wolfs. In the end all these men were the same and she had always been able to stand her ground. As she nearly worked non-stop she went to work that day too, putting on an outfit befitting a woman of her position. It was also slowly turning cold, the leaves gently turning into color of warm orange and yellow so she put on a coat when she left the apartment she shared with her rebellious sister.

During work hours she wasn't able to stop herself from imagining that man. What did Linsay say his name was? For someone who prided herself on having a good memory she couldn't remember. Well, she would meet him soon enough. She pulled her hair into a high ponytail when her hair wouldn't stop falling into her eyes and on that day it was particularly aggravating. She was nearly glad when she left for the strange dinner date. Was it even a dinner date? She didn't know. Still, Amanda called herself a cab and told the driver the adress. Not even an half an hour later she had arrived and she had even arrived early.

Stepping into the restaurant she cautiously let her gaze wander. It was an expensive restaurant, one her boyfriend of half a year would invite her to for a romantic outing alas she wasn't here to meet her boyfriend.

"Excuse me?", she nearly jumped but it was simply one of the workers, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Amanda smiled politely: "Ah, yes. I'm a bit early. I was told he is the owner...? Sorry, I'm meeting him on behalf of my sister whom he talked to yesterday. I think she failed to mention his name to me."

 

[IndulgeMe]

The staff merely nodded and motioned his hand Amanda to follow him. Quietly escorting her to Jayson his usual table, the waiter didn't offer any refreshment and just left without saying another word. He did however phone his boss to notify him of Amanda's early arrival. He himself made it to the place five minutes after and walked himself to the table.

"It's not often one beats me when it comes to being on time. You're nice and early, which is a character I very much appreciate already." He said extending his hand as he stood besides Amanda by her seat. "The name's Russo. Jayson Russo." The mafia-lord said and next flashed a bright white smile before he sat down opposite Amanda.

"A shame to see you're not dressed more appropriatly for the occasion. Then again, I've been I overdo on the dress-up part for dinner." Jayson commented and didn't hide his roaming eyes as he reached for two menus placed on the far end of the table.

"I hope your sister didn't tell too many ghost-stories. I just gave her the spook I think she deserves. Like I told her, I have many siblings myself... they can be a pain to deal with." Jayson spoke before getting the waiter's attention. Seeing surprise in Amanda's eyes... realising the woman didn't have the faintest clue why she was in this place to begin with!!

"We do not seem to be on the same page, am I right Amanda? Did your sister tell you the reason why you're here in the first place?"

 

[Queen of Disaster]

She was brought to a table and she wondered who the man was and what her sister had done that she had to meet this stranger. It must have been bad. In case she had brought her check book in case he wanted money from her. What if he wanted to black mail her? No.l She shouldn't think so negatively. Suddenly a male voice came from the side and she turned her head. There stood a fairly attractive man and she was surprised by that. She hadn't expected someone like him. Slightly smiling she stood up and shook his hand before they both sat down: "Nice to meet you, Mr Russo. My name is Amanda Cox." She didn't react to him critizising her choice of wear. She liked the tight dress and it was professional enough which was why she had worn it to work today.

When she didn't react he reached for the two menus and she took one of them. It was then that he started to talk about her sister Linsay. Of course she agreed. Having younger siblings and dealing with their troubles and problems could be exhausting and an ungrateful job. Especially if you basically raised your sibling. But she still didn't know why she was here. Yes, she knew her sister had done something but she didn't what. He seemed to realize it as well and decided to ask her directly.

"To be honest, no, I don't know why I'm here. My sister told me she got herself in trouble but she didn't tell me how exactly.", she replied calmly and kept on the professional demeanor of a lawyer, "You don't even have to tell me, as long as we can take care of this without causing anymore problems."

 

[IndulgeMe]

Amanda's calm attitude took Jayson by surprise, he respected her a lot more because of it. Then again, he held no grudge against her to begin with. "You make it sound like it is a regular thing, which bothers me, but I'll leave you to deal with your sister. I spoke to Linsay last night about her breaking and entering into a private nightclub. Upon exit, Linsay also stole an expensive bottle of wine from the kitchen. I'll tell her like I told you..." Jasyson said and sat up placing the menu aside.

"Over the years running this state's largest criminal enterprise has taught me a few things. One of which is that I cannot allow myself to look weak, not even once. If I'd let your sister walk, excusing her entering my club and stealing... next week it will another club or safe-house that's being raided. I have a reputation to upheld. So, I brought Linsay here last night to make her pay for what she'd done. I was thinking being roughed up a bit, maybe a blowjob for one of my hencemen in the alleyway behind here, and possibly break into her flat to see if there's something of value to take. Linsay however offered you, her sister, who's a succesful lawyer." Jayson said with a smile before he waved the waiter over, but instead of telling him his order told the man to fetch him the manilla coloured folder from his office.

Soon the waiter returned and placed the folder in front of Amanda. "About a week or two ago, one of my men got a bit reckless. What should have been a simple exchange, a suitcase of money for a crate of ammuntion, turned nasty when the arms-dealer was behaving all suspicous. "My men shot the dealer and dumped his body in a nearby container, but unfortunatly a homeless man seeking shelter for the rain found it and called the cops." Jasyson explained calmly looking at Amanda.

"My proposal is an easy one... you make this little accident go away. Should be easy enough since there's no evidence just speculations connected to my organisation... and I leave your sister alone. And, I'll pay for dinner as an added bonus." Jayson said this time waving the waiter over to take their order.

"What are you having Miss Cox?" The calm and collected man asked with a big smile, one that would fool anyone into thinking he did charity... not run the national crime-syndicate!!

 

[Queen of Disaster]

Ah, so Linsay had entered a private nightclub? Private nightclubs were always places for the rich and that she had entered such a place without permission and had stolen an exepnsive bottle of wine as well? That was a lot she had to deal with. It also depended on the kind of wine her dear sister had stolen. She hoped it hadn't been a rare bottle of wine and that things could be taken care of without any more trouble.

When he simply told her that he was running the criminal enterprise she nearly choked on her own spit. Really? He was admitting this- but then it came to her. She knew him. She knew of him and she knew his name and... it was because he was famous at law school. There was one case in which he had been accused of different charges but had come off scot free and now he was walking around like someone who had done nothing wrong. His innocence had been proven after all. But now he was admitting to illegal activities so easily? It was probably because he knew she could do no harm to him. Well, she didn't want to anyway. She ahd enough cases as it was.

"What? What do you mean Linsay offered me?", she asked him, "She probably meant to tell you that I can take care of things legally. Not that I am going to blow off some guy for her. Because I will not." He ignored her and a waiter placed a folder on the table instead. Confused she took it and opened it, quickly reading through it to get the main information but that wasn't needed. Calmly he explained to her what had happened.

Amanda sighed, closed the folder and looked at him: "Alright. I'll do it. You're lucky I'm not a morally coded lawyer." She really wasn't. She took a case and worked on winning it. Of course she only took cases that still worked for her morals, but she wasn't someone who saw the world as black and white. A job was a job after all. And she was simply doing hers.

"Just... what you recommend.", she told him when he asked her what she wanted to eat and waved it off.

 

[IndulgeMe]

"Blow off some guy?" Jayson mused as the waiter came over. "We can talk about that after dinner Miss Cox, I like to wine and dine my suckers." Jayson said and winked to the lawyer oppposite him. "Miss Cox and myself will both be taking 'Strangozzi al Tartufo Nero', some wine to go with it. Red." Jayson said and thanked the waiter briefly touching his hand before turning back to Amanda. "Hope your Italian is up to snuff. Unless you like surprises? I hate surprises, I like to be in control." Jayson commented and sat back comfortably.

"I feel like moral codes are often taken out of context. You, Miss Cox, seem like a very intelligent woman. Your moral compass likely is telling you not to indulge into business with a man the likes of me. Then again, the bigger code, the bigger needle is pointing towards your sister. What would be the moral thing to do? Protect her, or not? I respect your descicion if nothing else." Jayson commented, supportive and friendly towards the woman who was about to do his bidding.

Dinner was soon brought to their table, Jayson respectful to his heritage didn't discuss business during dinner and allowed him and his company to enjoy their food. "How is it?"