"You still owe me."
Helplessly, Doug started at the man sitting in front of him. His hair neatly styled, and a dark suit ironed to style. He looked too relaxed for the rising tension Doug could feel in the small office room of the club. He had no answer for him; it was no question.
"You still owe me, Douglas," Brendan repeated, adding the name of his victim in attempt to provoke some sort of reaction. Any kind of reaction would be acceptable, he enjoyed challenging himself, although he did not consider Douglas Carter as any kind of equal match.
"I know," Doug managed to squeak, and then some courage rose up through him, "But Brendan, you promised me more time. It isn't reasonable to ask for the money back when Ste and I have only just started the buis-"
He was cut short. Any courage that he had thought he had possessed had quickly dissolved back inside of him. Brendan had stood up halfway during his defence speech and was now walking calmly towards him.
"This has nothing to do with Steven," Brendan said, coming to a stop just a few inches to where Doug was standing, "So there is no need to mention his name."
"I'm sorry..." Doug rushed, "I just... I just don't know what to tell you..."
"Well I have something to tell you," Brendan continued, "You. Still. Owe. Me."
At every pause he made Brendan pressed a finger against Doug's chest. At the last word the finger lingered a little longer and pressed a little harder; as if it were Brendan's aim to burn a hole into the little man's chest and mark him to make him remember... Like stamping a cigarette butt out on a wrist.
"Okay," Doug answered feebly, the cigarette burn obviously being felt. The urge to finish this meeting and leave as quickly as possible was coming of him. He could not bear to have Brendan glare down on him any longer, like a falcon watching its prey.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I had something in mind," Brendan said, his voice lifting slightly as he turned to go and sit back behind his desk, "But it shall involve some time away from here."
"And would it pay off all the debt?" Doug inquired.
Brendan's eyes glistened, "Maybe. It depends how well you do the job."
Doug was immersed. If there was something he could do to pay off all the debt he owed to Brendan he would do it. As long as Ste did not find out that he had borrowed money from Brendan; and that all the debt could be paid off, he was willing to do anything. Even if it was dirty work, which it was most likely to be, knowing Brendan Brady.
"What's the job?"
"Sit down," Brendan said, nodding towards the chair in front of his desk. Doug did as he was told. Brendan smiled for a second as he did so.
"I need someone to come with me to pick up a delivery," Brendan said, leaning forward and aimlessly tried to make some order to the items which were on his desk, "It would only take two days, three days tops. And it would be easier with someone with experience in the matter..."
"You mean drugs?" Doug interrupted, beginning to stand up, "No Brendan I don't think I can do that. You know I'm not in that line of work anymore."
"Sit back down," Brendan demanded. Again Doug did as he was told, he could not help it.
"But Brendan, you're being unreasonable..."
"I am always very reasonable."
"Yes but... No but..." he was getting tongue tied, "Brendan, I don't want to work with drugs anymore. I've put that part of my life behind me. That's what this business venture was all about, moving on and making a decent person out of me."
Brendan yawned, "You talk too much."
Doug opened his mouth in order to answer but nothing came out. Brendan nodded in acknowledgement.
"You still don't understand, do you Douglas? You owe me. That business is mine until you pay me back. I'm giving you a chance to repay your debt and you're just going to turn it down without even thinking it through."
Doug sighed, "So what's the job?"
"You won't be dealing the stuff. Just carrying it back for me, with me."
Doug nodded, "And then what?"
"And then you don't need to know," Brendan said, making icy eye contact with him.
"And no one will know? You won't say anything to Ste or anyone?"
"No," Brendan said, "We'll leave here separately and meet up again at the airport."
"And this will pay off all the debt?"
"I've already answered that," Brendan said, bored.
"Okay, I'll do it," Doug said after taking a deep breath in.
"And you're willing to shake on it," Brendan said, out stretching his hand towards him.
"Yeah," Doug said nervously, shaking Brendan's hand. One firm shake.
"What should I tell Ste, and everyone?" Doug said.
Brendan shrugged, "Not my problem. I'll send you more details. Keep your phone on you and do not let anyone see it. Now, get out of my office."
Doug quickly obeyed.