31
I remained in the room listening to the movement of footsteps and the conversations of men. I was in a sky-blue silk gown with a blue and white kimono robe. I was braiding my hair back thinking about changing my hair style. Who was I kidding, I needed to think of anything at this moment to try and block out what happened just a few minutes ago. The door finally opened and I had no reason to wonder who it was. Vincent came in and closed the door rubbing his face slowly.
"You want to tell me what that was downstairs?" he asked. I looked at him from my spot on the bed.
"I have to find a new place to stay." I stated. His eyes squinted on me before pointing to the door with his thumb.
"Because of what happened? Look there won't be any retaliation." he said and I shook my head.
"The fact that you did it is the reason I have to move back out." I stated. He shook his head, eyes showing even more confusion.
"I had to take care of business, he had to die!" he said loudly and I nodded curling my fingers together and placing them to my lips.
"I know, but it doesn't change the fact, I cannot be here." I said. He shrugged.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because I cannot witness you, or any other person I sell weapons to, committing a crime, ever. It's bad for business." I said. His jaw clenched now and he looked away lightly tapping his fist against his thigh.
"You know I'm getting real sick and tired of everything we do together being tied back to work." he said pointing at me. I raised my head some and frowned.
"You? Vincent, we didn't meet under normal circumstances. I wish we had, but we didn't." I said.
"Yeah and so now everything we do is going to be related to business? Yara that's not the kind of relationship I want. You haven't even tried to keep your work life separated from us!" he snapped. The anger boiled over. I got out of bed and walked to the end standing in front of him.
"Vincent… I am not the head of a crime syndicate. I have to play by the rules of my job. You do not! You get to snap your fingers and have things your way. I don't! When things go south for me I have to fix it! When our relationship puts me in danger, I have to fight my way out of it. Not you!" I screamed poking him in the chest before facing away from him covering my face from the stress.
"What the fuck are you talking about!" he screamed. I paused now and looked down for a second catching my breath. I finally looked back at him.
"When I came into Bamonte's in a different outfit… it was because something happened." I said. He raised his arms in stress.
"What happened?" he asked. I bit my lip looking at the door for a second.
"The client who called me in… knew about you and I. He knew that you were a client and that we were together." I said. His eyes slowly darkened as he stepped closer to me.
"Cosa è successo?" he asked. (What happened?). I crossed my arms some.
"He felt I was cheating him out of deals because of you. Long story short he tried to hurt me, but I handled it and he's dead now." I replied quickly his face darkening.
"Clay was there." he assumed. I nodded.
"He killed all of them and we burned their building to the ground." I said walking up to him now, arms crossed my frown lighter. "Vincent, you don't to play by the rules because you make the rules. I don't have that luxury. It's considered bad taste to date your client for obvious reasons in my position. If other clients see us together too much it will all go back to Red Lake and my company would not be happy." He looked away before nodding slowly before moving to take my hands in his own.
"Alright. I'm sorry. You're right, I wasn't thinking about how this could impact your job." he said pulling me into him. I leaned into his embrace.
"The things I do, I do because I don't want you hurt." I said kissing his chin. He placed is forehead to mine and massaged my face some. Immediately, I felt myself melting away.
"All this time I feel I got to protect you when really you've been protecting me and I've been way too proud to see it." he said. I looked at him lovingly now.
"You're the head of all of this, it's in your nature to protect the ones you love." I said.
"You're the one I love." he exclaimed, and I smiled leaning in to hug him.
"So we're cool?" I asked looking up at him and he nodded.
"Yeah we're good on one condition that wherever you move to that I know. Only me. Nobody else has to know." he said. I thought about his words for a moment before nodding leaning up to look at him.
"Okay." I replied, and we smiled warmly at each other before letting our lips meet each other's.
Two days passed and already I was out of Vincent's home and into The Golden Court Suites. I had the penthouse at the top, paid two year's worth of rent and with Clay's help I was moved in.
Now it was on to the hard part. Sitting at The White Lotus with Diego Jiménez. He was in a black suit with a red tie. His hair was combed neat. We were matching too. I wore an off the shoulder red dress with red lipstick and black heels. My hair was pinned up in a neat but, yet all I could think about is my place he had ruined.
"Yara, you are not drinking your wine." he mentioned. I nodded.
"Keen eye." I replied glancing over at the dance floor watching as many white people danced about. They were all rich and oblivious to the world around them. Diego smirked.
"Look, I know you are still upset over what happened-"
"Had I had been there; your men would have killed me." I interrupted looking at him now with a frown. He chuckled.
"Come on, they would not be stupid enough to kill the ambassador of New York." he said. But he knew he was not fooling anyone. We both knew better that any hired person could leave no witness.
"They'd be stupid enough to try." I said venomously and he nodded.
"Yara, it brings me pain to see such beautiful melanin skin frowning so. So you know what I'm going to do, I am going to make you happy, so happy you may just try and fuck me in the bathroom." he said. I arched a brow raising my hand out to him for the file, my red nail polish glistening beneath the ceiling lights.
"Guess we will see." I replied, and he smiled and placed a manila folder in my hand. I took it and leaned back into the chair and pulled the white piece of paper from it. Diego watched, smiling with arousal as I looked at the white piece of paper that contained potential buyers. And already, the first and only name at the top center of the page, made my eyes pop. I looked at Diego now.
"You're lying." I snapped, and he shook his head slowly.
"I do not lie." he said as I looked down at the name. Ujio Takahashi, a very popular and dangerous leader of the Yakuza and someone I have met before in my past. I inhaled some and place the page slowly down on the paper and looked at him.
"I am disappointed to know you kept your dealings with Japan a secret from Red Lake." I replied and Diego smirked.
"I felt it would be a good present for you. The ambassador of New York, gets a claim for introducing the Yakuza to Red Lake." he said before leaning back in his chair with a victorious sigh. "Besides, Takahashi seemed very interested to know you were running things here." I inhaled some before looking at the piece of paper and finally lifting it up and removing my phone from my purse to take a picture to send to my higher ups.
"You really did get around when you were young didn't you?" he asked and I glanced up at him.
"I had fun." I replied and he grinned.
"Yes and that fun played in your favor didn't it?" he purred.
"Did… Takahashi say he wanted to do business with Red Lake?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Yes. And he specifically said he wants to do business with you." he replied. In seconds, my phone was vibrating. Diego looked at it and silently went oooh. "That was fast." I looked at my phone finally picking up my glass of wine and placing it to my lips. I sipped it gently and lifted my phone.
Ortega
A contract with Japan would bring large business for Red Lake and guarantee a raise, with numerous benefits if you secure a contract with Ujio Takahashi. Do whatever it takes. You will be reimbursed for any inconveniences.
I couldn't help but stiffen. That meant whatever Ujio demanded I had to do no matter how crazy it was.
"So tell me Yara, are we good?" he asked. I put the phone down and looked at him and nodded once.
"We're good." I replied and he smiled leaning forward.
"A congratulatory kiss is in order I would say." he said. I scoffed.
"I don't think I want to taste a girl's pussy on your lips right now." I said and got up removing my purse and coat and heading out the door moving to meet Clay at my car. He was waiting in the parking lot, when I saw him. I had the file Diego gave me and Clay opened the door for me. Once we were both in, he drove us from the building. It was quiet and I knew Clay was secretly wanting to know what all happened. Even though I could have kept quiet, I couldn't keep in the dark.
"Ujio Takahashi." I merely replied. There was a ten second pause.
"This should be an interesting couple of weeks." he said.
