Chapter Three - The Job Offer
The last two weeks had been great for me.
I paid off all the back rent and three months of future rent just to ensure this shit didn't happen again. All the other bills had also been cleared and I'd taken great personal pleasure in writing the $23,000 check to the hospital collection agency along with a letter telling them they could finally stop harassing us with phone calls and final notices.
My poor mother was completely baffled and demanded to know where this sudden windfall had come from. I knew she'd tan my hide if she ever discovered the truth, so I told her I'd gotten a job through an old college friend and the extra money had been a signing bonus. I didn't think she really believed me, insightful as she was, but I supposed she was simply too tired and too thankful to really question it, and for that, I was enormously grateful.
Seth, by comparison, didn't seem to care where the cash had come from, only that we had it. I'd never seen such joy then when I'd taken him shopping and he got to pick out anything he wanted. He hadn't been spoiled this way in years, but it was more than that. He'd been getting a lot of crap in school for wearing scruffy, torn, hand-me-down clothes and it had even gotten to the point where the bullying had turned physical. And so he practically skipped around the mall, choosing everything he fancied, from new trainers to art supplies. I could only be happy that he was so happy.
But despite all the gifts for mum and Seth, I hadn't bought a single thing for myself. I'd considered it. Maybe buying a new (used) car to replace the rusty old death trap Emmett had given me, splurging on a new camera, or even buying back the iPhone I'd had to sell to cover the bills one month. But, in the end, I just... couldn't.
Two people had paid with their lives to provide that money for us, and I'd burn myself alive before burdening my mother or Seth with that fact. So I carried the guilt alone. I kept the crappy car and shitty little flip phone. And kept waiting for the vacation to be over, and the call to finally get back to work. Funnily enough, though, no call had come.
Emmett had told me to take a few days, but it had been weeks since that hectic night and barring a text stating the pub 'incident' had been 'taken care of', I hadn't heard a single thing.
And I was both worried and grateful for that. Grateful, because any extra time I had to spend with my family - my sick mother, in particular - was a blessing. And worried because... well, all this silence just felt a little too... suspicious. Like the calm before the storm.
It was late March, and the fog shrouding the city apparently decided it wasn't letting up anytime soon. I was on my way to a local pizza place to pick up some dinner for Seth and I (since mum was strictly on a mush and medicine diet) when the phone finally rang. Not wanting to risk getting a ticket, I let it ring out as I pulled up to the curb. The second the generic music faded out, it blasted right back again, and I fumbled through pocketfuls of loose change and sticks of gum before finding the little flip phone. Opening it up, I immediately tensed at the caller I.D.
"Edward? You there?" Emmett's rough voice cracked through the crappy speaker.
"Yeah, yeah mate, I'm here. Sorry, I was on the road." I told him as though begging for leniency. The last conversation we had was still branded in my mind, and the absolute last thing I wanted was for him to think I was avoiding him.
"Boss wants to see you."
I almost dropped the phone.
"W-what?" I stuttered, completely taken aback. Half a month of silence and now... this?
"Bose wants to see you," He repeated sternly. "Now."
"B-but... why?" I asked, dumbfounded. Why would the boss want to see me? What had I done? Was he angry? Did he want to hurt me? Did he want his money back? A thousand grisly scenarios ran rampant and I had to fight the urge to vomit right there on the frayed car carpet.
"That's not something I can discuss with you, Edward. He wants to meet with you, in person, right now. How far away are you?"
I stared at the phone in complete disbelief. Why was he acting like this? It was like he was explaining something painfully simple to a particularly dense child, when all I wanted to know was why a crime lord wanted to speak to me!
"I-I'm about thirty minutes away. I'll get-"
"Good. See you soon." And the line went dead.
What the fu-?!
I must have sat there for an entire minute, simply gaping, before realizing with a start exactly what I'd just promised. I revved up that car so fast I swear the damn thing moaned.
I sped towards the estate as fast as I possibly could, only just remembering to call Seth and tell him I'd be late due to a 'work emergency'. Emergency seemed exactly the right word as even more horrid possibilities began playing like a gruesome horror movie behind my eyelids, making me question exactly how sane I was to be driving towards such an obvious threat.
But I had no choice, did I? There would never really be a choice again.
Finally, I arrived, passing through every security check and suspicious-looking guard with barely concealed impatience. I wasn't allowed to park right up to the entrance like Emmett was, so had to take the long way round to a large, pristine parking area filled with all sorts of cleaner, better-looking vehicles. I felt my inferiority complex flair up, especially since I was well aware every single guy in this place looked like they belonged here.
I... I did not.
Despite his curt tone over the phone, I sighed in relief when I saw Emmett. Practically running to him, I didn't even have time to open my mouth.
"He's waiting for you in his office. Come, I'll take you up there." And he turned away from me.
"Emmett, what's going on? What does the boss want with me? I'm not in any trouble, am I?"
He didn't even look at me, and I couldn't help but feel hurt as I hurried to match his brisk pace. I was shocked at how cold he was behaving. He'd never acted like this around me before. It was like I was a valet and he was a trillion-dollar man who'd just smacked me in the face with the keys to his brand new Rolls Royce. I wanted to question him, but I knew from past warnings that the boss had eyes and ears everywhere, and the last thing I wanted to appear was weak.
So we stayed silent. Through a side entrance, down a hallway, inside a massive elevator, through another richly decorated corridor, and finally to a set of intricately carved double doors, two stone-faced burly men in suits standing either side, not acknowledging me at all and giving but a single respectful nod to Emmett.
I felt my hands begin to shake and my palms start to sweat. What's going to happen to me? Will I even make it out of that office alive?
"Boss is in there. Don't ask too many questions, don't deny anything he offers you and don't show any fear. Just be honest and respectful."
"Emmett," I began, about to unleash a slew of questions, but he merely rapped on the door thrice, then walked right by me as though I didn't exist.
"Enter."
Shit!
Frantically trying to make myself presentable, I patted at my wild hair and wiped my palms on my scruffy jeans. But it was a useless endeavour, made all the more clear by the amused smirks of the arrogant guards. I wasn't ready, but I was out of time. So I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and walked right in.
His office was as grand as I imagined it would be. Curved, grey walls covered with rare art and expensive books. Huge floor to ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the ample gardens. Finely polished dark wood floor covered with multiple (real?) fur rugs. A cosy sitting area took up most of the right of the room, with comfy leather chairs positioned around an impressive brick and metal fireplace, and to the left an extensive, and no doubt expensive, collection of wines displayed in a sleek cooler built right into the wall. Everything about it screamed 'masculine.' And dead centre to the door, behind a massive sophisticated rich-mans desk; sat the boss, with the girl from that night on his lap.
Fuck. This isn't going to be good.
I believed that, during the last two weeks where I'd finally managed to scrape some stability after years of a hectic downward spiral, I'd somehow managed to banish all thoughts of this girl, and what I'd done to her, from my mind. I was happy. They were happy. We could breathe again, and I couldn't help but feel that their happiness was worth the price that had been paid. At least, that was what I told myself.
I could live with it, I told myself, as long as I never had to see her again.
And now she was right in front of me.
"Come, boy. Sit." Came the order. Not an unkind one, but I would have prefered to stay standing near the only visible exit. I would also, of course, been an absolute fool to say so.
On wobbly legs, I hurried towards one of the squishy armchairs positioned opposite the powerful man, taking barely a moment to acknowledge just how comfortable it was. Of course. Far be it from a person like this to spare any expense on anything. If his fortress wasn't enough proof of that, you had only look at the man to know that, no matter who you were, you weren't worthy of his time.
I felt like a servant facing a king.
"Emmett has told me quite a bit about you, Edward." He began inconspicuously. I shuffled nervously. "I trust Emmett with my life, so when he told me he'd recruited you on his own, and was even funding your training on his own dime, I was rather intrigued. He doesn't do this for just anyone, you see?"
I nodded in a daze, confusion and fear making me forget all other social necessities. Did he call me here just to talk about Emmett? Was he acting calm to lull me into a false sense of security? He didn't appear angry, but he still terrified me. This was the man who made other men cower. This was the man immortalized in the fearful whispers of his workers. This was the man feared and revered by every soldier in this underground army.
This was the man currently eyeing me disapprovingly. I panicked.
"Y-Yes sir, Emmett... Emmett has been great. I... I owe him everything."
I internally winced at how frightened I sounded. Luckily for me, he only nodded, "Well, I believe it's safe to say that his investment has paid off. You brought my Isabella back to me, and I wished to express my gratitude."
It was at this point my attention was (rather reluctantly) brought back to the girl. She was wearing a simple day dress that accentuated her soft curves and ended just above her knees. Her long brunette hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose ringlets and her pale, porcelain face was clean of any dust and grime she must have picked up while sitting in that deadbeat bar. She looked far more put together than last time. But she did not look happy.
He was holding her tightly to his chest, one muscular arm wrapped firmly around her waist while the other caressed the exposed skin of her legs. She didn't react, glaring daggers at the floor, clearly as reluctant to be here as I was. She looked nothing like the cheerful, laughing girl I'd met that night, and I couldn't suppress the stab of remorse at having snatched that contentment from her.
Contrarily, the intimidating man seemed quite content just the way she was. Placing his lips to her ear, he gave it a sharp nip. "What do you say to the nice young man?"
She shook her head vehemently, her whole body seeming to draw away as though wanting nothing more than to be out of his grasp. Dark orbs narrowed, and every genteel feature flashed with sudden overpowering danger.
Oh god.
"Bella," He growled, so harshly I recoiled. "Say 'thank you' to Edward for bringing you back to me."
Once again, the girl refused, mouth twisting in a disgusted sneer. He did not appreciate her disobedience.
I watched with morbid fascination as his arm visibly tightened. She gasped; a choked, suffocating cry of pain releasing from her lips as she squirmed futilely against the man's brutal hold. A savage wave of self-loathing crashed over me as I sat frozen in dumb shock. Even now, this tiny thing had enough bravery to defy him, while all I could do was sit here and watch. And here I thought I couldn't possibly be any more pathetic. Apparently, there were always new lows.
"Now!"
After a few more excruciating moments, she whimpered in defeat. A single tear rolled down the girl's cheek as she slumped in his grasp and glared at me with overwhelming disdain.
"Thank you for bringing me back to Mr Black."
I'd never heard such insincere gratitude in all my life.
She wheezed as his arm relaxed, panting like she'd never breathed a day in her life. And despite her obvious agony, he smiled like an indulgent owner of a particularly naughty pet.
"Good girl." He purred. She cringed.
"Now, on to why I called you here," The change was so abrupt it practically gave me whiplash. I had no clue what I just witnessed, but, clearly, this man was far more unhinged than I ever could have anticipated. With that in mind, I gave him my full attention. Best not to poke the psychotic bear.
"Emmett has informed me of your training progress. You're quite the sharpshooter, according to him. Is that correct?"
I couldn't help the sliver of pride I felt at Emmett's praise. The first time I'd ever touched a gun was when he put one in my hand. He'd brought me to the gun range down in the basement - the first and only time I'd ever been here - and set me to work. I'd expected to be shit, as I was at most things, but I managed to hit every target he put in front of me. I was terrible at long-distance shooting, of course, but when it came to close range, I was not only surprisingly accurate but pretty damn fast. He let me keep the handgun I'd practised with, as a memento of what I'd achieved, but I still hadn't replaced it after losing it on the highway.
"Well, you'll need to know far more than how to shoot a gun if you're going to survive in this business, but I have every faith in Emmett's judgement, and if he says you're trustworthy, then I have no reservations offering you this job."
"J-job, sir?"
"My little Isabella here requires a new guard. Due to some... complications, I had to terminate her old one. I need someone trustworthy and skilled to watch her while I can't, and as you've clearly proven your loyalty, both to Emmett and to myself, I can think of no one better to extend this opportunity."
What the fuck did I say to that?
This was why he called me here? He wanted me to... watch her? Be her guard? What happened to the old one? Obviously, he hadn't done his job very well, but what did he mean terminate?
No, Edward! You can't do this! You screw up once and you're dead! At least the job I had now afforded some leniency. It may have been low pay, dirty, physical labour, but my neck wasn't on the chopping block if I made a simple mistake! I had a feeling that one 'mistake' around this girl would end with a bullet in my head. If I was lucky.
Remember what Emmett said; don't refuse anything he offers you? How am I supposed to say 'no'?
"Th-thank you for the opportunity, s-sir, but I-"
"That hundred thousand you received from me, you've put it to good use, have you not?" I shivered at his cold interruption.
"Y-yes, sir. I... I can't thank you enough for providing me with that money-"
"And your mother? She must be feeling so much better now that her hospital bills are no longer a burden on you and your brother, yes?"
I went rigid. Emmett's advice to 'show no fear' tossed completely out the window. Fuck, he knew about mum and Seth? What else did he know?
"Yes. She's... she's much better." He grinned slyly.
"They are so important: family. A real man would do anything in his power to protect his family. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes," I answered weakly. The threat in his tone was indisputable.
"Good, Edward, I'm glad we see eye to eye. I'm also glad you've used that money to support your family, rather than squander it on worthless trinkets for yourself. Such selflessness is a good show of character."
"Thank you, sir," I forced myself to reply. He smiled again, showing all his pearly white teeth. I was beginning to think this man only smiled when he knew he'd successfully caught someone in his trap.
"I love family men, Edward. All my highest ranking soldiers are family men. Do you know why I love family men, Edward?"
I shook my head, throat too dry to form words.
"Because family men are men with the most to lose. They would do anything to protect their loved ones, and that is the kind of loyalty I relish in my organisation. You, Edward, you're a family man. You would never do anything to risk their lives, would you?"
I really didn't like where this was going.
"Well, Edward, let me tell you, that while watching over my Isabella may be... challenging, at times, It is extremely rewarding. You will be paid a much higher salary, be provided with considerably better accommodations with far superior security for you and your family. Your little brother will be guaranteed a stellar letter of recommendation for any college of his choosing, and your mother would receive the best medical care available to help her manage her unfortunate illness. All of this, I can provide. And all I ask in return, Mr Cullen, is that you keep my little one safe. Safe, and close to me." He leaned down and kissed the delicate skin of her neck. I'd almost forgotten she was there.
His promises, they were so seductive, like the lure of a siren. Ever since my father died I hadn't been able to think about the future, barely managing to survive day by day. The thought of moving out of that crappy apartment in that run-down neighbourhood where mum was too afraid to go outside. The thought of providing Seth with his choice of college, knowing just how high he'd soar with a proper education. The thought of never having to agonise over money or bills or where the next paycheck was coming from again. It was all... too much.
How did I go from a grunt at the bottom of the food chain to being offered a job that would propel me up the ranks?
Then abruptly, I shivered. I remembered wondering exactly what a man like him wanted with a girl like her. And... watching him now, how tightly he held her, how freely he touched her, that possessive hungry gleam in his eyes. Well... now you know.
The question was... could I live with it?
For them.
"I accept."
AAA
I didn't remember how I got back to my car, buzzing hornets building nests in my head.
What have I done?
You made a deal with the devil, that's what you've done.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when the passenger-side door swung open.
"Emmett? What are you-?"
"Don't say anything. Just drive." He ordered, manoeuvring his ginormous body into the tiny seat, his knees squished against the dashboard and his neck curving at the roof of the car. I did as he commanded, and drove.
He didn't say a word as I made my way to the pizza place, barely remembering having promised Seth dinner, the conversation feeling like a lifetime ago. He followed me silently as I headed inside, and it took everything in me not to demand answers then and there. Why had he been so closed off before? Why didn't he just tell me what was going on? I thought my life was in danger, and a single word from him could have put those fears to rest. But he'd chosen to act like an utter bastard and my cowardly self didn't even think I had the balls to confront him.
So I ignored him. Walking to the counter of the famous (at least for me) Bellissima Pizzeria, I greeted the pretty Italian girl behind the counter and quickly placed my order. My lumbering shadow scoffed.
"You have pineapple on your pizza? Ugh. What's wrong with you?" The hostess giggled.
Moving to sit at an empty table, I pursed my lips as Emmett slipped in opposite me. The place had a nice atmosphere. Rustic brick walls decorated with bright neon lighting and colourful mismatched furniture. Fairy lights shaped like chilli peppers hung from exposed metal pipes in the ceiling, and the smell of fresh pizza dough and melted cheese made my every orpheus sing with contentment. It was almost enough to forget the rather traumatizing afternoon I'd just experienced when Emmett had to open his big mouth.
"So you're ignoring me now?"
"What, like you did earlier?" I shot back quickly, not even caring how petulant I sounded.
He sighed annoyingly.
"Listen, Edward. I'm sorry I couldn't say much over the phone, but this isn't a game."
Still refusing to look at him, I kept my eyes firmly on my fingers, pretending to inspect my cracked, brittle nails. There was another loud sigh.
"I need to know what happened in that office."
"Can't you just ask your boss?" I retorted snidely. I near jumped out of my skin when his fist came down on the splintered wood.
"Dammit, Edward, this is serious! What happened?! Tell me now before I yank your scrawny ass out of this restaurant and beat it out of you." He hissed.
I'd never seen him so angry before. Normally, he was a pretty chill guy, only really serious during serious situations. But judging by the unbalanced look in his eye, I had no doubt he'd follow through on his threat if I pushed hard enough.
"He offered me a job," I told him simply. It was apparently not what he wanted to hear. Dragging his hairy hand down his scarred face, he leaned his forehead against his fist and muttered a quiet, "Fuck. I was afraid of this."
Afraid of what?
"I don't understand. I thought you'd be happy. Don't you always say you want me to rise in the ranks?" I questioned him, hurt and insulted by his obvious disapproval. He glared at me blandly.
"Yeah, I wanted you to rise in the ranks, Edward, but not like this. Any way but this!" He slumped back, shedding his jacket, and running his palms along the skin of his heavily tattooed muscular arms. I didn't think I'd ever seen this side of him before. He was normally so confident. So self-assured. Thinking there was something that made him nervous...
I plucked up the courage and just asked, "What's wrong with this job, Emmett? Do you know something I don't?"
"This isn't exactly a normal job, Edward. You're not just going to be spending your days following around some random girl. You're going to be actively keeping her prisoner. Making sure she doesn't escape, and reporting every failed attempt back to the boss despite the fact she'll probably be pleading with you not to."
"I can handle that," I defended half-heartedly.
The look he gave me let me know he knew I was full of shit.
"Yeah, that's exactly what he said."
He, who? I thought, confused. He looked around as though paranoid someone may be eavesdropping, before launching into an explanation, "The guy who had the job before you. His name was Eric and he was just like you, Edward. He was broke, and desperate for money. I brought him in. I trained him. I put myself on the line for him and he worked his way up to being one of her guards. He had one job. Don't let her escape. And he failed."
He looked so... disappointed. I knew there had to be more to this story.
"What happened? How did she end up with a plane ticket so close to the airport? He let her escape?"
Kissing the top of his teeth with his tongue, he released a defeated little laugh.
"He didn't just 'let' her escape, Edward. He helped her escape."
"He helped her?" I gasped incredulously. Who in the hell would be so fucking stupid?
"Uh-huh. Dumbass bought her a plane ticket, staged a fake kidnapping, planned the whole thing just to get her out of the country. If he'd been a little smarter about it we never would have known he was involved, even with you bringing her back. But the boss was watching like a hawk. He already suspected something was going on between those two, so when she went missing, he interrogated him. Didn't take him long to admit what he'd done, especially not with the boss goin' at him personally. But he still wouldn't tell us where she was. We didn't know she was getting on a plane, especially not in an airport so far out of the way. It seemed too obvious. We thought a train maybe, or a coach. Turns out obvious was exactly what he was going for."
He exhaled heavily, and I let him get his bearings despite the fact I was brimming with questions. Clearly, whatever happened, he had taken personally.
"Eric was with me a lot longer than you've been, Edward. And he betrayed me, and the boss. Now, he's going to live out the rest of his miserable life stuck in that dungeon, getting beaten and tortured every single fucking day until the boss has enough and finally just kills him. He even had me take a crack at him, just to prove I wasn't a part of it. He was one of my guys, and beating him brought me absolutely no pleasure, but disloyalty is not forgiven here."
"You really think I'd do what he did? Help her escape?" I hated how insecure I sounded, but I couldn't help it. He was the only one who'd ever given me a chance to prove myself. If he didn't believe in me, then... maybe I really was useless.
Emmett licked his bottom lip, his icy eyes never leaving my face.
"He made her watch too, you know."
What-?
"Boss, he made Bella watch. Watch, as the guy who tried to help her, had his legs broken with pipes while screaming for mercy. Watch every knife that went into his skin. Every tooth pulled. Every nail removed. Everything. Just so she would understand how far he was willing to go to keep her."
Disgust and nausea bubbled in my throat, threatened to burst all over the restaurant floor. The thought of that poor innocent girl exposed to such brutality...
"That's exactly why I don't want you doing this, Edward!" He practically yelled, causing several other diners to look over curiously. I ducked into the seat, not liking the attention. When he continued, it was in a much calmer tone.
"You're a good guy, Edward, and it's not exactly a bad thing, but good guys don't make great killers. You're too easy to read. You bare your emotions like a child. I'm worried about you going in there, and letting that girl get under your skin just like she did with Eric."
I didn't know what to think. 'Good guy' had never sounded like such an insult before. He was telling me I couldn't do this. That I wasn't capable. Maybe that was why he'd been silent for weeks. He finally realized I wasn't worth the effort.
"I don't know what you expect me to do," I muttered, disheartened. "If I'm such a 'good guy,' why did you recruit me in the first place?"
He seemed somewhat surprised by my question, or perhaps it was the accusation no doubt shining in my eyes. His answer, though, was honest and brutal.
"Because you were desperate."
I scrunched my face tightly. You will not cry in front of him! Not again!
"I'm still desperate," I whispered shamefully. "If it wasn't for that payout, we'd be eating out of dumpsters by now. And as great as the extra money has been... it won't last forever. I need this."
Imploringly, I begged, "Please tell me you won't try to sabotage me."
Again, it seemed I took him off guard, but I tried not to care about him in that moment. If he truly thought me incapable, he may simply refer someone else, someone qualified. I couldn't risk that.
It was ironic; I'd felt so pressured in that office, but now all the perks had been laid on the table... I couldn't walk away.
He groaned.
"I'm not gonna sabotage you, Edward! The boss has already said he wants you, and you'll find he can be quite stubborn once he's made up his mind. All I'm trying to do is warn you. That girl will do and say anything to make you sympathise with her. Eric isn't the first person caught trying to help her get away, but he was definitely the most successful. Even though she failed, it was by sheer dumb luck, and the boss knows it. He's anxious, and he wants someone he can trust, and since you're the one who brought her back, he asked for you. You're in this now, Edward, and the benefits may seem fantastic, but having such an important job has its downsides.
"You're going to be watched 24/7. Everything you do is going to be put under a microscope. And while I may not try to sabotage you, I can't say the same for everyone else. This job comes with a lot of money and a lot of freedom, and you bet your ass there are guys who've been working for years for this kind of opportunity. I just want to make you aware... keep your eyes and ears wide open. Because if you fail, the consequences... I don't want you to end up like Eric."
It took a moment to digest everything he'd said before realization struck. He really did care about me. And more than just how a mentor cares for their student. He didn't want me getting hurt. I saw it now. The reason he'd been so cold with me earlier was because he didn't want to lose me. He was scared for me.
I wanted to express just how grateful I was, to have someone like him looking over my shoulder, when-
"Ciao, order number 24? Two Hawaiian?"
Emmett launched up immediately, as though well aware I was about to get sappy, and seemingly desperate to avoid it. He arched to the ceiling and stretched his whole body like a cat in the sun. I caught the waiter staring in awe and couldn't help my first smile in hours.
With two boxes in hand, I headed straight for my car. I was saying my goodbyes when Emmett poked his head through the passenger side window.
"Come to the mansion early tomorrow morning, Edward. We're going to have to up your training. If you're gonna be protecting the boss's girl, you're gonna need to know a lot more than how to shoot a gun. Oh, and get ready for a lifestyle change as well. New house, clothes, car. It's all gonna change."
His final words in my ear, I drove home, feeling as though I was driving towards my new life.
