Back again with another update. Hope you enjoy! Happy writing and reading! -Sevy14
"Joseph." I greeted the man before me.
"Evening Jedediah." I say with a sight. "I-"
Cutting the man off verbally and with a look, "Joseph, your debts are quite large." I pause and watch as he nods. "You should really stop gambling." Again, I pause and he nods. "As soon as I wed your daughter you will run out of collateral... No one will pay for your wife's cunt."
"I know." I respond to the D.I. Shine, a sigh escaping my lips and I run a shaky hand through my greasy hair. "I know." I look at him for a moment before continuing. "How was she?" When D.I. Shine doesn't answer right away I continue. "She can be a bit... Bullish."
Quirking my eyebrow, "Bullish?" I question.
"My daughter she uh... She has a big mouth." I state looking away. "My wife's fault. She raised her thinking she could do and say as she pleases. It has been an issue at times." I stay my gaze from reaching his. Talking about Emmylyn with him makes me sick. The fact that I had to do this to her makes me ill. Even if she and I rarely spoke, she was still my child and did not deserve this. She deserved better than D.I. Shine for a husband.
"Ah..." I looked down the alleyway and then back to the man, whose shame was in full bloom. "She is sharp, just as you said Joseph. I'm sure we will figure it out." I say. "How was she upon leaving Chinatown? My sources state she was in quite the mood."
I look over at him through hooded eyes. A nod and clearing my throat. "I wouldn't say mood. Think flat out irate. If she had not just been told that she was betrothed to you, a Detective Inspector, I suspect she would have taken my head clean off and then my Wife's." At this D.I. Shine chuckles. "Really Jedediah," I leveled him with a stern gaze, "She went straight to her room and did not leave it, did not eat and refused to speak to my Wife when she went to check on her. She is extremely upset."
"And whose fault is that Joseph?" I counter, raising my eyebrows. "Surely you are not suggesting it is mine?"
Quickly shaking my head, averting my eyes and raising my hands, "No, no, no, no... The fault is all mine. I just-I... You should know what her reaction was as soon as she was away from you, that's all." I say, my voice shaky and full of air in the end.
"I see." I respond. "Well, your dear Emmylyn is surely justified in her anger. After all, she woke up with her world right as rain and in a matter of hours found that she was sold off to be the wife of the most feared Detective Inspector in the whole of London... That would tend to put one in a bad mood, do you not agree?" I watch as the broken man nods in agreement.
"Yes. Yes of course. She just... I wish she would just see how this is a good thing. How you are a good match for her. How lucky she is that you will even accept an offer like this." I state looking at him and then shake my head.
"In time she will, old pal, in time." I look about and then pull out my watch. "I'm off. Be sure to have your payment delivered to me." He nods. "Promptly Joseph! Just because your daughter is to be my wife does not mean you can slouch on your payments... I would hate to have to make the relationship more difficult at having to discipline you and yours for further failings."
I glance at Detective Inspector Shine, a tingle of anticipation and fear runs down my spine, "No of course. You will have it." He gives me a look and I throw my hands up again, "All of it. I swear."
"Good." I say and turn, with a whistle on my lips I make my way back towards the busy street and disappear among the throng of busy people, not bothering to look back at the waste of space that Joseph was.
Thanks for reading! - Sevy14
