Chapter 7
Leeson
Winry took one look at Leeson, and knew things were going to be difficult.
Leeson was James's business partner, and up to now had been a fairly silent one. But since James's death, he had taken on a more active role. Specifically, managing The Songbird.
Frankly, Winry wondered if she'd ever met a more detestable man. How the kind, easy-going James had ever tolerated this man was something she just couldn't fathom.
Leeson was handsome, considerably so, but Winry had never the type concerned with looks. She was more concerned with the way 'slimeball' practically oozed off him. He was sleezy, disrespectful, and at times, downright rude. When they'd first been introduced at her table, Winry had practically felt the man's stare crawling across her skin, like she was a horse and he was appraising the market value.
It wasn't a feeling she liked. And Leeson wasn't a man she liked. Something about him tugged at her memory, a dim recollection of a man she'd spoken to after her ordeal with Barry the Chopper...someone called Archer...?
oooooooo
"They call you 'The Virgin', right?" Leeson said, leaning over Winry's shoulder as she began setting up the table.
Winry nodded jerkily, trying to control the urge to elbow him in the gut until her personal space was restored.
"So...are you really?"
"Really what?"
"A virgin."
Winry went completely stiff. For a moment, she was certain that she'd misheard.
'I knew he was a jerk, but there comes a limit!'
The half-smirk, half-leer on his face told her she hadn't misheard.
Her first impulse manifested itself in a wild scream inside her head. 'I don't care if he's the boss – I'm decking him right now!'
Swiftly followed by the more moderate urge to tell him to go fuck himself. Winry went with the third option.
"Frankly, that's none of your business."
"Well, they do say knowing personal things about your employees makes the going a lot...smoother."
Winry's eyes narrowed, but not once did she turn to face him.
She was wondering how to get out of this situation without dealing out insults or bodily injury, when Roy saved her by calling Leeson away.
Liza was beside her in a moment. "I saw what he was trying...told Roy to get his attention before you decided to show him what a mistake he was making."
"I was keeping it under control, wasn't I?" Winry countered.
"Exactly how close were you to laying him flat on his back?" Liza asked pointedly.
"Thirty seconds, at least," Winry said loftily, as though thirty seconds was more than enough.
"Look, Winry," Liza turned serious. "I'm a married woman, and that means he leaves me alone. But you..."
"Me...?"
"Just don't ever find yourself alone with him, that's all I'm saying."
Winry snorted. "Let him try something – I've laid better men than him on their asses."
"I'd believe that," Liza laughed.
"Besides, I know how to take care of myself," Winry said, one hand unconsciously caressing the thin scar on her cheek.
oooooooo
But Winry did try to take Liza's advice. She avoided Leeson whenever possible, and when she had to speak to him, she was short and to the point, almost brusque. She made sure there was always someone else in the room with them, and never took him up on his offer of a more 'private' discussion.
It rankled that she had to do this, had to alter her behaviour to avoid him. At first, she was all in favour of simply telling him his attentions weren't wanted and to piss off. But Liza had told her that such an action could cost Winry her job. In the dynamic of the man running a profitable business and the female employee, Leeson had all the power.
Another lesson in how different this world was from Amestris.
So all of Leeson's subtle and not-so subtle advances were ignored, instead of outright rebuffed. But Winry knew it was only a matter of time before he became even more insistent.
oooooooo
Winry rifled through the spare decks of cards on the top shelf, searching for the one that was hers alone. The soft creak of the door didn't surprise her, and she laughed as she turned around.
"Out of alcohol already, Liza? Must be some heavy drinkers out there today."
Except it wasn't Liza leaning against the doorframe. It was Leeson.
Fear bubbled up in the back of Winry's throat. Not so much fear for herself, but definitely fear for her job. This situation was going to get really ugly, really fast.
Deciding the best option was not to bait him, Winry tried to walk past him. He grabbed her arm as she passed, and Winry had to consciously restrain the desire to break his fingers.
'Remember what Liza said. He's the boss – minimize any behaviour that will piss him off.'
She opened her mouth to demand he let go of her, but he spoke first.
"It's a shame...you know you could do so much better than being a card dealer don't you?"
Winry's eyes narrowed. "That may be so, but I have no particular desire to find a new job. Now let me go and do the one I currently have."
But Leeson was not so easily discouraged. "I could arrange for such things, as long as-"
"I'll ask you not to finish that sentence."
Leeson's good mood was fast disappearing. "Look, girl, I pay your wages-"
"And that entitles you to the service of a card dealer, not a mistress!" Winry spat.
Leeson's lip curled. "You have two choices, girl. Either you do as I say, or you're fired on the spot."
Realising she was going to be out of a job either way, Winry decided she might as well go for broke.
So she smashed her clenched fist into the center of his face.
Leeson screamed, releasing her as both hands came up to cradle a nose Winry was fairly certain she'd broken. Blood dribbled down his chin.
Winry strode from the storeroom, never once looking back.
'Why is it I'm always the one who has to hit these jerks?'
But now she had a very desperate problem. She was out of a job.
