Chapter 12
Claudia walked over to the bar and picked up the decanter to top off her glass. "Would you like a drink?" She offered.
"No, thanks." Jason replied and positioned himself in the single chair on the left side of the room.
"Suit yourself." Claudia said as she picked up her glass and sat in the chair directly across from his. "Let's get started then. The Corinthos organization controls the majority of the shipping lanes and dock in Port Charles. The ones they don't control are the ones no wants due to their high visibility. The Zacchara's are requesting to use the shipping lanes to land their shipments six to eight a month. In return we will pay a nominal fee." She slid a piece of paper with a figure on it across the table that was between them.
Jason picked up the paper, looked at it and then crumbled it in his hands. "First, six or eight shipments is way too many. Your shipments on top of ours will draw to much attention from the police. Second, what type of shipments are you talking about? Sonny doesn't allow drugs to be shipped through his docks. And lastly, the nominal fee is way too low." He pinged the crumbled up piece of paper back across the table by flicking it with his finger..
"Fine, three to four shipments, and ten percent more. That is less shipments for more money. As for what we are shipping, that is none of your concern, but I will confirm that it is not drugs or drug related." Claudia sat back in her chair and sipped her drink as she waited for his response.
It was a reasonable proposal, Jason thought. It was more than likely the one she wanted any way. He could tell Claudia was playing him, asking for more than was reasonably possible so he would settle for what she wanted, but he was not going to make things that easy for her. "It's still not enough." He told her and then walked over to the bar, his back turned to her, "Either less shipments or more money." He told her. He could feel the air thicken in the room. Claudia did not like his proposal.
"More money? You have to be kiddin me? There is no way we are going to agree to more money or less shipments."
"We? I thought Johnny made the decisions when it came Zacchara organization. Maybe you should consult with your brother before you say no."
Claudia took offense to his jab. She placed her glass down hard on the table then stood. "And maybe you should stop acting like you have the authority to agree to anything. Sonny agreed to this meeting because you wanted it. He's just trying to appease you. He is not going to agree to any of these terms. It doesn't matter how much money I throw in his direction."
"I never said we agreed." Jason said.
"We?" Claudia said her head tilted to the side. "Maybe I'm not the only enforcer that doesn't know his place."
"I know my place." Jason said and then crossed the room to take her in his arms and kiss her long and hard. When they parted he had left her breathless. He took one step back. "It's you that has still to learn yours." He countered and then walked towards the door leaving a shocked and breathless Claudia standing in the room. When he reached the door he looked backed and said, "I'll run the terms by Sonny and be in touch." The fog began to clear from Claudia's head just as the door closed. Damn that man. He not only got the last word in, he also left her hot and bothered.