The Meeting #2
“Manwar,” Simo grumbled from behind him.
“Oh. Mr. Manwar. I am so sorry for what happened at your club. I mean, what we did.”
Manwar looked him up and down. “We shall see about that. Ari will be in shortly. Have Johnny wait in the conference room, if you will, Simo.”
With a nod, Simo nudged Johnny toward a tall door. He opened it and pointed to a soft leather chair in front of a beautiful, long and gracefully curving, glossy wood table.
When Johnny sat down, Deepa, the secretary, appeared and placed a glass of water on a napkin next to him. She held out a tray of fruit and cheese to him. “Sir, would you care for a snack while you wait?”
Johnny looked at Simo, who gave him a single nod. “Yes, please.”
Deepa set a small china plate down. Then, with a look at Johnny’s slim frame, she began to load as much food onto the small plate as it would hold. She handed him a napkin with a polite smile.
“Thank you, Miss.”
“You are most welcome.” With a nod, she disappeared out the door, closing it behind her.
Johnny looked down at the succulent cheeses, salami, and fruit and glanced up to Simo.
“You look like you haven’t eaten in days. Eat already.”
With as much calm as his near-starving belly would allow, he dug into the plate. Simo was about right, he thought, as he had been living on ramen noodles since he was released from the hospital.
As if on cue, as he wiped his mouth and hands, Ari Ascher entered the room through the opposite door. Johnny quickly stood up and brushed off his jacket, then met Ari’s eyes. He couldn’t tell much from them, but felt trepidation as Ari’s demeanor was all business.
“Please, Mr. Stone, have a seat,” Ari demanded as he sat down opposite Johnny.
“Yes, Mr. Ascher.” He looked at Simo, who sat at the end of the table, and eased back into the chair.
Johnny watched as Ari went through a sheaf of papers and scanned each one, ignoring him completely. He desperately wanted to apologize, but sat quietly waiting.
Suddenly, Ari was staring at him with a cold, calculating look. Johnny tried his best to meet those fierce eyes, but couldn’t. His own eyes eventually found their way down to stare at his hands on the table.
“So… Halo Raines has you over the proverbial barrel.”
Johnny looked up. “Yes, sir, she does.”
“What do you think about that?”
Johnny involuntarily shrugged and replied in a quiet voice, “Sir, it’s better than being in prison… waiting to be shanked again.”
Ari nodded. “You look as if you wish to say something.”
Johnny nodded slowly and swallowed hard.
“I want to apologize to you and Mrs. Ascher… for Elara. I shouldn’t have left her alone…
I—I know it doesn’t mean much, but in that short time…
” He looked down and again swallowed hard, then met Ari’s eyes.
“She mattered to me… we—we didn’t do anything.
She meant more than—than that.” He swallowed hard again and stared down at his hands.
“Do not think your apology absolves you of your guilt, Mr. Stone. I was taught that when you are out with a woman or a guest of yours… she or they are your utmost responsibility. I expect that of every man.” Ari watched him as Johnny nodded solemnly.
“Apparently, the terms of your release indicate that you must find gainful employment. How goes that?”
“Not good, sir. I have been turned down for everything from a barista to a dishwasher… everyone recognizes me.”
“How much can I trust you, Mr. Stone?”
“Uh, wha… I mean, excuse me?”
“I do not care to repeat myself. You heard what I asked.”
Johnny glanced at Simo. “I guess with my life?”
“You guess, with your life?” Ari asked with disdain.
“I’m sorry, sir. It wasn’t a question I was expecting to hear. I mean to say that my life is in your hands—I know who Mr. Simo is. If you are asking me to keep a secret… I can do that. I don’t know what else you could mean.”
“Better,” Ari quipped. “Halo Raines gave me the go-ahead to look into hiring you…”
“What? Why would you do that?”
Ari began chuckling. “Because I do have your life in my hands, Mr. Stone.”
Johnny swallowed hard and watched Simo nod once. He kept quiet and waited.
“Hmm… dishwasher?”
“Excuse me, sir? I—I mean, yes. I applied for a few of those. Denny’s…”
“Quiet, Mr. Stone,” Ari demanded.
Johnny quickly shut his mouth with an audible click.
“Rather than have you as a production assistant in my production company… I am going to offer you a test of sorts, Mr. Stone.”
Johnny blinked a few times and nodded.
“You will start at Club Aurae tomorrow night. You will work in the kitchen first. When you prove yourself, you will move to working behind the bar. Then, if you continue to prove yourself, you will work the floor as a host and what your new boss is calling a Sentinel.”
“Thank you, sir. I so appreciate this. May I ask what a Sentinel is?”
Simo spoke up. “It’s a spy. You will greet guests and chat with them throughout the clubs Ari owns.
Get information and give information. You will learn who is who and who is important or not.
” He gave Johnny a glare. “Not just with the women, either. You will watch and listen for transactions involving drug dealing, gun running, or any type of criminal activity. Jessie will be training you… if you make it. You will not date or sleep with any guests of the club unless I or Jessie say it is OK… in fact, we may ask you to take a guest to bed. How are you with this?”
“Uh… I, well?”
“Spit it out, Stone,” Simo commanded.
Johnny sighed. “I—I’m not into men… I don’t think I can.”
Simo chuckled. “It’s ok, Stone, I’m just fucking with you. We aren’t pimps.”
Johnny sighed with relief. “I think I understand what you need. I think I could do that. Can I ask who Jessie is?”
Then, out of the blue, a sexy voice purred from behind him. He spun around and saw a stunning, tall redhead pouting her lips at him. “Why, Johnny Stone, you look like someone walked over your grave… you don’t remember me?”
Johnny’s mouth fell open and he pointed at her. “Jessie? You—you work for Simo?”
“That I do, and I am your boss. Though you will keep your mouth shut about it. Got it?”
“Uh, yes, ma'am…”
“It’s just Jessie, Stone,” she purred.