Episode Thirteen
1182 Words
A few weeks later, in the evening, Delilah brought her Aunt Mary to the apartment.
Ruby and Helen were there to welcome her.
Ruby, always sweet, pecked Mary’s cheeks.
Mary didn’t seem to appreciate it much, though, and Delilah chuckled quietly to herself.
Delilah then introduced Helen, explaining, "This is Helen, my new worker at the café. She’s married and has a daughter."
Mary’s eyes widened slightly.
"Oh wow," she said, her tone flat, but polite.
Helen greeted her, and the conversation shifted naturally as they all settled in.
Later, when they were alone in Mary’s room, Delilah tucked her aunt into bed, still smoothing out the covers when Mary spoke. "I’m so happy to know you’re mingling with someone married. Unlike that Ruby."
Delilah smiled playfully. "Aunt, why do you dislike Ruby so much?"
Mary pursed her lips. "It’s not that I don’t like Ruby... She just seems like a bad influence on you. She smokes, she drinks, and she chases after married men."
Delilah laughed softly. "Geez, Aunt, lighten up. It’s just a few bad habits."
Mary raised an eyebrow. "A few?" she said, but then her expression softened. "Well, I don’t want to criticize her too much. I won’t say more."
Delilah smiled and leaned down to peck her aunt on the forehead.
As she moved to turn off the night lamp, Mary added, "You’re so busy taking care of me. When’s your poor husband getting some attention?"
Delilah blushed. "Auntie, you’re just trying to get rid of me, aren’t you?"
Mary smiled slyly. "No, I’m not."
Delilah teased, "Don’t worry, I can handle both you and my husband."
They exchanged a bit more playful banter before Delilah finally turned off the lamp. "Goodnight, Auntie."
"Goodnight," Mary replied softly.
Delilah walked to the door, gently closing it behind her.
---
Later that night, Delilah, Ruby, and Helen arrived at the café.
Helen positioned herself at the counter while Ruby and Delilah stood by the door.
A sleek, luxurious car pulled up beside them.
The driver got out and opened the passenger door.
A woman, dressed in expensive clothing and wearing a striking gold wristwatch, stepped out.
Delilah’s eyes caught on the wristwatch, and a wide smile spread across her face.
It was real gold!
Delilah and Ruby bowed their heads slightly in respect, a customary greeting for their clients.
This particular client had chosen to meet them at night, a time she was evidently more comfortable with.
The woman walked toward them, handing Delilah a business card. Delilah glanced at it, noting the logo of a female smoking and the words, Shh, I Tame Real Men.
She smiled—it was her own business card.
Straightening up, Delilah greeted her. "Welcome to Shh, I Tame Real Men, Mrs. Gaga."
Mrs. Gaga looked Delilah up and down, her eyes narrowing slightly at Delilah’s casual outfit—a blouse, skirt, and sneakers.
With a scoff, she asked, "Are you the one in charge?"
"Yes, I am," Delilah replied confidently.
Mrs. Gaga narrowed her eyes further, but Delilah gestured toward the interior of the café. "Please, come inside."
Gaga stepped in, but when her driver attempted to follow, Ruby stepped in front of him.
"You’re not allowed to walk inside," she said seductively.
The driver raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond, which disappointed Ruby.
She repeated, "You can’t go in," before walking back inside, shutting the door behind her.
Ruby joined Helen and anxiously sat down, waiting for the meeting to unfold.
Inside the hidden room at the back of the café, Delilah and Gaga sat at a large table.
Gaga placed the business card on the table, her eyes scanning the room.
She looked at the weapons displayed on the walls and said, "Well, I didn’t expect an inner room, considering how shabby your café looked."
Delilah bit back a sharp response, forcing a polite smile instead. "Appearances can be deceiving. We like to keep things discreet here."
Gaga gave a curt nod, still unimpressed. "A friend of mine introduced me to your website. I logged in and received this card."
Delilah leaned forward, intrigued. "And what brings you to us?"
Gaga took a deep breath before speaking, "I need someone eliminated."
Delilah’s curiosity was piqued.
She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "Who?"
"My husband," Gaga replied coldly.
Delilah raised an eyebrow but said nothing, quietly reaching for a box of tissues, sensing what was coming next.
Sure enough, moments later, Gaga broke down into tears, as Delilah had predicted.
Delilah slid the box of tissues across the table with a faux sympathetic expression, watching as Gaga wiped her tears away.
"He’s the chairman of Bayou Group," Gaga sobbed. "He’s been a terrible husband."
Delilah kept her expression soft, but her eyes darted once again to the golden wristwatch on Gaga’s wrist.
For a brief moment, she admired it before refocusing on the woman in front of her.
"He’s been cheating on me... with filthy women," Gaga continued through her sobs.
Gaga’s voice became more forceful as she spoke, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "And they’re not even as rich or as beautiful as I am. I had my lips done—Botox—just for him."
Delilah’s gaze briefly shifted to Gaga’s lips, only now noticing their exaggerated fullness.
She quickly suppressed a chuckle, keeping her expression neutral.
With a practiced tone of sympathy, Delilah said, "He’s truly terrible. A man like that doesn’t deserve you."
Gaga’s hands trembled slightly as she placed the tissue down on the table.
Her next words came out cold, sharp. "Because of this, I want him dead. His lungs and intestines... out on the floor."
Without missing a beat, Delilah opened her large black book. She began scribbling down Gaga’s words, her face calm as she wrote, lungs and intestines cut out.
Delilah looked up briefly. "What else?"
Gaga lowered the tissue, her face hardening. "The eyes. The ones he uses to gaze at those women... I want them gouged out too."
Delilah gave a small nod and added that to her notes, her pen gliding smoothly over the paper.
"Understood," she said, her voice steady.
Gaga leaned back, her breathing slowing as though she had unburdened herself. "That’s all. I want it done tonight."
Delilah smiled politely, her eyes gleaming with a mix of calculation and understanding.
"Consider it taken care of," she said softly, as if the request was nothing out of the ordinary.
She closed the book with a firm snap, sliding it off the table.
The sound echoed slightly in the room, but no one reacted.
Delilah stood up, gesturing toward the café's hidden exit. "We’ll begin immediately. You should leave now. I will contact you once it's... complete."
Gaga rose from her seat, smoothing down her luxurious dress as she regained her composure.
"I’ll be expecting results," she said firmly, casting one last glance at Delilah before walking out.
Delilah’s smile lingered as she watched the woman leave, her eyes once again falling on that golden wristwatch before the door closed behind her.
- Writer
