Forbidden Attraction

The Boss

“Last call for bets boys.” Gentlemen in nice suits stand around a table as numbers are being called out by a mustachioed man in a red vest. Some of the men looked pleased with what they hear, others not so much.

Cigar smoke fills the nicely decorated room along with different shouts of excitement and disappointment. Men of various ages, all with wealthy lifestyles and addictive personalities, stand around half a dozen gambling tables. Some of them are lucky enough to have a cute little gold digger at their side while others have their jewel covered golden oldies, the woman that put up with them all those years. One old lady rolls her eyes at a buxom young harlot who is using her big red lips to blow on a pair of dice for good luck.

A sexy waitress in a black dress walks around offering drinks, cigars, and cigarettes on a tray. She knows how to handle these types of men, she gets her tip without leading them on. Business is the name of her game. There is a bar in the back used to handle different financial aspects of this gambling side-business. The actual nightclub itself works as more of a front, so money can be laundered in without drawing attention. Standing behind the bar is an accountant with glasses, a bar tender making a drink, and the owner.

“Business is boomin’ tonight boys. Keep up the good work and we’ll all have a fat stack with our names on them. Ya hear?” The bartender pours three shots to celebrate. They’re gone as quickly as they were poured.

The owner is handsome thirty year old, Benjamin Edwards. Though his facial features give him a youthful appearance, his street smarts far surpass his actual age. He is as dangerous and cunning as he is handsome and charming, which seems to have attributed to his current success. You can tell he is well built just by looking at him. Even in his expensive black Italian suit the span of his shoulders is quite intimidating and his arms are huge. The only other guy in the room that could measure up to him is the security guard keeping tabs on the door.

***

My hand instinctively goes through my wavy dark brown hair to keep it out of my eyes. I am glad at least the sides are trimmed, but maybe I should have taken a bit more off of the top this time. When I am finished counting the evening profits so far, I scan the room to check for any signs of trouble. Everything seems to be under control. Even Easy Joe O’Malley is behaving himself this evening. You never know with him. If he weren’t a friend of a friend, I wouldn’t let him in here at all. There has been a time or two where he has been as drunk as a skunk, trying to get in a fight with everyone he bumps into. We have learned to limit the number of drinks he has.

Okay, only a couple more meetings here at the club and then one more uptown. It has been a while since I have gone up that way. It isn’t something I plan on doing again either. After that, I will be officially off the clock for the night. I might actually get more than a few hours of sleep.

Every penny counts and each day I get that much closer to getting out. Soon I will be working from home in the top floor penthouse of my own hotel. Living on high like a king. Getting some respect by making honest dough for the first time in my life. It is a shame I will have to enjoy it alone for now while things aren’t working out between me and Frankie. No matter what I say I can not get her to change her mind about things. It does not make a difference. No distractions are going to keep me from my goal.

As I enter the club from the back, I start looking around for my business partner, Andrew Cash. We have a meeting soon. It is packed in here tonight. Before I can locate him, I am caught off guard by the club‘s lead singer, Kitty Kanipe. Her big blonde curls bounce as she practically jumps onto my arm. She has gotten a bit too comfortable with me ever since we kissed on New Year’s Eve. The very next day I had tried to make it clear to her that I was not interested in a romantic relationship. Our kiss at midnight was no more than a silly social custom. That conversation did not seem to phase her at all because that was a week and a half ago and she is still coming on strong.

In fact the only reason she is still employed here at all is because I have yet to find her replacement. It isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Too many women come in here looking to be put on that stage with little to no talent and expect to become a star overnight. Kitty is easy on the eyes and already had experience and fans when we hired her for the job as the club’s singer. At the time we really needed her to bring attention to the Moonlight.

“Benny, when are we gonna pick up where we left off? I feel like you’ve been givin’ me the cold shoulder.” Her high-pitched city accent strikes a nerve. On a busy night like this, it is enough to give me an instant headache. She runs her ring covered fingers down the lapel of my suit. “Don’t ya know how happy I could make ya?”

Word gets around. Kitty has made quite a few men in this town very happy..as long as their pockets were deep enough. Looking for a Sugar Daddy. Seems to be a common trait amongst women these days or so I hear. That isn’t exactly my problem. My woman was more stubborn than anything. I need to get Frankie out of my head. I can’t focus while Kitty is throwing herself at me.

“Kitty, we are not going to have this conversation right now. I need you to focus on tonight’s performance.” Where in the hell is Drew? “Why don’t you go to your dressing room and get ready, huh?”

It looks like she is about to pout before she suddenly squints her eyes at me and smiles as if she knows something I don’t.

“Playin’ hard to get are ya? Okay! If that’s what you like.” With that being said, she turns and bounces off. That broad is nearly impossible.

As if he had been waiting for his cue, Drew is finally in sight and making his way towards me through the crowd. I meet him at the bar on the side of the entrance so we can keep an eye out for our interviewer.

“Whoa, it’s packed in here tonight!” He has a mocking look on his face when he says, “You poor thing! I know you’re gonna miss Kitty when she’s gone.” Followed by a laugh.

That jackass. He was probably standing in a corner, enjoying the sight of me struggling helpless with Kitty. In truth, I know he was a little sore that she was pining for me instead of him. He is a real ace when it comes to business, but it is not my fault he goes doll dizzy over every broad that walks in here and this one happened to choose me. I would give her to him in a heartbeat if I could. I can’t seem to shake her.

I pull back my sleeve to check the time. The plan is to have the interview while Kitty is on stage. We could hire anyone at this point. If the broad is pretty and can sing at all I am willing to give her the job. All at once I will have Kitty and Drew off of my back. And you know what, maybe the girls could manage without a lead singer for a while if we have to. We have been through worse.

“Drew, don’t tell me you forgot. We haven’t decided who the lucky man is that gets to break the news to her. Should we flip a coin?” It is my turn to laugh now. He always loses the coin toss. It makes him madder than hell.

Drew reaches into the pants pocket of his beige colored suit and pulls out a shiny new quarter. He holds it up between his index and middle finger casually.

“Sure, but I get to flip it this time.”