"We produced two hundred and fifty thousand pounds of nails, three days ago," I purred as I stared at the stock keeper.
He shifted uncomfortably and licked his lips.
"How many did we supply two days ago?" I tilted my head at him.
We were standing in the big production vault of my nail production company. The smell of chemical filled the air, so putrid and nauseating, something I'm used to.
"Thirty six thousand, five hundred and sixty eight point five," he stammered.
I hummed.
"And yesterday?" I asked again.
"Seventy two thousand."
I hummed again and looked around, eyeing the huge piles of different sizes of nails around us.
"Before production?" I asked.
"Twelve thousand, eight hundred and seven point eight."
"Why then is my stock at one hundred and fifty four thousand?" I mused.
He furrowed his brows as he pulled a calculator to do the maths.
His eyes widened comically and he started stuttering.
"I hate incompetence," I sighed and looked around.
"It'll never happen again Boss," he rushed out.
"It had better not. It could be your last."
I walked out of the vault, the click of my heels echoing behind me.
"You have a meeting with Kirk Construction in thirty," Isaac fell into step with me.
I side eyed him, noticing the bags under his eyes.
Ever since Arthur came back, Isaac has been working extra hard.
"Cancel it. Tell them to shove their sorry contract where the sun doesn't shine," I said.
We got into the elevator, the transparent glass allowed anyone riding it to see all floors they were going through and also get a view of the street outside.
"Boss," Isaac sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
I crossed my arms over my chest and stared forward, while Isaac pressed the button that would take us to the scaling level.
"Business is not too good now, you need more contacts and Kirk is huge," he urged me.
"They are dirty," I shrugged my shoulder.
"That makes you sound like a saint," Isaac mused.
That earned him a dirty glare from me and he shrugged his shoulders too.
"I'm just saying… these people can buy our whole produce in one shipment and they have projects going on everywhere."
I ignored him and kept looking outside, only moving when the elevator doors opened.
The floor looked busy, the sound of nails hitting metal scales high in the air as my scalers were at work, bagging nails to the required weights..
"I'm hungry," I murmured.
"You'll get lunch in thirty. Do you want your regular?" He asked.
I nodded my head at him and kept looking around.
With a satisfactory hum I turned back and headed to my own floor while Isaac went to get food.
Hours later, when the sun had dipped into the horizon, stars were scattered in the sky and every other person had gone home…I was still buried in a pile of documents.
I took my reading glasses off and scratched my nose, a clear sign of my skin's irritation from the accessory being on my nose for hours.
A movement at the door caught my attention and I swiftly reached under my desk to retrieve my Beretta.
My office door clicked open, revealing none other than Arthur Kane walking into my darn space like he owns it, with a cast supporting his arm—how dramatic.
"You've signed your death certificate," I mused.
He chuckled and looked around my office.
I knew I shouldn't have sent Isaac home early today.
"Nice decor. Your taste evolved, love," Arthur said.
It wasn't mockery in his tone, he was just observing.
"Your blood will add a nice touch. Get out."
He tutted and came to sit down opposite me but at the sight of my fully loaded gun pointing at his mug, he had a quick rethink.
"Jesus, you have quite the romance with guns," he sighed and looked around.
"Can we talk?" He tried again.
"No. Out."
"You're angry," he tilted his head.
"Mmm, your presence does that. One."
"I fucked up alright. But you need to hear me out," he said.
His voice was soft, as if he's trying to reach me—the devil.
"Two," with my thumb, I unlocked the safety.
"Asia."
I tilted my head at him.
"Igo will be gone. I can send the word," he said.
"Seven," I sighed and started pressing the trigger.
"You want Asia. The B island construction. You want it. I can get it for you," he bargained, his eyes on my trigger finger.
"And?" I asked him.
"We talk. That's my charge," he shrugged.
I lowered my hand, still careful with him.
"One day," I mused.
"Too much."
With my gun, I made a gesture for him to get the fuck out.
He turned around with a chuckle and started walking out.
"Arthur?"
He looked at me.
"If you killed my security, expect blood in your territory. Now fuck off."
He left with a shrug and me, I sunk into my chair, papers long forgotten.
B island. Asias largest project, yet.
I sighed and eyed my cold turkey sandwich that Isaac got me for lunch and on cue, my stomach made it's displeasure known.
I picked it up and bit into it, cringing at the cold food but it's better than nothing. With the help of whiskey, I cleared it and threw the wrap into the trashcan.
I need sleep. I feel too anxious. Maybe a blunt or Xanax.
With the thought in mind, I threw my fur coat over my shoulders and picked up my handbag.
I strolled through the quiet company, my heels making the only sound as I admired my success. Mine.
When I got to the garage, I met my car, with the driver standing beside it, his hands behind him and his legs spread in a defensive posture.
He saw me and opened the door, offering me his arm for support. He shut the door when I'd settled in with my bag beside my feet and walked around the car.
The security guards outside the company were six, instead of eight and even the ones there looked badly beaten.
I guess I have a debt to pay.
"Take the long route home," I murmured, wanting a little ride into the city, before I crash for the day.
The driver nodded and veered into the busy city. The road was clear but people were still outside. A few love birds and lovers of evening walks strolled around, some had food in their hands, some had ther arms linked to their peers while some walked alone.
My eyes caught a little boy, about twelve years, picking pockets like a little expert.
A chuckle fell from my lips before I could help it, of course.
"Stop the car."
The car stopped. I watched the boy, going from people to people, picking whatever he could but tailing him was a smaller girl, seven? eight? I don't know.
She was picking too. Or trying to because he'd scold her at every attempt and she'd cross her arms with an indignant pout.
I quickly grew tired of watching the siblings, or whatever they were.
"Let's go home," I sighed and threw my head back.
"Yess Boss," he started the car again and started the drive home, this time taking shorter routes.
After a long, warm bath and I'd settled into my bed, naked comfy, having taking one of my favorites white pills. Just when I was about to close my eyes, my phone pinged.
I tried to ignore it but the thought that I didnt know what it was all about nagged me so I reached for it.
'Igo is dead.'
I squinted my eyes at Isaac's message and sighed.
I guess I have to have that talk….or kill him all together.