“And that was Elvis again with that super duper number one hit from 1956 Love Me Tender! This is Dr. John Rhodes on your number one station for The King sixty-six point six WOCD in RhyDin the place where the King still lives!”
A hand moved and turned the Philco 66b down low to avoid another advertisement for Crazy Eddie’s Breast Augmentation Lab. The ad asked, “Are you the only flat chested woman in Rhydin?” Well if you are then Crazy Eddie proclaimed you didn’t have to be! If you walk out of his lab and can’t use your breasts as flotation devices in less than thirty minutes than any work on your right breast is done free! You had to trust crazy Eddie his prices were insane.
Thick cigarette smoke curled in a nimbus cloud before floating out of a window into the hot spring night. The soft light coming from the lamp on top of TSC’s roll top desk caught him in silhouette as he took long pulls on his filtered cigarette. From his second story office he could window gaze out at the smattering of lights that made up the neighborhood the Jasmine occupied. It wasn’t anything like the large city where he grew up. In Rhydin it seemed that everyone lived on a Shady Lane or in the last house on the last street. Such segregation of home and business life struck him as odd. Everyone in Rhydin lived so far apart, yet all of them flocked to huge communal spaces so they could interact. It was his hope that when he retired he could live in a rest home with plenty of fascinating people. Trudging back and forth to markets and dueling arenas was a tiresome process just to be able to interact with interesting people.
He coughed, waving the smoke out of his face trying to get a bit of fresh air. He had quit smoking five years ago because the things had become so damned expensive. Those five years had been mighty lean ones and tobacco was a luxury that he could not afford when he was forced to close the Jasmine’s doors.
As good as the floor man was at running the nuts and bolts of the business Braxxx was still the face and the personality of the Jasmine. When Braxxx had been hauled off to prison the spark had left the Jasmine and while it continued to be run efficiently it lacked that panache it had when Robert was there. One by one even the most loyal customers had drifted to newer hotspots, died, or just went away never to return.
As the burning end of the cigarette glowed red from another long drag he recalled how difficult it had been to write to Robert after the nightmare loss in court and the pronouncement that Robert would be serving life in prison. The last thing he had wanted to do was heap more bad news on the man. While he could have gone to Long Lartin and told Braxxx personally that the Jasmine would be shutting its doors for good he didn’t want to see the look on his face when he heard the news.
He remembered clearly opening the small envelope that bore Braxxx’s chicken scratch handwriting. He had expected fire and brimstone and instead the reply was vague and emotionless. Robert explained that he was serving life in prison so it didn’t matter if the place was closed. With his brother gone and so many friendships soured during the bad days after he stepped down as Fists Coordinator he claimed that “It was fitting that the Jasmine should wilt away and die.”
It was all well and good that Braxxx had decided to curl up and die in prison but for TSC life had to go on. He had spent the fortune he had made with Braxxx to fund the place during Robert’s lengthy trial in order to keep it solvent. It had been the worst business decision he had made in some time and he had spent many sleepless nights agonizing over the decision. This time emotion got the better of the floor man and he had thrown good money after bad. In the end the Jasmine did close and he was destitute.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 1
Moderator: DUEL Tex
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 2
TSC rubbed his eyes with his off smoking hand trying to erase the memory of those hard times. It had been amazing how in the world of gamblers and thieves how quickly the same people he had drank and shot dice with had turned their back on him when he had busted out financially. He could feel the anger rise in his body at the recollection. He muttered softly to himself “When lady luck is not riding in the passenger seat you are in for a long lonely ride.” TSC was a hard worker and just as the Jasmine couldn’t exist without Robert’s personality it could not survive fiscally without the floor mans careful financial plotting and attention to detail. Other club owners did not seem to recognize this when he spoke to them about employment and he recalled the humiliation in asking for employment in positions that were obviously below his skill level. He was looked upon as a failure for ruining the once popular Wild Jasmine into the ground and the gregarious Braxxx was given all the praise for the Jasmine’s success.
He wasn’t much better off now the Jasmine still wasn’t raking it in. But working with Robert Braxxx lent itself to the indulging of all manner of personal vice. Having flicked the cigarette out the window the floor man moved back towards his desk, rolling his chair back. He eased his weight and he could hear the casters squeak as they rolled on the wooden floor. Keeping his legs still he moved his butt out and wiggled it in the chair in an effort to find the squeaky wheel, after a few shakes he was able to locate the problem and he grabbed his to do list pad and added this latest problem to his list of chores. He had a million things on the list and each one would be addressed before the Jasmine reopened its doors.
Moving in close to his desk he stared down at the current project he was tackling. Picking up a stray piece of paper he shuffled in his seat until he was leaning back in his chair. Scanning the next name on his list he came upon “Layne Jenkins.” His tongue absently stroked the roof of his mouth until it licked over his brand new dental work. He could see that it had been Robert’s unsteady hand that had made the Layne Jenkins notation on the list of high rollers who were to receive feeler notices.
It had been the floor mans idea to send the high rollers a personal letter welcoming them back to the Jasmine. The letter would of course contain comps and promises of endless delights contained within the Jasmine’s refurbished walls.
Robert had argued that it was a needless waste of money. His argument had been that if people were going to come they would come. The comps would only drive the place into debt, because no one ever passed up a free meal. Just because the people came on a free roll didn’t mean they would return when they had to pay to play. He said his floor man was “worrying like a woman” that no one would show.
It was hard to share in Robert’s firm belief in the clubs success after so many years of personal rejection and failure. It was indeed the floor mans worst nightmare that the oaken doors would be thrown open only to be met with the sound of chirping crickets.
Robert had finally agreed to the idea on three conditions. One, he wouldn’t have to do any work. Two, if the idea flopped TSC would pay for the mistake personally. The third and final condition was that Robert would get to review the names and add and subtract from the list as he saw fit. He almost had to admire the cowboy’s ability to broker a deal. He wasn’t always the cliché people tended to view him as.
He was now stuck between admiring his boss’s skills of negotiation and the sickening feeling of putting Layne Jenkins in the middle of some of the biggest bankrolls in Rhydin. It wasn’t that the floor man was snotty; many on the list were the scum of Rhydin. Yet as the floor mans eyes read and reread the names, he came to the conclusion that even the scum in question had standards and Layne Jenkins met few, if any of those standards.
TSC didn’t know the man overly well. He had heard Robert mention something about being involved in some type of lumber deal years ago with Layne. They were not friendly and in fact it was TSC’s opinion that Jenkins hated Robert just as much as he hated everyone else.
He wasn’t much better off now the Jasmine still wasn’t raking it in. But working with Robert Braxxx lent itself to the indulging of all manner of personal vice. Having flicked the cigarette out the window the floor man moved back towards his desk, rolling his chair back. He eased his weight and he could hear the casters squeak as they rolled on the wooden floor. Keeping his legs still he moved his butt out and wiggled it in the chair in an effort to find the squeaky wheel, after a few shakes he was able to locate the problem and he grabbed his to do list pad and added this latest problem to his list of chores. He had a million things on the list and each one would be addressed before the Jasmine reopened its doors.
Moving in close to his desk he stared down at the current project he was tackling. Picking up a stray piece of paper he shuffled in his seat until he was leaning back in his chair. Scanning the next name on his list he came upon “Layne Jenkins.” His tongue absently stroked the roof of his mouth until it licked over his brand new dental work. He could see that it had been Robert’s unsteady hand that had made the Layne Jenkins notation on the list of high rollers who were to receive feeler notices.
It had been the floor mans idea to send the high rollers a personal letter welcoming them back to the Jasmine. The letter would of course contain comps and promises of endless delights contained within the Jasmine’s refurbished walls.
Robert had argued that it was a needless waste of money. His argument had been that if people were going to come they would come. The comps would only drive the place into debt, because no one ever passed up a free meal. Just because the people came on a free roll didn’t mean they would return when they had to pay to play. He said his floor man was “worrying like a woman” that no one would show.
It was hard to share in Robert’s firm belief in the clubs success after so many years of personal rejection and failure. It was indeed the floor mans worst nightmare that the oaken doors would be thrown open only to be met with the sound of chirping crickets.
Robert had finally agreed to the idea on three conditions. One, he wouldn’t have to do any work. Two, if the idea flopped TSC would pay for the mistake personally. The third and final condition was that Robert would get to review the names and add and subtract from the list as he saw fit. He almost had to admire the cowboy’s ability to broker a deal. He wasn’t always the cliché people tended to view him as.
He was now stuck between admiring his boss’s skills of negotiation and the sickening feeling of putting Layne Jenkins in the middle of some of the biggest bankrolls in Rhydin. It wasn’t that the floor man was snotty; many on the list were the scum of Rhydin. Yet as the floor mans eyes read and reread the names, he came to the conclusion that even the scum in question had standards and Layne Jenkins met few, if any of those standards.
TSC didn’t know the man overly well. He had heard Robert mention something about being involved in some type of lumber deal years ago with Layne. They were not friendly and in fact it was TSC’s opinion that Jenkins hated Robert just as much as he hated everyone else.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 3
TSC’s personal distaste for Jenkins could be traced to a chilly December night several years ago in the midst of a private high stakes card game at the Jasmine. Jenkins had bust through the door declaring loudly that he had wanted the use of “Every whore in the house!” TSC had been serving the gentleman in the card game but he quickly turned his attention to Jenkins. As he approached Jenkins stomped his muddy, snow covered feet on the rug. As the smell of fresh road kill wafted its way to his nostrils he tried to inform Jenkins that tonight was a private night at the Jasmine and the ladies would be there to welcome him back the following evening.
Jenkins eyes had narrowed and he then made it abundantly clear that he didn’t know whom he was talking to, and he didn’t care. The string of verbal assaults that followed was almost enough to put Braxxx to shame. Jenkins followed up the all out verbal assault with a rather rude gesture and requested that the floor man get Braxxx immediately so that a more equitable solution could be happened upon.
Returning to the room where the game was continuing despite the apparent interruption TSC gave the hand signal that indicated that he needed Braxxx’s attention immediately. Robert’s face remained neutral as he asked to be delt out of the next hand. Slipping from the table quickly he wrapped his arm around his employee leading him into a private adjacent room.
“What’s the problem?” Braxxx normally would have been displeased with any interruption especially when he was up such a significant amount at the tables. Braxxx’s expression softened as he looked to his employee’s frantic eyes. Robert may have been wrapped up in the highs and lows of high stakes gambling but he could tell from his floor mans face that something was very wrong.
TSC slid aside a panel that allowed Braxxx to peer unnoticed into the hallway. Jenkins stood impatiently in the hallway scratching himself and belching loudly. Braxxx quickly closed the panel and looked to the floor. TSC could sense Braxxx trying to come up with a resolution for this disaster as quickly as possible. Braxxx debated only a moment before handing out his instructions. He put his hand on TSC’s shoulder and spoke in the firm voice of a man used to issuing commands. “Go back out there and keep those people playing. I will go deal with Jenkins. Do not let a one of them leave. If one leaves they will all leave. You got that?” TSC merely nodded, he knew how to handle the game what he didn’t know was how a person handled an undersexed Layne Jenkins.
The two left the room quickly returned where the game had stopped. TSC hung back and watched Robert say a few words to the players. He smiled and pushed a significant portion of his chips to the center of the table, which caused such a stir that they did not notice him slip into the hallway and meet with the unexpected houseguest.
TSC followed quickly but paused when Robert after ushering Jenkins into a private room had tuned to him and pointed him back in the direction of the game. The floor man didn’t let his inward frown reach his lips. As desperate as he was for more information on the catastrophe that was brewing he was sure that some of the players were watching him.
A minute or two passed with TSC guarding the door and watching the players bet, check and raise through several hands. The voices in the private room were starting to get loud so the floor man closed the double doors connecting the card room and adjoining hallway. Moving swiftly he made his way to the card table, smiled and asked what everyone was drinking.
After fetching the drinks for the players another ten long minutes had passed with Braxxx not reappearing. Just as the players began grumbling, Braxxx mercifully appeared. He paused again at the table briefly and then went right to his floor man.
“Right, go upstairs and wake the girls and have them ready” TSC was stunned but remained professional in the presence of the Jasmine’s company. “Who should I wake?” Braxxx looked at the group of players and gave a wave and held up a finger indicating that he would just be one more minute. The smile disappeared when he looked back at his floor man. “All of them. I said wake all of them and have them ready” With that Braxxx shoved a large wad of bills into TSC’s breast pocket and retreated back to the poker game.
After that first meeting each future incident with Jenkins had been pretty much the same. TSC would offer his assistance and Jenkins would brush him off and have him get Braxxx.
“This letter isn’t going to write itself. “He huffed as he leaned forward his chair still creaking as he put pen to paper. As the pen moved up and down TSC snorted, “I bet the bastard can’t even read.”
Jenkins eyes had narrowed and he then made it abundantly clear that he didn’t know whom he was talking to, and he didn’t care. The string of verbal assaults that followed was almost enough to put Braxxx to shame. Jenkins followed up the all out verbal assault with a rather rude gesture and requested that the floor man get Braxxx immediately so that a more equitable solution could be happened upon.
Returning to the room where the game was continuing despite the apparent interruption TSC gave the hand signal that indicated that he needed Braxxx’s attention immediately. Robert’s face remained neutral as he asked to be delt out of the next hand. Slipping from the table quickly he wrapped his arm around his employee leading him into a private adjacent room.
“What’s the problem?” Braxxx normally would have been displeased with any interruption especially when he was up such a significant amount at the tables. Braxxx’s expression softened as he looked to his employee’s frantic eyes. Robert may have been wrapped up in the highs and lows of high stakes gambling but he could tell from his floor mans face that something was very wrong.
TSC slid aside a panel that allowed Braxxx to peer unnoticed into the hallway. Jenkins stood impatiently in the hallway scratching himself and belching loudly. Braxxx quickly closed the panel and looked to the floor. TSC could sense Braxxx trying to come up with a resolution for this disaster as quickly as possible. Braxxx debated only a moment before handing out his instructions. He put his hand on TSC’s shoulder and spoke in the firm voice of a man used to issuing commands. “Go back out there and keep those people playing. I will go deal with Jenkins. Do not let a one of them leave. If one leaves they will all leave. You got that?” TSC merely nodded, he knew how to handle the game what he didn’t know was how a person handled an undersexed Layne Jenkins.
The two left the room quickly returned where the game had stopped. TSC hung back and watched Robert say a few words to the players. He smiled and pushed a significant portion of his chips to the center of the table, which caused such a stir that they did not notice him slip into the hallway and meet with the unexpected houseguest.
TSC followed quickly but paused when Robert after ushering Jenkins into a private room had tuned to him and pointed him back in the direction of the game. The floor man didn’t let his inward frown reach his lips. As desperate as he was for more information on the catastrophe that was brewing he was sure that some of the players were watching him.
A minute or two passed with TSC guarding the door and watching the players bet, check and raise through several hands. The voices in the private room were starting to get loud so the floor man closed the double doors connecting the card room and adjoining hallway. Moving swiftly he made his way to the card table, smiled and asked what everyone was drinking.
After fetching the drinks for the players another ten long minutes had passed with Braxxx not reappearing. Just as the players began grumbling, Braxxx mercifully appeared. He paused again at the table briefly and then went right to his floor man.
“Right, go upstairs and wake the girls and have them ready” TSC was stunned but remained professional in the presence of the Jasmine’s company. “Who should I wake?” Braxxx looked at the group of players and gave a wave and held up a finger indicating that he would just be one more minute. The smile disappeared when he looked back at his floor man. “All of them. I said wake all of them and have them ready” With that Braxxx shoved a large wad of bills into TSC’s breast pocket and retreated back to the poker game.
After that first meeting each future incident with Jenkins had been pretty much the same. TSC would offer his assistance and Jenkins would brush him off and have him get Braxxx.
“This letter isn’t going to write itself. “He huffed as he leaned forward his chair still creaking as he put pen to paper. As the pen moved up and down TSC snorted, “I bet the bastard can’t even read.”
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 4
Dear Mr. Jenkins,
We are proud to invite you back to the home away from home we know you have missed so much. The Wild Jasmine card room and billiards parlor is proud to announce its grand reopening. Robert Braxxx and myself would like to welcome you back and invite you to be part of an exclusive party we will be hosting for our special friends that have meant so much to us throughout the years. Please come and raise your glass with us to toast our lovely refurbished facility and the many years of success we are sure to enjoy.
Enclosed you will find your private pass that ensures you free access to all of our facilities, and the company of our very special ladies. A generous sum has also been set aside for you in our fine card room, so that you may gamble amongst some of the finest competition in Rhydin at your leisure.
Please return the enclosed response to us so that we may begin custom tailoring the night to fit all your needs and desires. We have purposely set the date far in advance in the hope that your calendar still is open and you will be free for you to join us on what we are sure will be a night to remember. We look forward to your response and the pleasure of your company,
Sincerely,
TSC
Wild Jasmine Floor Man
The letter completed TSC leaned back in his chair. He sucked the end of his pen and agonized over every word. Each note had been hand tailored to the specific client to ensure the proper amount of familiarity. All of the other letters had been significantly easier to write. TSC had maintained cordial relationships with all of the Jasmine’s important clients so when addressing those individuals his pen had moved quickly finding the appropriate words for each. When dealing with Jenkins, the pen had seemingly ran out of ink. While other letters had contained reminders of good times and laughs shared Jenkins letter seemed stilted and cold.
The knock on the door interrupted the cruel editorial process he was in the middle of, and his annoyance turned from his failure to communicate through the written word to the offending sound of a hand wrapping against wood. “Come in” he cleared his throat not turning from his work and coughed out another “Come in” The intruder on his thoughts came in but was not recognized. If only he had paid more attention in school he would know how to manipulate the words correctly and pen sophisticated discourse. His depreciating thoughts were shattered by the sound of the radio being turned up once again.
We are proud to invite you back to the home away from home we know you have missed so much. The Wild Jasmine card room and billiards parlor is proud to announce its grand reopening. Robert Braxxx and myself would like to welcome you back and invite you to be part of an exclusive party we will be hosting for our special friends that have meant so much to us throughout the years. Please come and raise your glass with us to toast our lovely refurbished facility and the many years of success we are sure to enjoy.
Enclosed you will find your private pass that ensures you free access to all of our facilities, and the company of our very special ladies. A generous sum has also been set aside for you in our fine card room, so that you may gamble amongst some of the finest competition in Rhydin at your leisure.
Please return the enclosed response to us so that we may begin custom tailoring the night to fit all your needs and desires. We have purposely set the date far in advance in the hope that your calendar still is open and you will be free for you to join us on what we are sure will be a night to remember. We look forward to your response and the pleasure of your company,
Sincerely,
TSC
Wild Jasmine Floor Man
The letter completed TSC leaned back in his chair. He sucked the end of his pen and agonized over every word. Each note had been hand tailored to the specific client to ensure the proper amount of familiarity. All of the other letters had been significantly easier to write. TSC had maintained cordial relationships with all of the Jasmine’s important clients so when addressing those individuals his pen had moved quickly finding the appropriate words for each. When dealing with Jenkins, the pen had seemingly ran out of ink. While other letters had contained reminders of good times and laughs shared Jenkins letter seemed stilted and cold.
The knock on the door interrupted the cruel editorial process he was in the middle of, and his annoyance turned from his failure to communicate through the written word to the offending sound of a hand wrapping against wood. “Come in” he cleared his throat not turning from his work and coughed out another “Come in” The intruder on his thoughts came in but was not recognized. If only he had paid more attention in school he would know how to manipulate the words correctly and pen sophisticated discourse. His depreciating thoughts were shattered by the sound of the radio being turned up once again.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 5
Turning in his head he saw his boss Robert Montgomery Braxxx with one hand on the top of the radio the other working the volume. The radio garbled a bit as Robert found just the right amount of volume he was looking for. Once again the voice of Elvis found its way through the old radio “They call your daddy Big Boots and big boots is his name. It takes a big man to wear big boots, that's your daddy's claim to fame” TSC recognized the lullaby song from the 1960 film G.I. Blues. For a moment the overpowering voice of a long dead singer made even Braxxx look innocent and soft as he listened. The King wrapped up the last lines of the song as Robert’s mouth turned in a bit of a smile, he seemed to know how the song ended and was reacting before the song was finished. “General sandman's soon coming by, Loo loo loo loo, Loo loo loo. I'm gonna tell you a little secret you won't believe it's true. Did you know your Daddy Big Boots Once wore little boots like you?”
The radio station flipped from the sweet lullaby to rocker. Soon two of the most prominent Sun recording artists in history were trading verses in “Be Bop a Lu La.” This time the King was joined by the killer himself - Jerry Lee Lewis. The two were accompanied in the rockabilly lyrics by a talent Sam Phillips would never have thought to sign. Robert Braxxx began braying along with the lyrics in a fashion that was causing one man to roll over in his grave and all others wishing they were in one. Braxxx seemed to have decided that merely his singing prowess would not be enough for an effective show and he began to strut and gyrate closer to his floor man. Apparently Robert still had not made any progress in developing shame into his emotional repertoire because as he got closer he screamed for his floor man to join in his singing and dancing. All the floor man could do was open and close his mouth at the disgrace of a performance that was happening before his very eyes. Braxxx undeterred poured his soul into it and by the time “She's the one that walks around the store. She's the one that loves me more, more” vibrated through the radio speakers Robert was red from effort and his floor man was red from shame.
As the two final repeated lines of the song came through the airwaves Robert tossed his hat aside tore his shirt open exposing his chest and took a deep bow.
The radio station flipped from the sweet lullaby to rocker. Soon two of the most prominent Sun recording artists in history were trading verses in “Be Bop a Lu La.” This time the King was joined by the killer himself - Jerry Lee Lewis. The two were accompanied in the rockabilly lyrics by a talent Sam Phillips would never have thought to sign. Robert Braxxx began braying along with the lyrics in a fashion that was causing one man to roll over in his grave and all others wishing they were in one. Braxxx seemed to have decided that merely his singing prowess would not be enough for an effective show and he began to strut and gyrate closer to his floor man. Apparently Robert still had not made any progress in developing shame into his emotional repertoire because as he got closer he screamed for his floor man to join in his singing and dancing. All the floor man could do was open and close his mouth at the disgrace of a performance that was happening before his very eyes. Braxxx undeterred poured his soul into it and by the time “She's the one that walks around the store. She's the one that loves me more, more” vibrated through the radio speakers Robert was red from effort and his floor man was red from shame.
As the two final repeated lines of the song came through the airwaves Robert tossed his hat aside tore his shirt open exposing his chest and took a deep bow.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 6
Braxxx stayed in a bowed position for some time waiting for the applause to roll in. Sweat dripped from his head forming a small puddle on the floor and slowly his breathing returned to normal. Finally he rose upright because he could feel the beginnings of a back spasm setting in. The soft brown eyes of his audience scanned him up and down and he stopped and started to speak several times. Robert knew the man had to be overcome with what he just witnessed. It might take him a moment or two to formulate the proper words of appreciation for such a top-fight song and dance number. His floor man had to yell to be heard over the din of the radio” If you were a horse I would have you shot. I have never seen a more disgraceful performance.” TSC’s hands waved over the assorted papers collected on his desk “You know Robert I am working here, some of us do work.”
Braxxx frowned and walked towards the radio, wiping the sweat from his face with his long sleeve shirt. He turned the radio off and collected his hat with a quick annoyed grab before dumping himself in the seat next to TSC’s desk. He took another long breath allowing himself another moment to recoup from the exercise he had put himself through. “You really should learn how to dance T.” He huffed a bit; he was defiantly more out of shape than he originally thought. “Women go nuts for that kind of thing, I would say eighty percent of all the woman I nail fall for the whole dancing bit.” TSC gave a loud snort “If I looked even half as ridiculous as you just did I will take my chances with my own lines of love thank you. Now are you here to give me dating tips or is there something else you need?”
Braxxx started to talk and his floor man pointed sternly at him “and don’t tell me that you need more money.” Braxxx closed his mouth and mustered as good of a hurt expression as he could come up with. “You are still mad about yesterday aren’t you? I told you I forgive you for pointing that gun at me.” The floor man sighed and leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms. “No Robert I am not mad, I am sore, but not mad, at least I won’t be if you did what I asked you to do.” TSC looked at his boss whose face had gone totally blank, his eyes shifted back and forth as if he was mentally trying to recall what task he had been charged with. TSC’s voice went low as he leaned forward “Robert, you did do what I asked you to do right?” Robert’s face changed and he broke into a large smile. From his back pocket he tossed a piece of paper onto his employee’s desk.
TSC’s eyes greedily scanned the page. He finished and looked at Braxxx who was smiling like a kid at Christmas. TSC scanned the page again, started to speak, and read the flimsy page one last time. “This is from Masser?” The words were in a low crackling tone and could have come from the radio if it had not been turned off. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” Braxxx grabbed the paper quickly scanning it and holding it forward for inspection “Yeah it sure looks like his signature right there.” The floor man expelled a gust of air from his lungs and leaned back. “Robert how did you, I mean, the whole lot, for free?”
Robert nodded “”Yup wasn’t all that hard to do. I just talked to him.” TSC shot him a dark look “Like you talked to me last night.” Robert shook his head and fanned himself with his hat “No, no, nothing like that. I just talked to him for a bit and reminded him how far we go back.” Robert’s voice turned into a bit of a grumble “Some businesses still appreciate old partners. Anyway he said we can have the opening lot for free and than the price he quoted you for reshipments.”
Braxxx started to rattle off facts, figures, conditions and perspectives. The floor man sat in silent wonder at his boss who could spend so much heedlessly, ignore all his conversations and notes, and still have his pulse on the exact state of the business. “Impressing the hell out of you aren’t I?” Robert’s teasing voice cause him to sour instantly “Well you did an acceptable job. The money you saved us will be enough to cover the medical and magical bills you got us into with your show of temper the other night.” TSC plunged his head down and began to shuffle papers at his desk trying to regain his air of importance.
Braxxx looked at his floor man. All the damage done the other night seemed to have been taken care of. Teeth were fixed and cuts healed, if he had not known better he would have thought his floor man had treated himself to a nose job to reduce the size of that beak he called a nose. He jammed his fist in his pocket and pulled out a fistful of cash and threw it on the table in front of his friends face. “Well I figure with that dough” jamming a finger at the money Braxxx waited to catch his friends eyes again. “We should be a little bit ahead.”
The floor man calmly collected the bills but inwardly he cheered that Braxxx was actually helping add to the cash flow rather than detract from it. “Do I want to know where this came from?” Braxxx gave a smirk as his head shook back “ I wish I could tell you that I stole it from someone. I called some duels and Simon gave me some cash.” TSC shook his head his eyes stunned “You called duels again.” Braxxx threw a phantom punch and laughed, “Do we have to go through all that again? Yeah I called some duels, damn badly I must say, but hey, it was a payday.”
TSC nodded and slapped his employer on the shoulder “That’s great boss, when do you figure we can start putting the fix in?” Braxxx pondered a bit as his sun worn hand stroked the wood of the desk. “I imagine when I get a regular shift and start learning the ropes again. Course we got to find a couple of folks willing to take a dive. Shouldn’t be to long though. Someone always needs the extra scratch to live life to its fullest.” It was a great tribute to Braxxx logic that cheating at duels was not the same as cheating at cards. The possible explanation being that since Braxxx ran a card room and not a dueling room some of edging the odds in duels was acceptable.
Braxxx frowned and walked towards the radio, wiping the sweat from his face with his long sleeve shirt. He turned the radio off and collected his hat with a quick annoyed grab before dumping himself in the seat next to TSC’s desk. He took another long breath allowing himself another moment to recoup from the exercise he had put himself through. “You really should learn how to dance T.” He huffed a bit; he was defiantly more out of shape than he originally thought. “Women go nuts for that kind of thing, I would say eighty percent of all the woman I nail fall for the whole dancing bit.” TSC gave a loud snort “If I looked even half as ridiculous as you just did I will take my chances with my own lines of love thank you. Now are you here to give me dating tips or is there something else you need?”
Braxxx started to talk and his floor man pointed sternly at him “and don’t tell me that you need more money.” Braxxx closed his mouth and mustered as good of a hurt expression as he could come up with. “You are still mad about yesterday aren’t you? I told you I forgive you for pointing that gun at me.” The floor man sighed and leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms. “No Robert I am not mad, I am sore, but not mad, at least I won’t be if you did what I asked you to do.” TSC looked at his boss whose face had gone totally blank, his eyes shifted back and forth as if he was mentally trying to recall what task he had been charged with. TSC’s voice went low as he leaned forward “Robert, you did do what I asked you to do right?” Robert’s face changed and he broke into a large smile. From his back pocket he tossed a piece of paper onto his employee’s desk.
TSC’s eyes greedily scanned the page. He finished and looked at Braxxx who was smiling like a kid at Christmas. TSC scanned the page again, started to speak, and read the flimsy page one last time. “This is from Masser?” The words were in a low crackling tone and could have come from the radio if it had not been turned off. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure.” Braxxx grabbed the paper quickly scanning it and holding it forward for inspection “Yeah it sure looks like his signature right there.” The floor man expelled a gust of air from his lungs and leaned back. “Robert how did you, I mean, the whole lot, for free?”
Robert nodded “”Yup wasn’t all that hard to do. I just talked to him.” TSC shot him a dark look “Like you talked to me last night.” Robert shook his head and fanned himself with his hat “No, no, nothing like that. I just talked to him for a bit and reminded him how far we go back.” Robert’s voice turned into a bit of a grumble “Some businesses still appreciate old partners. Anyway he said we can have the opening lot for free and than the price he quoted you for reshipments.”
Braxxx started to rattle off facts, figures, conditions and perspectives. The floor man sat in silent wonder at his boss who could spend so much heedlessly, ignore all his conversations and notes, and still have his pulse on the exact state of the business. “Impressing the hell out of you aren’t I?” Robert’s teasing voice cause him to sour instantly “Well you did an acceptable job. The money you saved us will be enough to cover the medical and magical bills you got us into with your show of temper the other night.” TSC plunged his head down and began to shuffle papers at his desk trying to regain his air of importance.
Braxxx looked at his floor man. All the damage done the other night seemed to have been taken care of. Teeth were fixed and cuts healed, if he had not known better he would have thought his floor man had treated himself to a nose job to reduce the size of that beak he called a nose. He jammed his fist in his pocket and pulled out a fistful of cash and threw it on the table in front of his friends face. “Well I figure with that dough” jamming a finger at the money Braxxx waited to catch his friends eyes again. “We should be a little bit ahead.”
The floor man calmly collected the bills but inwardly he cheered that Braxxx was actually helping add to the cash flow rather than detract from it. “Do I want to know where this came from?” Braxxx gave a smirk as his head shook back “ I wish I could tell you that I stole it from someone. I called some duels and Simon gave me some cash.” TSC shook his head his eyes stunned “You called duels again.” Braxxx threw a phantom punch and laughed, “Do we have to go through all that again? Yeah I called some duels, damn badly I must say, but hey, it was a payday.”
TSC nodded and slapped his employer on the shoulder “That’s great boss, when do you figure we can start putting the fix in?” Braxxx pondered a bit as his sun worn hand stroked the wood of the desk. “I imagine when I get a regular shift and start learning the ropes again. Course we got to find a couple of folks willing to take a dive. Shouldn’t be to long though. Someone always needs the extra scratch to live life to its fullest.” It was a great tribute to Braxxx logic that cheating at duels was not the same as cheating at cards. The possible explanation being that since Braxxx ran a card room and not a dueling room some of edging the odds in duels was acceptable.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 7
“ I saw you with that girl this afternoon. You are really going to town with work boss. Were you interviewing for third floor talent? She seemed a little underdeveloped to me but than I know how you like those natural looking ladies.” The floor man went back to filing the note Braxxx had left laying on the table. He spoke absently about the woman he had seen Braxxx with in the hot tub with. Braxxx had been in that hot tub with each of the working girls at some point, giving them a pep talk or encouraging a more energetic performance. The girl TSC had seen seemed awfully young and though he had not focused on her for long she seemed to have an underlying sweetness that most of the other girls did not posses. He hadn’t given it much more thought. Braxxx had been very particular with the women this time around. This girl must have something special that existed under the surface that Braxxx had managed to unearth.
Braxxx shifted in his seat in an attempt to get comfortable. That is not a third floor girl. TSC’s actions stopped and he shot a look at his boss “I’m not going to like this am I?” Braxxx lowered his head. TSC’s eyes went wide and he searched the desk for his smokes. Braxxx spoke as the cigarette smoke began to fill the air “ I wasn’t thinking third floor girl. I was thinking more hostess position.” The words were more of a question than a statement.” TSC flicked his ashes into a nearby coffee cup that had long ago gone cold. He waved the air so that the smoke would not interrupt his full view of Braxxx. “What are her qualifications Robert?” Robert leaned back in his chair and silently cursed himself for leaving his flask downstairs. “She doesn’t have any.” He blutered it out fast so that the knife wound would be deep and to the point rather than long and agonizing.
There was a long deep silence before TSC got to his feet. He paced the room his cigarette getting strict attention. Robert watched the man and said nothing. He had just injured his good friend worse in this last instance than he had with all of the physical damage over the last few days. “I should have left you to rot in that god damn prison Robert! What the hell am I doing here! I get my ass kicked and deal with your amazing list of screw ups and my great reward is having some talentless tart you spent twenty minutes in a hot tub with replacing me? Replacing me? What a damn joke.” TSC threw the butt of his cigarette at Robert and prepared himself to get involved in one hell of a donnybrook.
The cigarette bounced off Robert’s nose and he waved it away. He sighed and stood up. He gave a long hard look at the man in front of him. He could tell TSC was ready to tear apart him and every floorboard in the Jasmine. He had to give the old boy credit. He looked the part of an intimidating mobster right at this moment. The boots slapped against the floorboards and Robert leaned out the window. He had his back fully exposed and if the floor man rushed him he would not be able to stop him from sending him hurtling out of the window.
“Look TSC. We both know that while you picked me up from jail it wasn’t you that sprung me. You are my friend and have been a hell of a good one. You keep tight books, keep the other help in line, you handle the day to day functions better than anyone else.” The floor man stomped towards him and Robert braced for impact. “God damn you Robert, you at least look at me when you fire me.” TSC’s eyes were full of rage and hate. The breathing came quickly and Robert could feel the beating of the man’s heart from deep within his chest.
Robert put his head right into the floor man’s “Look you want to talk business? Let’s talk business!” Robert roared now, he could feel the white-hot anger surging through him. If he could only swing at the man once. One good punch would say all that a million words could never hope to express. He gulped and gave a bit of a pant trying to get his voice back into an even tone “Look we both know the Jasmine was missing something. We both gave our lives to this place when it was open. You did your bit and I did mine. We were still short on something, didn’t you ever feel that? Didn’t you always feel we were one step away from true greatness?” TSC broke the hold he had and stood his ground “No! No Robert! I never felt that way!” He words were choked and he spit as he talked “I was here everyday! Everyday I worried whether the place would go broke or if some high rollers favorite dame would be able to get her shot on time so she could hop back in the sack and do her job! I was here! You were out there chasing skirts and playing a big man of society in DoF and lived off my hard work!” The Jasmine was not fully staffed yet but the ones that were in the building suddenly got the urge to go out for a nice long walk.
Robert didn’t want to say the words he knew would possibly ruin the only friendship he had ever managed to keep beyond a month. “If that were true TSC why did the place go under when I went away.” Robert could not have guessed the reaction his words would have. TSC reared back and fell on his butt as if he had been physically struck. The man’s face took on a tortured expression and he said nothing. Robert moved from one side to another his hands waving looking like an indecisive marionette. He had not wanted to say the words, yet they were true.
Braxxx shifted in his seat in an attempt to get comfortable. That is not a third floor girl. TSC’s actions stopped and he shot a look at his boss “I’m not going to like this am I?” Braxxx lowered his head. TSC’s eyes went wide and he searched the desk for his smokes. Braxxx spoke as the cigarette smoke began to fill the air “ I wasn’t thinking third floor girl. I was thinking more hostess position.” The words were more of a question than a statement.” TSC flicked his ashes into a nearby coffee cup that had long ago gone cold. He waved the air so that the smoke would not interrupt his full view of Braxxx. “What are her qualifications Robert?” Robert leaned back in his chair and silently cursed himself for leaving his flask downstairs. “She doesn’t have any.” He blutered it out fast so that the knife wound would be deep and to the point rather than long and agonizing.
There was a long deep silence before TSC got to his feet. He paced the room his cigarette getting strict attention. Robert watched the man and said nothing. He had just injured his good friend worse in this last instance than he had with all of the physical damage over the last few days. “I should have left you to rot in that god damn prison Robert! What the hell am I doing here! I get my ass kicked and deal with your amazing list of screw ups and my great reward is having some talentless tart you spent twenty minutes in a hot tub with replacing me? Replacing me? What a damn joke.” TSC threw the butt of his cigarette at Robert and prepared himself to get involved in one hell of a donnybrook.
The cigarette bounced off Robert’s nose and he waved it away. He sighed and stood up. He gave a long hard look at the man in front of him. He could tell TSC was ready to tear apart him and every floorboard in the Jasmine. He had to give the old boy credit. He looked the part of an intimidating mobster right at this moment. The boots slapped against the floorboards and Robert leaned out the window. He had his back fully exposed and if the floor man rushed him he would not be able to stop him from sending him hurtling out of the window.
“Look TSC. We both know that while you picked me up from jail it wasn’t you that sprung me. You are my friend and have been a hell of a good one. You keep tight books, keep the other help in line, you handle the day to day functions better than anyone else.” The floor man stomped towards him and Robert braced for impact. “God damn you Robert, you at least look at me when you fire me.” TSC’s eyes were full of rage and hate. The breathing came quickly and Robert could feel the beating of the man’s heart from deep within his chest.
Robert put his head right into the floor man’s “Look you want to talk business? Let’s talk business!” Robert roared now, he could feel the white-hot anger surging through him. If he could only swing at the man once. One good punch would say all that a million words could never hope to express. He gulped and gave a bit of a pant trying to get his voice back into an even tone “Look we both know the Jasmine was missing something. We both gave our lives to this place when it was open. You did your bit and I did mine. We were still short on something, didn’t you ever feel that? Didn’t you always feel we were one step away from true greatness?” TSC broke the hold he had and stood his ground “No! No Robert! I never felt that way!” He words were choked and he spit as he talked “I was here everyday! Everyday I worried whether the place would go broke or if some high rollers favorite dame would be able to get her shot on time so she could hop back in the sack and do her job! I was here! You were out there chasing skirts and playing a big man of society in DoF and lived off my hard work!” The Jasmine was not fully staffed yet but the ones that were in the building suddenly got the urge to go out for a nice long walk.
Robert didn’t want to say the words he knew would possibly ruin the only friendship he had ever managed to keep beyond a month. “If that were true TSC why did the place go under when I went away.” Robert could not have guessed the reaction his words would have. TSC reared back and fell on his butt as if he had been physically struck. The man’s face took on a tortured expression and he said nothing. Robert moved from one side to another his hands waving looking like an indecisive marionette. He had not wanted to say the words, yet they were true.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 8
TSC spoke slowly and it was his turn not to look at the person who was addressing him “I tried Robert, I did, I” Robert walked over and grabbed TSC’s desk chair and sat right in front of him. “ I know you did kid. I believe you. This isn’t me firing you. I am addressing what I see as a missing piece of the puzzle. No one is taking your job. We are filling a position that has been vacant and has needed to be filled for a good long time. Two guys like us can’t run a lady like the Jasmine. The Jasmine needs a lady’s face, it needs a lady’s touch.”
TSC’s face calmed a bit when he saw that he was not being replaced. He leaned back on the floor and spoke to the ceiling rather than trying to address Braxxx himself. “That’s why we have whores Robert. I don’t know what you are talking about. This is a card room and whorehouse not Sunday tea with the queen. Guys that pay for whores are not looking for some lady to tell them which fork or spoon to use.” He slapped his hands on the ground for emphasis and covered his eyes. This was such a losing ordeal, the fact he was devoting energy to illustrate the fallacies in this plan was just exhausting.
Robert swung to the side in his chair and watched the display and frowned. He let his employee have his moment and he drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “You done being childish yet? You know damn well what I mean and if you don’t you should. The place needs an alluring woman, someone that drives the customers mad with her charm, looks, and grace.”
TSC propped himself up on his arms. “Honestly Robert this has to be the wildest bit of fiction ever created. If you want to nail her, nail her, but don’t put her on the payroll with this as your excuse. I know what your doing. You might actually like this girl and because she is so much younger you have to have a good excuse before you go in and ruin her life by loving her for a few days and throwing her on the trash heap with all the rest of your discarded toys.” TSC drew himself up and stood completing the rest of his speech standing over Robert “You give her a job Robert I give you a week, she will see exactly what you do here and either she will head for the hills or nag you so damn much you will send her packing.”
Robert stood and looked at the floor man evenly. He turned and walked to the end of the room and opened the door. He leaned his head out the door and yelled something the floor man couldn’t make out. Robert returned to the center of the room and looked at TSC. His green eyes looked him up and down, but he said nothing. TSC heard the sound of soft clicking footsteps approaching. It was the sound of a woman for sure, when men walk they just don’t sound that good.
TSC’s face calmed a bit when he saw that he was not being replaced. He leaned back on the floor and spoke to the ceiling rather than trying to address Braxxx himself. “That’s why we have whores Robert. I don’t know what you are talking about. This is a card room and whorehouse not Sunday tea with the queen. Guys that pay for whores are not looking for some lady to tell them which fork or spoon to use.” He slapped his hands on the ground for emphasis and covered his eyes. This was such a losing ordeal, the fact he was devoting energy to illustrate the fallacies in this plan was just exhausting.
Robert swung to the side in his chair and watched the display and frowned. He let his employee have his moment and he drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “You done being childish yet? You know damn well what I mean and if you don’t you should. The place needs an alluring woman, someone that drives the customers mad with her charm, looks, and grace.”
TSC propped himself up on his arms. “Honestly Robert this has to be the wildest bit of fiction ever created. If you want to nail her, nail her, but don’t put her on the payroll with this as your excuse. I know what your doing. You might actually like this girl and because she is so much younger you have to have a good excuse before you go in and ruin her life by loving her for a few days and throwing her on the trash heap with all the rest of your discarded toys.” TSC drew himself up and stood completing the rest of his speech standing over Robert “You give her a job Robert I give you a week, she will see exactly what you do here and either she will head for the hills or nag you so damn much you will send her packing.”
Robert stood and looked at the floor man evenly. He turned and walked to the end of the room and opened the door. He leaned his head out the door and yelled something the floor man couldn’t make out. Robert returned to the center of the room and looked at TSC. His green eyes looked him up and down, but he said nothing. TSC heard the sound of soft clicking footsteps approaching. It was the sound of a woman for sure, when men walk they just don’t sound that good.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 9
Swaying into the room was one of the Jasmine’s newest third floor acquisitions. She wasn’t very tall, overly buxom, nor did she have legs for days. What she did have was the uncanny ability to use every bit of what she did have in a manner that every time a sharp heel hit the ground heads turned involuntarily. The hands that pulled the dark hair out of her eyes, the inviting tongue dampened the small soft lips while the curvaceous hips that propelled her forward. Science may build a better tomato but a lady would never be able to go to a doctor and have them slap this in their body. You either knew how to work what the maker gave you or you stumbled around thinking the next bit of blush would be the answer to all your problems.
Robert walked around her and smiled waving a hand over her. TSC was confused because this was not the girl they had been talking about. He was torn between asking Braxxx just what the hell was going on and staring at Catalina who was giggling under Braxxx’s attention, her brown skin managing to turn a bit red.
“Isn’t she lovely?” Braxxx tapped her chin, which caused Catalina to shift on her feet and display her best theatrical coy look. “You have been working on that letter to Layne all day right?” Robert walked circles around the girl giving her a wink and a smile every time he was within her eyesight and licking his chops every time he was standing behind her. TSC nodded, his own eyes locked on the girl. If it were not for the woman in front of him TSC would have been screaming at the tops of his lungs at Robert’s annoying shift in conversation.
Robert walked off towards the desk leaving the girl and floor man staring at each other for a briefest of moments. TSC could feel himself go red now and he cleared his throat uncomfortably. The girl’s smile made him sweaty and he quickly shot a hand through his hair. “I look a mess.” He muttered by way of apology to the girl. She winked at him and looked down to the floor in her own shy way. The girl’s reactions only made him feel more uncomfortable. He would have to remember to give her a private interview at some time. Braxxx had hired her but had not allowed TSC to view her, he knew why, work would never get done with her moving around the Jasmine.
Robert walked around her and smiled waving a hand over her. TSC was confused because this was not the girl they had been talking about. He was torn between asking Braxxx just what the hell was going on and staring at Catalina who was giggling under Braxxx’s attention, her brown skin managing to turn a bit red.
“Isn’t she lovely?” Braxxx tapped her chin, which caused Catalina to shift on her feet and display her best theatrical coy look. “You have been working on that letter to Layne all day right?” Robert walked circles around the girl giving her a wink and a smile every time he was within her eyesight and licking his chops every time he was standing behind her. TSC nodded, his own eyes locked on the girl. If it were not for the woman in front of him TSC would have been screaming at the tops of his lungs at Robert’s annoying shift in conversation.
Robert walked off towards the desk leaving the girl and floor man staring at each other for a briefest of moments. TSC could feel himself go red now and he cleared his throat uncomfortably. The girl’s smile made him sweaty and he quickly shot a hand through his hair. “I look a mess.” He muttered by way of apology to the girl. She winked at him and looked down to the floor in her own shy way. The girl’s reactions only made him feel more uncomfortable. He would have to remember to give her a private interview at some time. Braxxx had hired her but had not allowed TSC to view her, he knew why, work would never get done with her moving around the Jasmine.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 10
Braxxx was suddenly beside him, his lips mere inches from his floor mans ear. When he spoke the iron in his voice was unmistakable. “The right woman always improves things my friend.” Braxxx moved quickly away and brandishing the piece of paper he was holding. He waved it around like a magician who was trying to show that he had no ace up his sleeve. “Catalina my love, I want you to take this piece of paper and go outside that door. When I yell I want you to knock on the door, hand TSC the paper and in your most provocative way I want you to say this is for you Mr. Jenkins.” Catalina took the paper and smiled with joy at the opportunity for some play-acting. She scurried out the door quickly and shut it behind her swiftly.
Braxxx watched her go, the look of lust in his eyes was gone as soon as the door softly clicked. “Hard fact time. You were a heroin addict when I found you, so strung out you could barely babble your name. You didn’t go to a fine business school, you guessed and mistaked your way to the top right with me.” Braxxx paced around his floor man in circles not bothering to see the cold stare that followed him “When we started this place we had no idea what were doing. We made it into a halfway successful business but never think that we had it made in the shade.” Braxxx stopped his rotations and came to stand directly in back of his employee. His worn hands rested on his shoulders and he began to rub his back. “When I left the place fell apart because you lacked the skills necessary to keep us open.” His fingers squeezed at the last part of the speech and as badly as the floor man wanted to turn around he realized he couldn’t.
Braxxx watched her go, the look of lust in his eyes was gone as soon as the door softly clicked. “Hard fact time. You were a heroin addict when I found you, so strung out you could barely babble your name. You didn’t go to a fine business school, you guessed and mistaked your way to the top right with me.” Braxxx paced around his floor man in circles not bothering to see the cold stare that followed him “When we started this place we had no idea what were doing. We made it into a halfway successful business but never think that we had it made in the shade.” Braxxx stopped his rotations and came to stand directly in back of his employee. His worn hands rested on his shoulders and he began to rub his back. “When I left the place fell apart because you lacked the skills necessary to keep us open.” His fingers squeezed at the last part of the speech and as badly as the floor man wanted to turn around he realized he couldn’t.
Utilization of New Resources Pt. 11 Final
“Catalina my sweet? Action!” At Braxxx’s final instruction there was a knock and the door flew open and delicious Catalina moved slowly across the room her long dark hair swirling only to fall softly on her honey brown shoulders. Her eyes locked on the floor man and her neutral expression turned to that of a smile warmer than any sunny beach in the islands. TSC couldn’t feel Braxxx near him any longer because the sound of his heart thudding in his chest was matching the sharp snap of Catalina’s heels on the wooden floor. “Mr. Jenkins?” Her face twisted into just the slightest bit of coy confusion. TSC would wonder later if he had spoke or merely nodded in acknowledgement of the question. Whatever he had done had pleased Catalina greatly because her smile widened as if she had just received the best news of her life. TSC was sure that for his part he was grinning like an idiot and he wished that he had Robert’s hat so that he could hide an embarrassing situation that was happening just south of his waist. His mind took a cue from other areas and snapped to attention, Catalina was speaking again!
“I have this letter for you Mr. Jenkins” It took a minute for TSC to ignore the bosoms themselves and to notice the letter that she was twisting ever so slightly below the neckline of her dress. TSC thought for a moment if neckline was the right word. If it exposed the top of the breast and covered just enough of what society demanded was it truly a neckline? The lightning that was her touch shocked him back into politeness and he looked at her with wide eyes. “Don’t you want the letter Mr. Jenkins?” Catalina’s question would have been difficult to answer because her lips blocked his own from formulating a proper response.
“And cut!” TSC almost fell over as Catalina had managed to extract herself with cat like grace from his embrace. He was dizzy and noticed he clutched a piece of paper. “Catalina that was perfect.” Braxxx was applauding and whistling while his head shook up and down in firm acknowledgement of the performance given. Catalina for her part smiled and gave a bit of a curtsey as she giggled under the attention of her appreciative audience. Braxxx pushed past his floor man bumping him as he wrapped his arms around her. “That was amazing my sweet, just like that. I would like the lips to put more but work with it, see it if suits your fancy. Just remember that Layne will more than likely be a little more aggressive than our sweet little TSC here. So when you see him be sure that you are prepared to do that other thing we talked about, okay?” She smiled and nodded not responding as she was all but pushed out of the door.
“I tell ya that kid got potential” Robert’s slapping hands refocused TSC and his boss stared at him coolly “You worked all damn day on that letter and were going to put it in the post box and have done with it. What would that have done for someone like Layne, TSC?” The floor man wanted to lower his head but he wouldn’t give Braxxx the satisfaction, his brown eyes followed the emerald ones as they peered at him. “You run the business TSC, you keep the books, you keep an eye on things on the floor, leave the customers to me. If I hire someone to assist me with massaging the egos of the fat cats that come in here it is not in your power to question me. This discussion is over.” Braxxx walked to the door and was through it without a backward glance.
TSC stared at the door a good long time before going back to his books.
“I have this letter for you Mr. Jenkins” It took a minute for TSC to ignore the bosoms themselves and to notice the letter that she was twisting ever so slightly below the neckline of her dress. TSC thought for a moment if neckline was the right word. If it exposed the top of the breast and covered just enough of what society demanded was it truly a neckline? The lightning that was her touch shocked him back into politeness and he looked at her with wide eyes. “Don’t you want the letter Mr. Jenkins?” Catalina’s question would have been difficult to answer because her lips blocked his own from formulating a proper response.
“And cut!” TSC almost fell over as Catalina had managed to extract herself with cat like grace from his embrace. He was dizzy and noticed he clutched a piece of paper. “Catalina that was perfect.” Braxxx was applauding and whistling while his head shook up and down in firm acknowledgement of the performance given. Catalina for her part smiled and gave a bit of a curtsey as she giggled under the attention of her appreciative audience. Braxxx pushed past his floor man bumping him as he wrapped his arms around her. “That was amazing my sweet, just like that. I would like the lips to put more but work with it, see it if suits your fancy. Just remember that Layne will more than likely be a little more aggressive than our sweet little TSC here. So when you see him be sure that you are prepared to do that other thing we talked about, okay?” She smiled and nodded not responding as she was all but pushed out of the door.
“I tell ya that kid got potential” Robert’s slapping hands refocused TSC and his boss stared at him coolly “You worked all damn day on that letter and were going to put it in the post box and have done with it. What would that have done for someone like Layne, TSC?” The floor man wanted to lower his head but he wouldn’t give Braxxx the satisfaction, his brown eyes followed the emerald ones as they peered at him. “You run the business TSC, you keep the books, you keep an eye on things on the floor, leave the customers to me. If I hire someone to assist me with massaging the egos of the fat cats that come in here it is not in your power to question me. This discussion is over.” Braxxx walked to the door and was through it without a backward glance.
TSC stared at the door a good long time before going back to his books.
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