C2 When you meet the team

"Anyone else have anything for me?" I turn around after gulping down the smooth golden liquid that helps to tame my raging inner beast. With all the commotion of a crying and pleading mother and then the possibility of having a snitching junky in captivity who will probably sing like a fucking canary when bribed and threatened with his own addiction by a cop somewhat worthy of his salary, I almost forgot about the other men sitting at the table who is waiting to update me on other matters.

"Boss." Tomasso starts to speak as he rises a manila folder up above his head. "These are the books for our latest club. They are finally start looking like worth the hassle." He smiles, pleased with himself. I have to admit; I was pleased to, but I would never praise him aloud. The club was starting to work on my nerves as it hasn't shown any profit since I bought it four months ago. My clubs in Italy has always been doing great, but the first one in New York started out to be a loss cause, but as always Tomasso has shown how valuable he is.

"That is good to hear." I nod in appreciation of him doing what he gets paid for. Tomasso is a wild party animal himself and although I wasn't into any of the shit he was it seemed good for business. He knew what worked and what didn't and that is why he is in charge of all the clubs. He is also a very attractive man or so it seems by the looks of all the young girls he usually wear like jewelry on both his sides. Tomasso isn't much younger than me, although he acted like a teenager for the most part, especially after hours. His long black hair is usually munched up on the top of his head with a piece of rubber, he calls it a man-bun and his face was always shaven clean. Who knows where he got the time. He even looked the part of a teenager with a few rings puncturing his earlobes and a stud pierced through the skin above his right eye. I assume that his tattoos covered most of his upper body by the colorful skin peaking from his neck and sleeves.

"There is one thing." He starts and I already knew what he was about to say, in fact I knew this conversation by heart as we discussed it to many times already. I wasn't even sure why he always brought it up.

"Do not start this shit again." I warn my voice stern as always and my mind not changed.

"The people that visit the clubs are not like us, they want it. If we don't start selling, they will." The fuck, they will.

"I do not care if they come in as high as the fucking clouds, but if there is even a remote chance of anyone selling or in possession I want them thrown out!" I declare, not wanting to discuss this any further.

"My eyes must have spoken volumes causing Tomasso to immediately sit back in his seat as he realizes that the conversation was over or at least for today. In the back of my head I knew that sooner rather later he would revisit the same boring subject. I swear if it wasn't for the mandatory drug tests being done on my high-ranking officials, I might have accused Tomasso of using himself. With this guy, his noticeable amount of energy and his afflictions to the clubs, it always seemed that we ended up discussing the drug trade. I know money was a big attraction for him, but we made enough money. We didn't need drug money. Besides we were making enough enemies as it were and I do not see the need to put the whole firm in jeopardy because of a few extra bucks; and by that basically granting permission for drug use. Addicts could never be trusted and I needed to be surrounded by people I could trust.

"Antonio, Piero?" I question the only other two people at the table with high hopes of good feedback, alone. These two gentlemen are both heads of my hotels and casinos. Antonio taught Piero almost everything he knows as they usually worked together, but it was now Piero's job to run The Damian Hotel and Casino as well as The Grand Naples Hotel and Casino in Italy, because Antonio was in charge of building and running The Casa Resort and Casino in New York City.

"No problems at The Damian, Boss. The Grand is being circled by Policia, but I am working on that. There is nothing for them to be suspicious about." He states peacefully leaning back in his chair and folding his arms behind his head. I trust Piero and I know that I will be the first to hear if there was anything that needed my attention or if I needed to be worried. Except, of course, if he rather confides in Antonio, which won't bother me either. Antonio is a master in his trade and knows exceptionally well how to handle any complications.

"Keep me updated." I nod at Piero before switching my attention to Antonio. "How long?" I question him. He initially said one year for the construction of the Casino as most of the original building was still standing and then a four months to resort and open the Resort, after that only maintenance is needed at yet t each meeting there was some problem causing a delay.

"The Casino will be up and running in two months' time, at most."

"Another two months?"

"There is problems with the licencing, but for most of the resort it is up and running, only the small VIP Hotel's furniture needs to be delivered and then it will also be up and running." Antonio declares. "I have my people on it, sir." He assures me.

"Wait!" My voice rises a little. "Are you telling me that the Casino is finished, but not yet operating?" I glare at him. "This must be costing the firm a shit-load of money!" This time I shouted. I have spent too much money on that fucking place already. I hated losing money.

"The Resort is keeping the profits up, Boss." He tries to calm me, but it wasn't working.

"Two months, Antonio." I warn him. "If I need to fly out myself I will." I hated the idea of going there myself. I wasn't a fan.

"I am handling it, sir. There will be no need for your assistance." He assures me pinching his nose as he speaks.

"That is what I want to hear." I nod and the three of them get up in synchronization. "Until next time." I nod in a manner of greeting.

I always knew that this business was going to be hard as it grows, but god, if only the people who worked for me sometimes could use their own fucking heads my life would have much fewer complications. I pay them enough to do so. I pour myself another drink as the room clears out and I am finale left alone with my thoughts.

I did threaten to go to New York before; maybe I should go and get to the root of the problem with the licensing, find out who was not doing their job. I take another sip of whiskey, contemplating if I should go now or wait for another two months, which really was a long time for such a big Casino not to operate. If I do go now, Antonio might feel that I do not trust him and that was simply not true.

"Ciao" I bark into my phone not glancing at the screen as I pull it from my white dress shirt's pocket to answer it. Talking over the phone was mostly my brother's niche. I hated the fucking thing; I preferred the old school way where I talked face to face with someone. In that manner one could easier see when someone was lying, hiding something, scared and honest.