Seven Days: A young black woman makes a deal with a mob boss. (6 page)

"I don't owe you anything, Sonny. Perhaps you shouldn't make bets with someone you know will beat you every time," Victoria said.
She watched his face as his smile dropped. She figured that losing to Nic was something that happened more than he'd like to admit. Then just as soon as it had disappeared, he gave her an evil grin.
"Careful little Vicky. Getting a little high and mighty..." then he leaned close to her ear, "for someone who lies on her back constantly."
If Paul Marconi hadn't been standing there, she would have smacked the shit out of him. Right then and there. He didn't know anything about her! None of these people did. They could assume all they wanted, but she was a hard working, good person. She had never dreamt of doing anything remotely close to what she had done for the past few days. They were judging her on less than two weeks time, instead of the past twenty-three years. 
Sonny leaned up and smiled, now that he had gotten the best of her. "Well pops, I think we're needed inside for some quick business. Have a good night, Victoria," Sonny said, and turned to walk back inside.
"So nice meeting you, Victoria...?" Paul said.
"Davis. Victoria Davis. Nice meeting you too."
"Ms. Davis. Thank you for giving this old man the joy of flirting with the prettiest young woman in the room." He smiled and followed his son. Well, perhaps the dress was a hit tonight. She watched him walk away, right as the tall blond that Antonio pointed out sauntered toward her in her beautiful dark blue dress. No doubt Versace or something like that.
"Hi, I don't believe we've met. I'm Amber Andretti," she said, as she stared down at her. The woman smiled, but it never reached her eyes.
"Hi. I'm Victoria. Andretti...are you Nic's sister?" Victoria took in the woman's height and eye color. They could definitely be related.
Amber threw her head back and laughed. Victoria didn't know what she had said that was so funny, but she smiled out of lack of anything else to do.
"You're so cute. But no, I'm his wife," she said, smile completely gone. It was replaced by an evil look, as she placed her slender, perfectly manicured hand on her hip.
Victoria was stunned, and she was sure the expression she had on her face was priceless. She quickly closed her mouth. His wife?! He was married!! And doing what he was doing with her! She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. Then she quickly put two and two together...and she remembered what Sonny had said a few days ago. 'Whoa! That's definitely not Amber.' How much of a fool had she probably looked to all of the men in the room that day? Ugh, she hated Nic right then.
"So...how is it you know my husband?" Amber asked, boring her gaze into Victoria.
"I don't really," Victoria quickly recovered. She wasn't about to let this woman intimidate her. If she and Nic were having marriage problems, she needed to take it up with him. Not her.
"Then why are you here?"
"I was invited."
"By whom?"
Victoria wanted to say none of her business, but that would be too much of a giveaway. So instead, she thought of another name. "Antonio. He's the guy serving the appetizers. Over there," Victoria said, pointing to the table. But Amber never took her cold eyes off of her. Instead they slid down to Victoria's chest.
"Are those real?" she asked.
"What?!" Victoria coughed out. What was it with this chick?
"Your tits, are they real? I see so many fake ones that they are so easy to spot. But yours look real."
"Um, yes, they are real."
"Nic likes real," Amber stated.
Both of them stood there for a moment, uncomfortably. Then Amber laughed. "He was so pissed when I got mine done. He said he would have rather they been small and real, than fake and big. But whatever, they made me happy. All that matters, right?"
Victoria doubted that Amber actually wanted a reply, so instead, she kept her mouth shut. 
Amber gave her another once over. "That's a beautiful dress. Where did you get it?"
"I don't know. It's not mine."
Amber gave an evil grin. "It looks like this dress that I saw at one of my favorite stores. This French boutique that's to die for. All of their designer clothes are imported from Paris. It's a tad expensive...but that's also why I like it. What are the odds that you would have a dress from my favorite store? The only store on the entire east coast," Amber said, scanning over Victoria's body. Letting her words sink in.
Victoria shrugged feeling more and more uncomfortable by the moment. No more words were needed for either woman to know exactly who the other was to Nic. Victoria NEVER wanted to be that woman. The woman who sleeps with married men. She felt so humiliated. Every mistress's worst nightmare, meeting the wife. Mistress. Is that what she was? 
"Come, you must meet Nic...since this is his house and all. Would be rude not to thank the host."
Amber grabbed Victoria's hand and practically drug her over to Nic's group before she could even protest.
"Hey darling, look who I found. This is Victoria. I don't believe you two have met." All eyes around the group went back and forth from Amber to Victoria. "Funny though, you guys said she came with you...yet she said her date was Anthony...or Adrian, something like that. The waiter over there," Amber pointed out.
Nic couldn't help but look over toward Antonio. He felt an instant pang of jealousy that Victoria would claim that prick as her date. In truth, he didn't really know the kid, but he better not dare touch her. Nic wasn't sure why he was thinking so possessively of her, but fuck it, she was with him—end of story.
"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" Amber said, dragging everyone's attention back to Victoria.
Victoria exhaled. "Twenty-three."

"Oh, I was twenty-three when I met my hubby Nic. Innocent, sweet twenty-three year old, until he corrupted me with his lifestyle," she said, giving him a small hug.
"Amber, you were anything but," Nic said, taking another sip from his drink. Amber laughed loudly. "So true."
Victoria felt extremely uncomfortable. She didn't belong in this equation. 
"Oh, and by the way sweetie...next time you go to a party like this, don't stand by yourself for too long. People will think you came by yourself, and the only women dressed like you who show up by themselves are call girls."
"Amber, watch your mouth," Nic warned, slicing into her with his cold stare.
Amber faked being hurt. "I'm sorry, Nic. I'm just trying to help her out. I mean, we wouldn't want someone thinking she was nothing more than a whore, would we? Excuse me, I see my dear friend Sarah," she said as she stalked off, leaving a pissed off and hurt Victoria in her wake. There were now officially two people at this party that Victoria wanted to bitch slap. Make that three, including Nic.
Victoria crossed her arms over her chest, blocking off part of her plunging neckline. Maybe Amber was right...at least about the call girl part. Maybe she did look like a tramp compared to the rest of the women. She turned her head to the side, and stared over at Antonio. She wanted to look anywhere but at HIM. She wanted to go back to the loft and take a shower, and forget this whole night. Antonio was right...she didn't belong with this group.
She quickly wiped a tear before it fell.
"You look beautiful, Victoria," Jimmy said to her. Then he looked at Nic. "Okay if I take her for a twirl before my wife shows up?" Nic nodded and grabbed another drink from a tray passing by.
Victoria was thankful for the distraction. She followed as Jimmy led her to the floor. He gently grabbed her around her waist. "Hey kiddo, don't worry. That Amber has claws, and she enjoys shredding anything in her path. You held up pretty good." 
"Has he ever done this before, Jimmy?" Victoria whispered to him, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Was this some sick, twisted power trip?
"No, never. I mean, he's never had to. You should see the girls pulling each other's hair out to get into his clubs, his house...his bed. Let's just say there is a lot. So, this was all a shock to me. I didn't expect him to be really serious about it. You know, adding days and stuff," Jimmy answered, and then he brought her close to his body. "Shit, I'm drunk. I've said way too much. Please don't tell him."
Victoria laughed and then sighed. She wasn't sure what to make of that. After a few minutes, Raymond surprised her by cutting in to have a dance. He was so tall and awkward that they both tripped over each other the whole time. Victoria glanced over at Nic. He was staring at her. She quickly looked away. After a few more dances with some strangers, she walked back over to Antonio. 
"You're a big hit tonight. I see all the girls are hitting' on you," Antonio joked, as he served another guest.
"Please...these women have everything. I'm...well, let's just say they shouldn't envy me in the least."
"I still can't figure out why you are here," Antonio said, staring at her.
"Long story," Victoria said, while popping another appetizer in her mouth.
Antonio stared down at his watch. "Hey Danny," he yelled over at another waiter. "Can you finish this up for me. I got to take off. Going to be late." Danny nodded and Antonio looked at Victoria.
"You want to go to a real party?" Antonio asked, with a devilish smile.
At that moment, Victoria didn't really care where she went. She just wanted to get away from this hell hole. "Absolutely."
In Antonio's beat up Ford Mustang, she felt at ease. She had only just met this guy, and already she was driving off with him. Her normal self...the Victoria from several days ago, would have said no. But she felt like being a little dangerous. Being around dangerous men had its effects.
"Mind if I smoke?" Antonio asked. Victoria shook her head. He lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips and looked over at her. "You really do look beautiful in that dress. I mean, I don't know what you normally look like, but you are fucking hot."
Victoria choked out a laugh. "Um, I think that's a compliment...if you're not disappointed with my 'normal' look."
"So, you going to tell me what you were doing there?"
"You first. Is this what you want to do, catering and stuff like that?" Victoria asked. She had wanted to open up a catering business...but her father shot that idea all to hell, while he made her work endless hours in a dying restaurant.
Antonio blew the smoke out of the cracked window. "Nah. I was just doing this as a part of my job. I work for Mr. Andretti. The way he runs his, um...well, his company is that you start from the bottom...kind of like a mailroom. I do odd jobs for him now and then, and judging on how well I do them, I get promoted. The waiter thing was just something I was asked to do if I wanted to make a little extra. I said, what the hell...I have bills. Might as well, right? Plus, I was hoping to be introduced to him tonight. I mean, I've met him once before only briefly. Man, that dude is intense. I would never want to cross him."
Victoria listened to Antonio talk about Nic like he was a God. So it wasn't just her that he had this effect on. It was everyone. "So, you want to be a criminal too?" she spat out, while staring out of her window.
Antonio coughed. "Um, well, you shouldn't say things like that," he said, looking uncomfortable.
"Antonio, I know what he does. He didn't get all that money in stocks and stuff, you know."
"Well, I mean, it wouldn't be bad to be like him. I mean, he's in his early thirties, and owns so much shit. Everyone respects him...yeah, I could be like him one day." Victoria shook her head. 
"So, don't avoid the question, what were you doing there?" Antonio asked.
Victoria really didn't want to admit it, but part of her wanted to get it off her chest. To let someone know what a dick Nic really was. To ensure her that none of this was her fault. She was being manipulated by an evil man, which is something she tried to assure herself every day. But as the days passed, it became harder and harder to use that excuse. There were no bars on his loft. She was staying there of free will. Hell, just be honest.
"My dad owes him money, so to avoid him hurting my family, I'm sleeping with him," she blurted out, and then turned to see Antonio's reaction.
His brow furrowed. "So wait...you're with Nic?" Victoria shrugged and stared back out of the window. But she felt the car slowing down to a stop.
Victoria turned to look at Antonio. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"
"Um, Victoria, I need to take you back. Shit, I didn't know you were his girl. Fuck!" Antonio shouted, staring into his rear view mirror and then turning around in his seat, looking through the back window.
"I'm not his girl," Victoria said, slightly raising her voice. She didn't belong to Nic. He had a wife that fit in just fine at that party. As far as she was concerned, he and Amber were perfect for each other. Two tall, evil bookends.
Antonio sighed as he turned off the engine. "Victoria, he's my boss. And I've heard stories, you know. People sometimes go missing that cross him. Let me take you back."
There was no way in hell Victoria was going back to that party. She wasn't a masochist. She didn't enjoy pain and humiliation and if she went back, that's what it would be like. "No, just drop me off down the street. I'll take a bus back to his loft. I'm not going back over to his house," she said, grabbing her purse.
"No, wait. I don't want you to do that either. Shit! Okay, okay, I'll take you to my place. Fuck, see how much trouble a pretty face can get you into," he said, grinning at her.
Victoria smiled back. "Thank you."
Antonio pulled the Mustang back out onto the road and tossed his cigarette out of the window. Victoria didn't want to get him in trouble, but she doubted that Nic even cared. He had a house full of guests and he hadn't even danced with her or really paid attention to her the entire night. Maybe that was a good thing. He probably didn't even know she had left. She wondered what Antonio thought about her relationship with Nic.
"Hey, do you think I'm a shitty person now because of what I'm doing with him?" she asked.
Antonio shook his head. "Nah, not at all. Hey, do what you have to do, you know? Doesn't make you a bad person." Then he clicked on the radio and sang loudly until they reached a small house, with several people gathered out on the stoop.
"Welcome to la casa di amore," Antonio said, while grabbing her hand and leading her inside.
"I have no idea what that means," Victoria laughed over the loud music.
"Hopefully you will soon," he whispered in her ear, giving her another devilish grin.
Inside the tiny living room, the music was bumping and everyone was drinking, laughing and dancing. A short blond headed guy ran up to them and handed them drinks. "Victoria, this is my roommate, Sean. Sean, meet the lovely Victoria," Antonio said, taking a large swig out of the red plastic cup.
"Hi Victoria. You're a little dressed up for this party, but fuck, you're sexy," Sean said, scanning over her body, settling his eyes on her breasts.
"Um, thanks. Nice to meet you."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to his idiotic outbursts," Antonio said, as he guided her further into the small, cramped house. They immediately joined in with everyone else and started dancing. It was sweltering in his place. Her hair had fallen out of the pins and she was sure her make-up had sweated off by now, but she didn't care. Victoria hadn't had this much fun in...well, ever. She rarely did things like this. She was always working so hard in school and in her father's restaurant. She never went out. 
Then suddenly an old tune, House of Pain's 'Jump Around' came blasting through the speakers, and the entire crowd began jumping up and down. Victoria threw her head back and laughed at Antonio's old school dances. He was showing her all of the moves and she was cracking up. He even threw in a Kid N Play foot bump with a friend of his. And toward the middle of the song, everyone yelled out, "And I ain't going out like no punk, bitch!" at the same time, causing Victoria to crack up even more. What a night! It was in this moment that she missed attending college. She had tried to go a year at a local community college, but work always hindered it. But now, she felt like she belonged. 
Antonio moved closer to her, and the two started dancing more intimately, even though they were out of sync with the music. She noticed him lean down like he was about to whisper something in her ear, before his eyes were diverted in the direction behind her. He immediately stood at full attention and his eyes widened. Victoria was just about to ask what happened, when she heard the music stop. She turned and her mouth dropped. 
Standing by the door were Nic, Raymond and Jimmy. Everyone in the house was frozen, all eyes on the three menacing men who had just entered. Nic was staring at her, his arctic blue eyes freezing her, causing her to shiver. He was dressed in a long black coat, giving him a dangerous look, like a hit man or something. He started walking towards her. 
Victoria stared at him with wide eyes. She didn't know what to expect. He walked up to her and grabbed her wrist. She saw him lean toward Antonio and whisper something into his ear. And she couldn't be sure, be she swore she felt Antonio shiver beside her.
Nic turned and walked toward the door, Victoria following closely behind him with his hand gripping her wrist tightly. With everything so quiet, her heels clicking against the floor was the only noise in the house. Victoria didn't ask any questions. She knew he was mad, even though he seemed calm. Gave new meaning to 'the calm before the storm'. 
She watched as Jimmy flashed his gun to a kid who looked like he was about start some trouble. The kid immediately stopped in his tracks. "You all have a good night," Jimmy smiled, as he turned and walked out, followed by Nic and her, and then Raymond.
When they made it outside, the cool air hit the sweat on her body and she shivered again. Nic opened the backseat car door for her, and she got in. He walked over to the other side and got in beside her. Raymond got behind the wheel and they took off. Jimmy followed behind in another car.
Victoria was scared to look over at him. She knew he was seething. 
"Nic, I--," Victoria started. 
"Keep your mouth shut until we reach the loft," he snapped, turning to glare at her.
Nic rarely got pissed to where he couldn't think straight, but this girl...she was causing that to happen to him a lot. He had wanted to talk to her during the party, but she had gone. And not just left, but left with another man! Oh, he almost kicked everyone out then. He was so pissed. Tonight he was going to make sure she got their arrangement through her pretty little stubborn head.
Victoria thought it was best to keep her mouth shut like he asked. She sighed and stared out of the window. Another fucking week added. She already knew it.
When they arrived at his loft, Nic greeted Sam as usual as they entered the elevator. Nic still hadn't said a word to her. She followed him into his place and closed the door. She watched as he started removing his jacket and tie. His eyes were burning a hole through her. She quickly looked down.
"Come here," she heard him say. She looked up at him and slowly walked towards him. She wasn't sure what he was going to do.
"This isn't working. I don't do business like this. You're free to go. I'll contact your father in a few days. I realize he's sick and I will take that into consideration," Nic stated, as he stared down at her.