I gasped for air and made my way over toward his desk. My body hunched over as I tried to draw in a deep breath. I noticed something on his desk and glanced over at Jose, who was standing with his back towards me. Quickly, I took the opportunity and grabbed the black book and slipped it into my pocket without Jose noticing what I had done.
“You’re a handsome fellow, Chase. I think the best way to get you to pay might be to have Marco do a little cutting on that pretty face of yours. Marco!”
As he screamed for Marco to come into the room, I ran through my head all the possibilities of the moment. There was no way I could convince my father I was responsible if I had a big gash on my face.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said desperately. “I can’t do business with a cut on my face; it’s how I get things done. I’ll have your money in two weeks.”
“I’m serious, Chase. If I don’t have the full amount in two weeks, I will make sure you are hurt badly, and then I’ll go to your father for the money.”
“I understand.”
“Yes, boss,” Marco said when he entered the room.
“Show Mr. Foster out. Ensure he understands the consequences of what will happen if he doesn’t return with my
money in two weeks.”
“Yes, boss.”
Marco grabbed my arm more forcefully than I had expected and pushed me out of the room toward the front of the house. When we were away from Jose, he released his grip and just walked behind me.
“Chase, he’s serious. How are you going to get the money?”
“Dude, I’ve got it worked out. No worries.”
“Man, I’m worried for you. He’ll do whatever he needs to.”
I was one hundred percent sure that Marco was right. Jose Escabar was not the type of guy to make idle threats. If he said he was going to break a guy’s leg, that guy showed up with a broken leg. I had two weeks to get his money, or my father was going to know everything about my sordid lifestyle.
Oh, yes, my father would instantly pay up the money I owed. But that would be it, I wouldn’t get another penny from him and, more than likely, I wouldn’t even have my job with him anymore. It wasn’t an option. I needed to figure out how to get Jose his money.
“Chase, I need to do one last thing before you leave,” Marco said, and I turned around.
Then, BAM, he punched me in the eye.
“Shit, Marco, what was that for?”
“Jose said to make sure you knew how important it is to make the full payment. That’s how I do it.”
“But, shit, Marco. We grew up together.”
“That don’t matter when it comes to business. You’re lucky he didn’t have me slice your face up. That shit don’t go away.”
“God damn, Marco.”
“Go get your shit in order and come back with his money.”
Marco left me on the front steps, holding my eye and dizzy from the force of his fist to my face. I had only been punched a couple times in my life. Luckily, I was usually able to avoid the fights with a little fast-talking. Apparently, that hadn’t worked with Jose and Marco. But I was grateful they hadn’t cut my face. At least a bruise would heal.
As I pulled away from his place, I had to smile, though.
While I was in Jose’s office, I had grabbed a little something that I could use to ensure my safety – especially if I wasn’t able to make the payment in two weeks. This little item was going to be my ticket to avoiding being killed and keeping Jose from telling my father about the money I owed.
I smiled a little at my win in the situation. Never had I stolen something that I felt would hold the key to my safety. It was invigorating. I felt alive. I had the security I needed to make sure I was safe.
I also hoped that Jose wouldn’t realize it was me who had taken his little black book. Because if he knew it was me, it wouldn’t matter if I paid off my loans, he would still kill me. Suddenly, I started to think stealing Jose Escabar’s little black book of contacts was a really bad idea.
Oh, shit! What have I done?