Fiona approached her from behind.
‘Travis is here to see you,’ said the young secretary.
Jasmine nodded her head in reply.
‘Show him in.’
‘Yes, your majesty.’
Fiona’s high heel shoes clicked on the marble floor, as she headed for the exit.
‘Travis...’ sighed Jasmine. She had felt something for him at one point in time. He was a means to an end. He was a good soldier that turned up out of the blue. Their relationship was of mutual gain. She gave him a job, money, cars, weapons and a good life, and he helped her overthrow her late husband and assassinate the youngest son of John Riggs Senior. She was now the head of the twelve families. She was the leader of the Murdock Empire. And soon she would be the Queen of North City. She could not have done it without Travis, but now she no longer needed him. He thought he was clever, but Jasmine was fully aware of his operation with the ex-cop from South City. She had turned a blind eye for long enough. She didn’t mind that Travis stole from the other families, but he was getting too cocky. He was starting to steal from her. It would be a sad day when it happened, but Travis had to go. There could be no room for emotions or bonds. She had to rule with an iron fist if she wanted North City to return to its former glory.
***
‘I have a nice surprise for you today,’ said Anne.
‘What is it?’ asked Hazel, her baby sister.
‘It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you,’ countered Anne.
She tied the scarf around her sister’s neck and carefully pushed the loose bits into her gray winter coat. Hazel smiled that lovely little smile. It was the smile that made Anne happy. It was the smile that Anne had sold her soul for. She would do anything for her sister. Hazel was nearly seventeen years old, but she was as vulnerable as a newborn baby.
Hazel was blind.
Forty years ago that wouldn’t have been a problem.
In this world, it was a weakness.
Hazel would never be able to get a job.
She would never have any people or government help to support her.
Anne was her lifeline. Anne would do anything for Hazel. She wanted her sister to have a good, long and happy life. The money she was making from the operation with Travis was going a long way to securing this future. North City was a hell hold. Anne just needed thirty thousand pounds, and the two of them could escape to a safer city and live a life of peace and harmony with new identities.
‘You have to give me a clue,’ begged Hazel.
‘A friend of mind knows a place that you would like.’
‘A place I would like?’ she asked herself.
‘That’s right.’ Anne was giving nothing away.
‘Is it something to do with animals?’
‘I say nothing,’ replied Anne, but they both knew Hazel had hit the nail on the head.
***
The car cruised slowly down the traffic free road. Snow crunched under the wheels. River was doing his best to drive in the slushy treads of another car that had recently driven through. There was no government support or local authorities that cleaned the road in these terrible conditions. Thankfully, the majority of his journey was straight on. There were hardly any hills to go up or down. The journey should be uneventful, but he was taking no chances. Thoughts drifted to developments in his life. This last year had been one of the hardest for him. Ariel’s depression was crippling their relationship. Her drug use was slowly turning his heart away from her. How could he help someone that didn’t want to help themselves? The job was the one constant. It gave his life balance and made him feel like he was achieving something. Malcolm’s death had been a tragedy, but River had received a promotion in the process. He was now manager. For how long, he did not know. Businesses were starting to open throughout the city. There were all sort of stores from hardware shops, key cutters, newsagents, post offices, banks, bakeries, cafes, sandwich shops, clothes shops, charity shops and so many more. Eat Easy was starting to struggle with the rise in competition. Rumours of the franchise being put up for sale were growing louder by the day. If they were new owners then there would be significant changes, would he even keep his job?
These thoughts rumbled within his mind on the journey to work.
It took twenty-five minutes to reach the store.
The headlights illuminated the darkness, as he pulled into the car park. Several of his employees were already waiting for him outside of the shop. His eyes fell upon Ashley. Just the sight of her caused butterflies to flutter within his tummy. She was a living angel. Ashley had short fiery red hair, high cheekbones, a beautiful smile and the brightest blue eyes. She was about twenty-three, slim, busty and oozed sex appeal. It was like looking at a young Ariel, and that’s what worried him. He loved Ariel, but there was something about redheads that just got him going. River had managed to hide it well. Ashley was unaware of his feelings for her. Recently his thoughts of her were what got his blood going. Ariel no longer had that effect on him. It was an unsettling feeling.
***
She swept away a cobweb, proudly. Had there been a spider then it would have been a very different story. Kerry hated the little eight-legged monsters. She referred to the checklist and removed a sealed box of cheap canned fish products from the shelf. The box was lowered into the flattop trolley that was disappearing under the various products piled on top of it. Her job was to send up required goods to the shop floor. The shop floor team would then replenish the gaps on the shelves so that the till team members could collect those products for the customer. It was a straight forward process. The stockroom was considered the shit shift. You were underground in a dark room with no one to talk to. Time appeared to pass slowly down here.
She began the long walk up the aisle towards the top of the stockroom.
The walk took two whole minutes while pushing the trolly.
It was when she was approaching the conveyor belt that River walked by.
‘Hey, River,’ she called after him.
He paused and looked at her. Kerry could see that she had just disrupted some kind of internal thought process he was deep into.
‘You okay?’ he asked, with a stressed smile.
‘Um, yes,’ Kerry was going to ask what was up, but she knew of the problems he was having with Ariel. She decided to let it go for now. ‘I was just wondering if you had heard anything about the new store opening in Langley.’ Kerry was dying for information about the new Langley store. Eat Easy was opening a convenience store in a town ten miles from North City. It was her way out of this place. Langley was well known for its excellent security, schools and hospital. If she could get a transfer she could get Samantha away from Travis and out of this hell hold. It would be the new start she needed.
‘I haven’t heard anything new, but I am expecting news this week.’
‘Transfer news?’
‘Yes. I have sent off your transfer request to Marcus Riggs office. They will be sending me jobs vacancies this week, but I know the Eat Easy Superstore in West Valley and South City are also sending transfer requests. So I don’t know how many people we will be allowed to send, or what roles are available, but as soon as I am aware I will tell you first.’
‘Thank you, River.’
***
The mop splattered onto the hard floor. The cold air amplified the smell of the bleach. She had always hated the smell of bleach. Chelsea mopped up the spilt coffee. It looked like she was doing nothing more than just spreading it across the floor, but there was a method to her madness.
‘How far you have fallen,’ said a woman’s voice.
Chelsea looked up at the woman sitting in the waiting area.
The woman was in her mid-twenties. She was wearing a black baby doll outfight, black knee-high boots, a black dog collar with silver studs around her neck and she wore a black bow in her hair. The base of her outfit stopped three-quarters up her smooth thighs. It left nothing to the imagination. Chelsea could see th
e woman’s black panties. The low cut V of the dress displayed her perky tits and showed off her sexy neck. The woman was sitting back smoking a cigarette with a smile on her face. She was called Debbie.
‘Did you hear me, cleaner?’
Chelsea glared but said nothing.
She got her head down and continued to mop.
‘The mistress to the Hand of God is now a cleaner,’ giggled the woman.
Debbie had always been jealous of Chelsea. Chelsea was once the sexiest escort that worked for the Riggs Crew. She had always got the best gigs and the best clients, but since Riley’s death things had changed. She had lost her job due to having the baby. There was no maternity cover in this world. Now she cleaned the Riggs Hotel. She used to be the face of it.
‘I would just kill myself if I were you,’ continued Debbie.
Chelsea picked up her bucket and moved onto her next job.
If she could, she would beat that bitch down into the ground, but she needed this job.
She had to hold her tongue.
***
The light around the edges of the door were the only source of illumination. Jillian cowered in the corner of her makeshift prison. It looked like a cleaning cupboard. Liam was sat next to her. He was no support or comfort. The man was only out for himself. Jillian’s thoughts drifted to JR, her kidnapper. He was surely going to kill her. JR’s reputation was growing by the day. He was a psychopath. And he had no reason to keep her alive. Jillian cursed her father internally. That bastard had sold her to improve his business opportunities. Her marriage was a joke. She ended up a sex toy and a play thing. Liam had saved her from that world, but again their marriage was purely for business and sex. They had travelled to North City to work with the twelve families and expand their business, but that was all gone to hell now. She now belonged to another man. Her life was worthless. They all treated her the same way. They used her or passed her own if it improved relationships with another company. JR was after Liam. Why he was after Liam, she did not know, but he had no need for her. Jillian was going to die. She knew this within her heart of hearts.
Suddenly, the door was thrown open.
‘No, wait,’ cried Liam.
Two men ruthlessly dragged him out.
It took less than five seconds.
The door was slammed shut. The darkness returned. The only sound Jillian could hear was the noise her heart was making within her chest.
‘I don’t want to be alone,’ she told the world.
She began to sob.
***
The car drifted through the streets. Traffic was more regular in the Murdock territory these days. Jasmine owned thousands of cars. She encouraged new business owners to come to North City by providing them with their own car, which truly was a luxury item in this world. Anne smiled at her sister. Hazel was sitting quietly in the front seat beside her. The young woman’s eyes could not witness the progress that they were making in this world. It didn’t matter. Hazel always felt safe. It was probably a blessing she didn’t know how shit the world was. Anne worked hard to make Hazel happy. Outside of the car people were walking down the sidewalks, going into and out of the local businesses. All sorts of various shops had popped into existence in the last twelve months. Life looked like it was finally returning to normal. Crime had dropped. The Murdock Empire had a zero tolerance for crime. They wanted a world of peace and security.
The indicator ticked, as she checked her mirrors and pulled over to the curb.
The engine died.
‘Where are we?’ asked Hazel, slightly excited.
‘That is a surprise,’ giggled Anne.
***
A conversation was taking place by the ticket machine in the stockroom. Ashley, George and Andy were chatting away about the transfer. Everyone wanted to get the new openings. Life in Langley was supposed to be far better than North City, but then again most places were better than here. Kerry pushed her trolley up to the conveyer belt and began to unload the items for the shop floor.
‘You should get it,’ said George.
George was a known for his allergies to working.
‘You think so?’ said Ashley, with a smile.
Ashley was Kerry’s number one enemy. They were both going for the manager’s job. Kerry would have easily got the job hands down, but Ashley had previous work experience in a town on the coast. She had been a team leader in a store for a different company. It meant she had experience of locking up, opening, running a team, cash handling, invoices, reports and so much more. Kerry had filled in as acting manager once or twice before, but Ashley had done it for years on end. It didn’t help that she was drop dead gorgeous and always had those perky tits on display. She left more blouse buttons open than Kerry.
‘Without doubt,’ replied George, ‘the job has your name all over it.’
‘Thank you. I would just love the opportunity to run my own shop.’
‘I don’t think I want to be a manager,’ added Andy. ‘It is far too much responsibility, but I would like to take the customer assistant job out there. Katie and I have been talking about starting a family. It would be nice to make the move and give it a go.’
‘You should get it, too,’ replied Ashley. ‘River knows how hard you work. Your C.V speaks for itself. I think he will give you a good reference.’
‘If it’s references then I won’t get it,’ said George. ‘He hates my guts.’
‘Ha,’ laughed Andy, ‘he might transfer you, just to get rid of you.’
‘You think?’ George grinned.
Kerry allowed herself a brief smile. There was no way in hell River would give George the transfer. They both thought the little blonde teenager was a waste of space. Andy would most likely get the transfer. River would be disappointed to lose such a good employee, but he wasn’t the type of manager that would block a transfer because of that reason. Andy and Katie would most likely get the move they desired. Ashley was a tricky one. It was fifty-fifty between the two of them. One of them would become the new manager or deputy of Langley, and the other would remain as a customer assistant here in North City. Kerry had to make sure she got it.
***
Danny Murdock greeted her with a smile. It was a heart warming smile that instigated a tickling sensation in the pit of her stomach. Fiona smiled back. She couldn’t help it. Danny just inspired this reaction in her. It didn’t help that he was so gorgeous. He was young, clean shaven, had good hair, always smelt nice and knew how to dress like a real man. Danny came to a stop at the other side of the desk. He glanced down the corridor, back at the elevators, and the door to his mother’s office. Nobody was about. He leaned over the table towards Fiona. The young secretary didn’t even need telling. Her body was moving on its own. She met him half way and planted a deep loving kiss upon his lips. His tongue instantly picked the lock and slipped into her mouth. Strong hands grabbed the back of her head and pulled her into him. Their heads tilted side to side, as passion took over. Fiona pulled back, gasping, her breasts heaving.
‘I missed you,’ said Danny.
‘I missed you, too,’ replied the eighteen-year-old secretary.
‘Is she in?’
‘She is.’ Danny approached the door into Jasmine’s office. ‘But I wouldn’t go in there.’
Danny stopped.
He could hear it already.
He could hear the orgasmic moaning of his mother. She was being fucked in her office. A sickening sensation pulled down on his gut. He hated that fucking woman. Is this how she did business? She got people on her side by using her pussy? He had no doubt that she was currently with one of the heads of the twelve families. This is how she persuaded them into working with her. She had a cunt for hire. His father would never have been so cowardly. Danny stepped away from the door and returned to Fiona.
‘Who is it?’
‘It is the head of the Clown Crew.’
‘She is making a mockery of our name,’ replied Danny.
Fiona said nothing. What could she say to that?
‘Come to my place after work,’ said Danny. ‘We will discuss the plan there.’
Fiona nervously looked around. Still nobody was about. The plan always made her feel nervous. If anyone ever learnt what they were planning to do, then they would be dead in a heartbeat. It was a risky plan, but one she would happily do. She loved Danny. He meant the world to her. It was his plan and something he wanted to achieve, but she would go to the depths of hell to help it come to fruition.
‘I will be there.’
***
Personnel files were spread across the top of the desk. River surveyed the faces of his twelve employees. This was going to be harder than he thought. He was gaining a whole new respect for Malcolm. The old manager had done this process a hundred times over. Was this why Malcolm was so miserable for all those years?
The phone call had come this morning.
Eat Easy was being brought out.
Everything was about to change. The superstore format was being demolished. In four months, the new owners would be in charge, and they wanted things in place by then. Eat Easy was being turned into a convenience store chain. River didn’t know the exact details, as it wasn’t important that he knew, but the general impression was that Eat Easy would be opening four smaller shops in North City and turning the superstore into a depot. This was not a major shock to the system. It made more sense. The new store in Langley was a convenience store. The only shock was the size of the staff. The new store had seven employees. The superstore ran on four employees for nearly two years, but this new format was being given a store manager, two team leaders, three customer assistants, a weekend customer assistant and a weekend team leader. The increase in staff was because the store opened at eight in the morning and closed at eleven at night. It was also open seven days a week.
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