Seven Days: A young black woman makes a deal with a mob boss.

by Diana Hoffman

  Amber's eyes widened and then narrowed at her. "Please little girl, I can have him back anytime I want him," Amber said, while flicking her hair behind her back.

  "Then go get him and leave me the hell alone! If you want him so fucking much. I'm not going to stop you, trust me!"

  Amber opened her mouth like she was about to say something, but then closed it. She turned and stomped out of the room. Victoria heard the door open, but then heard Amber yell, "Don't get too comfortable, sweetheart. Nic gets bored really easily...and it's just a matter of time before you're right back on the streets where you came from!" And then the door slammed.

  Victoria grabbed a hanger and threw it across the room. Damn, Nic. Damn, damn, DAMN!!!

  Victoria hated these types of things with Nic. No one knew her, so she was pretty sure they all assumed she was some loose girl that Nic had picked up for the night. At least Jimmy would be there. He always made her feel more at ease. He treated her like a person and not some expendable trash.

  Nic picked her up exactly at seven, and when they arrived at Jimmy's house, a tiny woman with brunette hair opened the door to greet them. "Hey Nic, looking good as always," she laughed, while giving Nic a hug. "Likewise—when can I steal you away from him?" Nic returned. She laughed and patted him on the shoulder, then turned her attention to Victoria. "Hi, I'm Isabelle, Jimmy's wife," she said, offering her hand.

  "Oh, hi, I'm Victoria. Nice to meet you."

  "Nic," Isabelle said, "Jimmy and the guys are in the living room. Make yourself at home while I become acquainted with your guest."

  Victoria watched as Nic left her with this stranger. She stared at the woman. She was a cute petite woman with big brown eyes. She seemed the complete opposite of Jimmy, who was big and burly.

  "Here, let me take that," she said to Victoria, while pulling her coat from her.

  "Thanks," Victoria said. Isabelle led Victoria down the hallway and towards the kitchen. Victoria felt a little at ease considering this was Jimmy's wife. Maybe she was as nice as he was.

  "So, you're Victoria...Amber's rival," Isabelle laughed, as she handed Victoria a glass of champagne. Okay, maybe she wasn't as nice.

  Victoria didn't want to be rude to Jimmy's wife, so she said nothing as she sipped on the glass of champagne. Fuck it, she needed more than a few sips with the way her day had been going. She tipped the glass up and swallowed the rest.

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that. It's just that I can't stand Amber. She can die a thousand deaths for all that I'm concerned. Trust me, I barely know you, but I'm Team Victoria all the way," Isabelle said.

  That shocked the hell out of Victoria. She stared down at Isabelle and laughed. Okay, maybe Isabelle wasn't so bad after all.

  "Sit by me at dinner. I want to hear how you stole her limelight and her man at the party the other night. I arrived late, but I heard about it and I've been smiling ever since," Isabelle said, smiling at her. She linked her arm around Victoria and the two walked into the dining room together.

  At dinner, Victoria was introduced to everyone. Most of them were Italian-American, and a few of them were related to either Jimmy or Isabelle. All of them knew who Nic was, and she was sure they knew what he did, but they didn't seem to care. They all told jokes and stories as the food was passed around. Food that was absolutely amazing. Isabelle was probably the best cook ever, next to Victoria's own mother. Isabelle showed Victoria pictures of her kids. She and Jimmy had three girls. Victoria laughed at the fact of a big, scary guy like Jimmy having three little girls. Victoria glanced at Nic, who was sitting opposite her at the table. She thought about Nic with a kid. He'd probably have a boy...who would get into as much trouble as Nic probably did as a kid. Victoria looked at her empty champagne glass. She had already downed her second glass. She normally didn't drink, and especially not this much, but Amber's words were still messing with her. Why was Nic doing stuff like this? Helping her with her rent and bringing her to an intimate dinner with his close friends. She was sure this was reserved mainly for family and girlfriends. Sure, she was invited by Jimmy, but Nic could have declined. She wasn't his girlfriend or wife like he kept reminding her.

  Victoria picked up the champagne bottle and poured herself another glass. 'Fuck Amber and Nic,' she thought. Well, she wanted to hate Nic, but he had come to her rescue against evil Mr. Parker. But why? She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, Nic nod to Jimmy who was sitting beside her, and Jimmy moved the champagne bottle closer to him and out of Victoria's reach. Well, fuck it, at least she'd get to drink this third full glass. She started downing it. When she was done draining the glass, she knew Nic was probably staring at her, but she tried not to look at him.

  Somehow the topic of conversation moved to the economy, and Ralph, a cousin of Jimmy's, decided to voice his opinion. "Man, the economy is so fucked and those assholes in Wall Street and mortgage companies started all of this shit."

  "Yeah, well perhaps there's no place for decency in the modern world," Nic chimed in.

  "Assolutamente! It's like, get yours while you can and fuck everyone else. Man, it's so cutthroat out there nowadays. You really have to watch your investments," said Isabelle's brother Joey, while shaking his head.

  "Well, regular businessmen fall by the waste side now. You have to come to the table with something extra or different," Nic added.

  "That's right," Joey said.

  Victoria was really starting to feel her buzz. She had been quiet the whole time, while everyone chattered on around her. But Ralph just had to call her out. "What do you think, Victoria," he said. The whole table got quiet, waiting for her to respond.

  Victoria quickly glanced around the table. Shit. "Well, I always think there's a place for decency. At the end of the day, money isn't everything. It never was," Victoria said. She shouldn't have had that last glass. She felt herself leaning in her seat. They might not be able to tell she was a little tipsy, but she could feel it.

  "Yeah, but where does decency get you?" Nic asked. All eyes flew to him. "Some people live their lives trying to be decent human beings, and all that they get is screwed over by the world. Friends, lovers...," he turned to stare directly at Victoria. "Fathers, landlords and even me. So I forfeit decency for power any day."

  A couple of the men around the table mumbled in agreement. Victoria just stared at him, and then down at her bread and picked a small piece from it.

  "Well, decent people hold some power over the people with power that you just mentioned," Victoria disputed.

  "How so?" Nic asked.

  The entire table were leaning on their elbows watching this verbal volley back and forth between Nic and Victoria. Victoria glanced at Isabella and noticed that she was smiling from ear to ear at her. Victoria was nervous. She didn't want everyone paying so close attention. You could only hear the fireplace crackling in the background.

  "Guilt. The power decent people hold over those who aren't, is guilt. Those that screw over people feel guilty," Victoria stated. At least she hoped they felt guilty.

  "Usually the people screwing people over, Victoria, don't have a conscience. They don't care who they hurt to get what they want. And at the end of the day, it's more about the chase than it is actually getting what you want. Once you have it, it becomes boring. And people like that also don't spare a glance back at the lives they've ruined. And when they lay their heads on their pillow at night, they sleep peacefully, and guilt free, because they don't have any sympathy for the weak," Nic stated calmly, and then took a sip of champagne.

  Everyone was quiet for a moment, letting Nic's words sink in. Victoria felt a familiar sting behind her eyes. He was talking about her. She wanted so badly to get up from the table and leave. But not before she told Nic off. She thought of the scene in 'The Color Purple' where Celia confronts Mister at the dinner table with the carving knife. That image made her snort out a laugh. Everyone looked at her again, but she quickly stared at her plate. She had drank way too much.

>   To break the uncomfortable silence, Isabelle chimed in. "But, if you believe in Heaven, then your decency can buy you a one way ticket. Those who have sacrificed their humanity for the sake of a few bucks...may never see that." Jimmy smiled over at his wife.

  "Isa, you are right. For those that believe in that, I'm sure the decent ones do go to Heaven. And that's probably not where I'm going, but I can tell you right now...the devil is going to have one hell of a battle for my soul," Nic said with a grin.

  Everyone finally relaxed and laughed. Everyone but Victoria. She stared at Nic. Why did he affect her so much.

  "Speaking of battling the devil for our souls, I don't think there's a decent man among us tonight. So you're not alone Nic. We'll be fighting the battle with you," another friend said. More laughs erupted from the table.

  "Us women are decent by nature. I'm a loving wife and mother of three," Isabelle smiled. "So while you men are sweating an eternity in hell, we'll be living it up on the other side."

  "I'm not decent," a red-headed woman over in the corner said, while smiling devilishly at Ralph. "Amen," he said, while he kissed her.

  "What about you Victoria, are you decent?" Joey asked. Victoria looked up. Fuck it, why hide the truth. Thank God for alcohol.

  "You know, I don't think I am. I mean, I used to be a decent person before I came here and started fucking a married criminal for mon--," was the last thing she said, before Jimmy jerked her up. "Hey Vicky, let's go outside for some fresh air," he said, practically picking her up. Isabelle excused herself and followed behind her husband.

  Nic remained seated and calm as the eyes around the table quickly glanced at him then down at their food. He got up from the table. "Excuse me," he said as he walked toward the back.

  Outside, the cool air felt good against Victoria's skin. She needed that. Jimmy placed her gently on a bench in their back yard, while Isabelle wiped her face with a cool, wet cloth. "I'm sorry about that," Victoria slurred to them.

  "It's okay honey, we all drink a little too much," Isabelle said.

  "Fuck! What the hell am I doing here?!" Victoria shouted at no one in particular.

  "I'll take it from here," she heard Nic say from behind. Isabelle handed Victoria the cloth and kissed her on the forehead. "Thank you," Victoria mumbled as Isabelle and Jimmy walked away.

  Nic came around to stand in front of her. She didn't even have the energy to look at him.

  "Victoria, look at me," Nic said.

  She slowly looked up at him.

  "You can't let what people say affect you so easily. You have to be stronger than that."

  Victoria scoffed. Was he really trying to give her lessons on how she should live her life? Please.

  "I'm serious. I'm not going to hold my tongue because you get pissed and cry."

  "Why are you trying to give me words of wisdom? You don't give a shit about me, so just take me back to the loft, fuck me and then leave, okay?"

  Nic narrowed his eyes at her. "Fine, get your shit and let's go," he bit out and turned to walk back into the house. But then he stopped and said, "Just know that for that little outburst and your disappearing act at my party...you've earned another fourteen days. Congratulations."

  Fuck, so much for trying to play the game his way, Victoria thought.

  Later that night, after he left his loft, Nic stopped by his restaurant. Even though it was closed, he wanted to stay there for some peace and quiet before he had to go back to his house. There always seemed to be people around him there. Truthfully, he'd rather sleep at the loft tonight, but after he and Victoria's angry sex, she rolled over and didn't say another word to him, so he was pretty sure she didn't want him there.

  Nic stared down at the blank sheet of paper. He had a secret passion that only two people knew about, one being Jimmy. When he had tough decisions to make or was just stressed, he would draw free-style designs of buildings. He had actually gone to college for architecture and design, but he knew it was all in vain. He knew he would take over for his father some day, and when he graduated, he did. Even though he wasn't the oldest son in their family, he and his father both knew that he was the only one with the mindset to keep the 'business' afloat. But every now and then he was able to resurrect his private hobby. He had designed his club and the second restaurant. Both had turned out better than he could have imagined, especially his club.

  But tonight, his stress didn't come from his job. It was coming from Victoria. He had promised himself that he wouldn't let her get to him, but he wasn't making too good on that promise. Her words tonight at dinner affected him more than he thought. More than he wanted to admit. 'The power decent people hold over those who aren't, is guilt,' she had told him. He wanted to laugh it off. What power could she possibly hold over him? But...he did feel guilty. There he was trying to tell her not to let other's words affect her so much, but yet her words had touched him. In life, he usually had a take no prisoners, fuck 'em attitude, but with Victoria, she was a better person than he was. And she wasn't as weak as he thought. For a person who has no money or power, to hold her head up high despite feeling humiliated on a daily basis...that took some courage.

  And she had looked so beautiful tonight, and almost happy, but he had to go fuck it up by putting her back in her 'place'.

  Nic sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He stared at the chair opposite of him and realized that just a few weeks ago, Victoria had sat in that chair to explain her situation to him. She had come to him, probably scared and ashamed, looking for help...and how did he treat her? Like she didn't fucking matter. If he were being truthful, he had just planned to fuck her that night and get rid of her. He was sure she couldn't satisfy him the way he wanted, so he'd just take a few thousand off what her father owed him and call it even. But, when he had gone into his loft, and she hit him and then threatened to cut him, that lit something in him. She wasn't a pushover like he had taken her for during their brief meeting. His stomach turned to think of how she looked at him when he had asked her to remove her clothes in front of him and Jimmy. He knew that if she had any other option...she would have taken it and probably kicked him in the nuts on the way out. But she was desperate and he had taken advantage of that. He'd ripped her cheap black dress, not caring that it might be the only one she had. Fuck, he could be an asshole sometimes. It never bothered him to be called that before, but now...for some reason, he didn't want Victoria to think that of him.

  Nic leaned his head against his desk. He knew that their arrangement was something that would end eventually, and she'd go her separate way, and he'd go back to his life. But, in the meantime, he'd try to make it up to her. He would treat her differently. Yeah, starting tomorrow, he'd turn over a new leaf with Victoria. He smiled just thinking about her.

  Over the next few days, Nic tried keep his promise to himself to treat Victoria better. But she didn't make it easy on him. At first, she barely said two words to him. He would ask her a question, and a simple "yes" or "no" would be her only answer. And when he tried to ask a question that would require more than those generic replies, she would simply turn to him, plaster on a fake smile and say, "whatever you want is fine". Oh, she got under his skin so bad. But he kept his cool. It was just a part of his nature. Remain cool and calm at all times. But Victoria was seriously trying his nature. But he also realized it was her only defense against him. She couldn't physically beat him, so she would try to mentally overpower him. And fuck, if it wasn't working! And just when he would be ready to snap, her words about 'guilt' would slowly creep back into his mind. He did feel guilty, and he found himself wanting her to be happy.

  So, on several occasions, he would show up at the loft and beat her in a game of scrabble, or just sit and watch a TV show or movie with her. She seemed to like those sappy Lifetime movies, and although it was painful for him to watch, he would. And during these times, slowly but surely, she started to warm up to him again and he even caught her smiling a few times.

  The other day
, he took her to an art museum. He actually never cared much for those types of things, but she seemed fascinated with it. She told him that she had never been to an art museum before. When she was in grade school, they had taken a field trip to a museum, but had to pay for their own entrance into the museum. Her father was so tight with money, that she wasn't able to go, and instead spent that class period reading. That had made Nic feel even worse. But watching her bounce from painting to painting helped to quell some of that negativity. Although he found it all boring, she especially loved the Baroque paintings. She stared at them for several minutes, while he had stared at her. He also couldn't keep his hands off of her, and he kissed her neck or squeezed her ass every few minutes, while she would 'ooh' and 'aah' over each painting.