Days passed, with Alex spending his time in The Silver Quill bar, waiting out the renovations and sharpening his mind over endless rounds of chess with Edgar.
"What's the latest with the business and renovations." Alex asked the old man sitting on his usual spot.
"The company is officially registered. Staff are hired. Everything's in motion. All that remains now... is for the building to be finished." Edger responded while still sitting behind the desk looking at the documents he had in his hands.
Nodding at the information, Alex continued, "Then it's about time we sat the crew down. Get everyone on the same page."
Alex looked at his watch and asked, "When did we say they should get here..."
"Eleven O'clock." Edger replied with his usual stoic face.
"Oh? Then that gives us enough time for a game, what do you say old man, want to go...?" Alex asked with a smirk on his face.
Edgar raised an eyebrow and looked at Alex's smile and replied, "I've never seen someone look so eager to be thoroughly humiliated."
And so, a thorough beating commenced in the Silver Quill—courtesy of Edgar, master of pieces and patience.
--
In the secluded corner of the bar a small group was gathered there, the atmosphere was guarded.
Douglas sat with his arms crossed, decked in a brown fur coat, blue jeans, and timberland boots. His fingers sparkled with rings, and a black durag covered his head. His eyes scanned the table cautiously, sizing everyone up
Beside him sat a woman—calm, cold, coiled like a spring. She wore a blue denim jacket over camouflage pants and heavy combat boots. Her dark hair was tied back in a tight ponytail. She hadn't said a word, but her silence was louder than most people's shouting.
For Doug, the silence was too much so he just asked, "So, Mr. Alex and uhm.... Butler looking dude, what are doing here.?"
The tension in the air seemed to lessen after he asked, Alex leaned forward and spoke, "Well this is a meet and greet Doug, I'm sure you'd want to know the people you'll be working with from now – "
Just before he could finish what he was saying the women interrupted him,
"Edgar who is this shrimp," she said with flat voice her tone dismissive
Hearing the way, she addresses him, he almost instinctively shot out from his seat and put a knife through her eye socket, but he remained smiling as he looked at her, but his eyes had a dangerous glint in them as he responded to her, "You'd best watch how to talk to me woman."
The table fell dead silence again, but this time, the tension was different both Alex and Lilith staring each other
Edgar, without lifting his eyes from his glass of bourbon, finally spoke
"Lilith, that 'shrimp' is the man who just gave your sorry ass a chance at rebuilding your life, instead of rotting away in some hole."
She raised an eyebrow
"Huh."
Then she slowly leaned back in her chair
Alex still not looking away from her continued, "You work for me now, Lilith. Not because you must, but because it's the only smart choice left on the table for you."
Hearing him speak, Lilith frown slightly but still, her eyes were showing signs of defiance
Alex leaned back on his chair as well and smiled with his usual smile.
"Now, where was I…?"
"Oh right...you too will be working together from now on, Doug will be supplying the product to customers and Lilith here will be producing it."
"You both will have a team of five people that will be helping you with your tasks, Edger here will get you reliable people to work with."
"But if you have someone in mind you want to bring to your team, tell Edger and he'll check them before bringing them in." He finished speaking and looked at the two sitting opposite him.
"Any questions so far?"
"How much are you going to pay me.?" Lilith asked still leaning in her chair with arms crossed over her
"Both of you will be paid a certain amount, which you will discuss with Edgar here each year."
Hearing his answer, Lilith frowned, 'Why is he so vague? ugh, this guy is so annoying.'
Not hearing any more question from them, he continued, "Now, in about a week the first sample should be ready, Doug, I need you to make sure we ready by then, understood."
"Loud and clear man."
Alex nodded his head acknowledging Doug.
Doug seeing that Alex was done, he asked hesitantly, "What are we going to do if the Cops or El Garra start sniffing around, I mean we will be operation on his turf After-all?"
Hearing his question everyone on the table looked at Alex with eyes that were looking for answers, he replied, "Don't worry about the cops I have them under control," he paused slightly, a cold smile appearing on his face
"As for El Garra...…"
----
[Ding!!!]
[Congratulations host for recruiting the first members of your organization]
[Rewards: 250 RP | Skill Boost]
Hearing the system's notification, Alex opened his eyes as he was about to drift to sleep, 'You know system, your timing is shit.'
[INFLUENCE SYSTEM | STATUS WINDOW
Name: Alex Gray
Age: 21
Status: Stable
Level: 5
Assets: $660 000 | RP: 40 > 290
Reputation: Operator
Shop
Skills: Tactical Intelligence: A+ Club & Entertainment Operations: D-
Strategic Planning: S Pharmaceutical Engineering: E+
Psychological Manipulation: S+
Firearms Handling: A
Combat Proficiency: A-
Leadership: B > B+
Negotiation: A
Observation: S-]
Seeing the system rewards, he decided to save the RP and use the Skill boost on leadership because it was one of his lowest original skills, and he could feel that he needs to Improve tremendously on it with his business stating to take shape.
After checking and making sure that there nothing he was missing in the system notifications, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Tomorrow was another day.