Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I speak to people how they deserve to be spoken to,” I rumble.
“How do you judge that, eh?”
“How they treat others.”
He laughs. “I guess I should’ve expected this from such a charitable outfit, huh? Okay, then.” Sal makes a show of looking at Toby’s name tag. “Toby, my good man, can you fucking get me a fucking refill? Better, Mr. Wolfe?”
I curl my hand into a fist.
“I’ll get down to it,” Sal says. “I’m interested in working with Do It All. Connecting my business with Do It All would be great for my PR. It’d make the government bidding easier. If they saw I was linked to you, they’d be more likely to hire us. But it ain’t just that.”
“Please, enlighten me,” I say tersely.
“I understand you got requirements for using the Do It All logo.”
“A donation to underprivileged families in the form of stocks, yes,” I say.
“See? That part’s tricky. These big corporations you deal with, maybe they can handle something like that. They can piss their money up the wall in donations, but I’m not sure I can stomach that. How about you let me use the logo without the donations?”
“Absolutely out of the question,” I say.
“Thanks, kitten boy,” Sal says when Toby brings his drink, giving me an ‘I-dare-you’ look.
Elliot glares at me now, and somehow, I stay calm. But it’s getting more difficult by the minute.
“As you’re probably aware, Mr. Mangano, we have an extremely skilled litigation team who deals with any copyright infractions on our logo. If we didn’t, Do It All wouldn’t mean anything.” I lean forward, staring down at the little prick. “And we have never, nor would we ever, let anybody use it without making a donation. Moreover, we reserve the right to decline donations.”
“You’d turn down money?”
“If I thought the company wasn’t a good fit for us, yes.”
“You haven’t heard the rest of my proposal. I’d also like to make cash payments, off the books, so to speak, which you’ll then, ah, let’s say, weave into your regular earnings. And I’d like shares in your products, but I’m not too interested in paying for these shares, if you catch my drift.”
His smile couldn’t be any wider. He’s grinning at me like a psychopath. That’s probably what he is.
“I understand what’s happening here, Mr. Mangano. Don’t worry.”
“You do, do you?”
“You think I’m some timid CEO who’ll be intimidated by a two-bit criminal because you brought backup.”
Elliot gasps, shaking his head at me, but I can’t stop. Who does this guy think he is?
“You think you can waltz into my world and make demands with the implication of crime? Shut your mouth.” I snap at him when he tries to interrupt. He closes his mouth, looking shocked to be following my instructions. “I’ve never heard of you, but judging from this setup, it’s easy to guess. I know what you are.”
“If you knew what we were, Mr. Wolfe, you wouldn’t say this.”
“Mafia,” I snarl.
Sal laughs. “If I were to say you’ve hit the nail on the head, most men would rethink their course of action. Most men would understand it’d be in their best interest.”
“I’ve struggled too much for too long to let somebody waltz in here and take my business just because they want it. I don’t know what leverage you think you’ve got, but let me make this clear. You’re never going to work with Do It All.”
He leans forward, lowering his voice. “If I tell my boys to come over here and join us, what then? You’re a big man, Mr. Wolfe, but I highly doubt you’ve got what it takes to act tough against six of us. Especially since you’re unarmed.”
“I guess this is where I should be impressed, Mr. Mangano. I’m unarmed. The implication is that you’re not. But I don’t give a damn. Call them over here. Let’s turn this into a proper goddamn fight if that’s what you want. It won’t change anything for Do It All.”
Sal turns to Elliot. “This isn’t how you told me this would go, old buddy.”
“I’m sorry, Sal,” Elliot says. “I didn’t think…”
“No, you didn’t,” Sal snaps.
I stand. “I’m leaving. Feel free to order your goons to come after me. Otherwise, our business is done. For good.”
“We’re not done, Mr. Wolfe,” Sal hisses at my back.
I walk across the street, my heart pounding, adrenaline rushing through me as I mentally prepare for a fight. Elliot catches up to me as I wait for the elevator.
“That was a mistake,” he whispers.
I turn to him, prodding him in the chest. “No, Elliot, goddamn it. The meeting was a mistake. What were you thinking? Having me meet with a mob guy? And why did he call you ‘old buddy’? You can’t seriously think I was going to do anything he said. He could’ve filled that place with his goons, and I wouldn’t have given them anything.”