A Couple Of Wise Guys (editing)

Chapter 5 (edited)

Beep.
Beep.
Beep.

I groan, and slam my alarm clock quiet, almost knocking my gun off the table while doing so. Struggling to lift my eyelids, my new silk sheets trapped me in my bed of warmth and softness. I haven't gotten a good sleep in a long while, but last night I slept heavy. For once in a long time I felt well rested, but my body was sore from it, it was clearly needed.

Mrs. Lorenzo.

Mhm...

The idea of her name rains an intense feeling over me, such a powerful name to a lonely man like me. For that name gives life to any sentence, Valerie Lorenzo. Beautiful strong, powerful, and fragile little woman. Poor woman, hurt woman, lonely woman... we had much in common, and I knew nothing about her.

Forget it. Your not a man worthy of something as benevolent as a woman such as herself. Your a boss, your a man, you don't have time for such petty things as a relationship. You have more important things to focus on. You've been used far too much to fall for such a woman once again. Their all the same.

I hear my phone on my bed stand start buzzing and shake my head trying to wake up. Sliding the screen I put it to my ear, there's silence. "Marcel speaking." I say angry, annoyed, impatient.

"I'm sorry sir, they gave me your cell number..." Said a light feminine voice, she sounded eager and curious. 

I sat analyzing the voice before asking "Mrs. Lorenzo?" Cluelessly, but I too sounded eager, and curious. Too eager though.

"Yes... My apologies, you told me to call you this morning. All is well. I would like to say, I'm sorry for last night. I was irresponsible with my drinking and may have acted up." Guilt was sliding through her voice along with its well know friend, regret. That's when it had occurred to me, the memory of wrapping my arms around her. It could have stopped my heart, to think I was as irresponsible myself, getting all choked up in some sort superficial feeling.

Your getting soft Tony...

"It's no worries- I hope you have a nice day, call me if you need anything." Cutting the conversation short, trying to distance myself from her. Whatever thoughts I had last night of being some sort of hero, were far fetched, and far from the truth. To think of myself as a hero, is degrading, I'm not a hero, nor will I ever be, for anyone.

"Er- well, thank you for helping me, have a good day Mr. Marcel." She says nervously before hanging up the phone. I tried to ignore the feeling I felt when my name rolled off her lips, and groaned in frustration and tiredness.

Mr. Marcel....

*
*
*

"Hey Paul!" I say giving him a friendly wave as I walk through the kitchen doors. The aroma of tomatoes fills the room along with the very strong smell of cilantro. 

"Tony, good to see you buddy." he greets happily glancing at me for a moment with a calm expression.

Paul's just carrying on with the restaurant as usual. He helps in the kitchen a lot, cooking was a passion for Pauly, he completely devoted himself to it. That's why he decided for our business to be a restaurant. Cooking calmed him, eased his nerves.

I wish I had a hobby.

"A plate of anything?" He asks, I pull out a chair and sit at the break table in the kitchen before answering.

"No thank you Paul, I had dinner last night." He gives me a sly smile nodding his head.

Paul was a beautiful cook, which went along with the beautiful restaurant. Ours happened to be very successful, although sort of exclusive. It had a a classy gold and red theme, there was a mahogany stage for nightly jazz singers with jade red curtains draping behind it. The tables were covered with matching red table cloth, with black dining chairs. The floors were a dark mixed marble so polished you could see your reflection, and don't even get me started on the 18k gold chandeliers that Pauly insisted we have.