How Jesse Got His Karma

nineteen

"Yo! Whatever sick joke God is playing on me for pairing me up with Justine, it needs to stop now." Cyrus says from around the corner when he's walking into the boardroom that I'm in with the rest of the gang as I'm getting to discuss our next object of business.

I'm playing with the Rubik's cube in my hand as I shake my head at the fact that he's complained about his little partner again.

She's been texting and calling nonstop because he refuses to answer her. I guess when he said he wasn't gonna do the assignment he was being honest.

Personally, I'm not following why he's resisting her so much. She's beautiful and intelligent. He could've been paired with someone much worse.

Like myself.

I refuse to work with a girl who never forgets to remind people that her name is heaven spelled backward and that's why she has such "a strong belief that there is good in everybody."

Obviously her words, not mine

The girl is like 3'4 so I was counting on the fact that when I ditched her in class her tiny legs wouldn't be able to carry her far enough to actually catch up to me.

She practically harassed me for my number and I gave her a number alright.

I have an iPhone 11 and a flip phone. The flip phone is meant to only send one time messages, the number can't be traced. I also can't receive any messages back from that phone. This is why I'm not struggling with having anyone blow up my phone because the phone is literally defective.

You don't have to tell me I'm a genius I already know.

I must've filled out that questionnaire wrong because I can't even tolerate her voice and how squeaky it is. Why would I be able to sit and write with her week after week.

I don't have time to work on some bullshit assignment. I've never even heard of Warren's approach and I'm starting to believe Ryan when he said she's running a Tinder service right under noses.

I especially don't have time since I still need to figure out why the man that Karma, unfortunately, watched me execute was following me.

She needs to stay away from me because whenever I'm around her it's like everything in my life goes the opposite way and it's ridiculous. There's no way this clumsy ass girl can carry that much bad luck.

I have to admit I do enjoy the little back and forth thing we have going on. She never fails to use my own tactics against me.

That shits refreshing.

I must've zoned out thinking about Karma when I hear Rico call me from my far left

"Hey, Boss! You wanna tell us why we're down here?" He asks

Clearing my throat, I stand and drop my Rubik's cube on the table.

"There's someone watching over us. Over me, I should say"

"If I'm not mistaken I'm sure they have to be tied to the guys who snuck into our headquarters trying to steal our ammo and weapons back in August." The guys nod their heads in agreement but I have another theory

"It could always be the Rossi's," I say as I pace back and forth grabbing the Rubiks cube off the table. It helped me think better.

The Rossi's absolutely loathed my father. So by association, they hate the rest of the gang including myself.

Any old issues that Joseph Rossi had with my father would carry on even after my father's death. My father and Rossi had grown up together because their fathers were best friends. They had been close all their lives up until five years ago. Rossi and our gang were allies at one time.

Dad never wanted to go into detail about what happened. He always said he was ashamed so he never told me.

He's my family either way so it doesn't matter what he did, I'll defend his honor until I breathe my own last breath.

"I actually wouldn't put it past them now that I think about it. I just need to know what they could possibly be planning."

"You don't even know if it's them, Jess," Ryan says sitting on my left as he shoves a spoonful of fried rice from the Chinese place a few blocks from here. Ever since he and Cyrus ate Karma's food they've been going there nonstop.

"Yeah. When has Joseph Rossi ever felt the need to go and spy on anyone or steal supplies? He was trained with your father. Your dad never felt the need to stoop that low." Cyrus says as he types on his phone most likely talking to Justine.

"Yeah but Rossi has always had something against my father. He knows I'm his son and that I took over. Probably wants to finish the job and take out the whole family." I sigh sitting back down

"Nicholas, I need your team to update the security cameras on the property. With the extra cash we have, I'll fund the extra supplies the team will need, just ask. I don't want to believe that I have a rat or anything on the crew but my trust in people is running very thin" I say pursing my lips in thought as I choose my next words carefully.

"When we have our meetings, everything that is said and done will stay between us. All of us in this room. Starting next week there will be a bin where you will drop all of your phones into and Nicholas will check all of them to make sure nothing is recorded."

Half of them groan while the others nod their heads in agreement. "It's a precaution I'm taking, guys." I shrug in agreement.

"You don't think you're over-exaggerating Jess—if this woman doesn't stop sending me this damn SOS emoji" Cyrus huffs when he hears his phone beep and he begins to type aggressively on his phone causing me to chuckle as he stops talking to me entirely to tend to his partner

Speaking to the group again I say,  "I'm not over-exaggerating. I just wanted to let you guys know what's going on."

"I might sound like a little bitch but I don't care. You guys can trust me when I say that all of you are my first priority. Nothing will change that point of view"

It's silent for a while as everyone nods their head, "You're all dismissed." I say as they begin to stand up and head out one by one out of the room beside Cyrus and Ryan.

I sigh and go back to my seat. "Aww, that was kinda cute," Ryan says coming next to me going to stroke my cheek but I slap his hand away cashing him to laugh loudly

I go back to my Rubik's cube leaning back in my chair

"Damn Jus—Yes, Justine I'm typing it into my notes right now." He takes a short pause "I- what the hell? Girl, call me a scrub one more time and I'll be the one wearing scrubs after I deal with you. Keep playing with me." Cyrus says into the phone loudly in frustration

He sighs rubbing the back of his neck and says "No. No. I'm not threatening you. It was a simple figure of speech.

At least the questionnaire worked for some people

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Hey, Guys! This was meant to be a filler but I wanted to say thanks for reading so far! The next chapters after this are more eventful but this gives you a bit more context into Jesse's life right now and his current um... job.