S T A L K E R

2. Shocking twists

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"Good morning gentlemen." Every pair of eyes lining the forty person desk glares into my soul. The air hangs with cigar smoke as some grumble in response while others shamelessly rake over my figure. I remain quiet, knowing exactly the type of job I signed up for and take the seat left available to me.

"Thank you for joining us,Ms.Woods. By now you must be aware that Royalty enterprises is moving to newer management," my eyes lift in alarm. I knew no such thing. If anything this place has been more quiet than usual. For my sake I kept low key, it's beat to avoid conflict by all means.

And that simply meant no questions, that wasn't what I was paid to do. I clock in and out and mind my business, nothing else.

"No sir, I was not abreast of any shift in management." I said, meeting the eyes of Royalty enterprises' very own, Kafir Latifi. Piercing grey eyes pin me to my seat from behind wrinkled brown skin, he adjusts his tailored black suit jacket, pulling it off his shoulders as his body that took years upon years of building perks up behind the matching button up. Mr. Latifi is well up in age, but by no means would you suspect his true age unless you were pushing to see it. It seemed God has blessed him because at the average glance he appeared no older than forty five, but the man was well into his Seventies.

I stay composed as his eyes harden before shifting to Mr. Baxter who stands beside me with a covering serving dish of something I cannot see from my seated position. It makes me nervous but I know I have no reason to fear. Unless you were a traitor to the organization you had nothing to fear but God himself lest the wrath of a Latifi be on you.

"George? Were all members not notified of the changes?" His tone sends chills down my spine.

"Young master Rafi cautioned me against doing so, sir." Who? As far as I know Mr.Latifi had no heirs. It was a constant question on who would take over such a lucrative business since he never disclosed having a prodigy not even to the major news organizations that came to report on the casino's large expansion rate.

"I'll deal with that. Now that you know Ms.Woods, albeit more unceremoniously than intended, you know that along with me Mr.Baxter is retiring from his post as well. My son will assume claim as Owner and I need there to be someone who will grow with him until it is turn for him to give reign to his heir like I am doing now." I nod, shocked at the warm smile he offers as I take in every big of information. This feels like the most intense moment of my life.

"As you know Royalty enterprises is not all together a legitimate organization. We're in the business of gambling, until now you have know it to be simple money, turning a $100 into a $1,000,000." The room erupts into a wave of gravely chuckles. I felt like there was more to be said but Mr.Latifi and the gentlemen sitting alongside me were being tight lipped.

"Now I'm going to tell you what this place truly is. We're not just into the business of gambling with money, we're in the business of gambling with people." For a minute I feel like I'm underwater, the air around me becomes nonexistent and all that fills my ears are sounds of bubbles and dead silence.

"E-excuse me" my eyes bounce all across the room before focusing onto his.

"Oh don't get all sanctimonious, you knew this place wasn't entirely clean when you started helping crunch numbers in accounting and hiding what little we could not explain for excess." He begins reading the reports of money I managed to launder away, firmly pinning me to my incriminating acts. For $100,000 a month, yea I keep my mouth sealed and would do more than that. It was clear if I didn't take the risk then I wouldn't even be here now.

I was morally corrupt, but at least I'm not a dead idiot that ran with their tail tucked between their legs knowing people like kafir Latifi would kill me and ship my head all the way back to Jamaica for my family to find.