Relationship Status: Mafia

Chapter 7

Matsuo POV

After locking that woman in the room, I situated myself at the bar, pouring another glass of whiskey. Loud, appalling curses rang out from behind the door as I aimlessly stared out of a nearby window. 

This Teresa is a handful.

My second-in-command stood opposite me while glancing back at the door. I started to think she'd break the door off the hinges.

"Why are you smiling?" Zhen asked, disturbing my thoughts.

I replied with a blank face, "I'm not."

Zhen scoffed, shaking his head before tossing back a glass of scotch, "Whatever. Do you think she's telling the truth?"

"I don't know," I breathed out and looked at the door that this woman relentlessly beat against. "She seemed pretty frightened; giving us a fake name means she's either stupid or has something to hide. That punch she landed on your big nose suggests the last part."

Zhen huffed before uncorking a bottle of dark liquor and muttering to himself. His pride must be hurt since a woman half his size outwitted him, resulting in a bloody nose. However, it was pretty entertaining. Teresa is undoubtedly a hell-raiser, and I can easily say that will make her troublesome.

"How was I supposed to expect that bitch to jump up and attack me? It was a lucky shot. She's lucky you pulled out a gun, or I would o-

My eyes narrow at Zhen in disbelief knowing he is indeed full of shit. Zhen is intelligent, great with negotiations, and even appealing in charisma, but the man is lacking in hand-to-hand combat. I trust him better with a gun than to back me up in a brawl. Just one of those things, he's better with his words than with his fists.

At that moment, the commotion from that woman ceased, and a pleasant minute passed. Zhen and I glance at each other, then back at the door. Something made of glass shattered against the door.

She found the vase.

I shook my head, swallowing the last bit of my drink as a headache crept up. Today has been a long day, and I wanted nothing more than to relax. With that in mind, I stepped away from the bar and walked up the stairs. At the top, I turn right and go straight into my office.

Pushing open the door, I flick on the lights that illuminate the room before walking over to my desk. Papers that concern the business of the hotel sat in front of my computer. This needed to be transferred to my other office a few floors down. At the moment, I have something more pressing to deal with, so it can wait.

Zhen entered just as I opened my laptop and powered it on. He made himself comfortable in the leather armchairs in front of my desk. Casually, he propped up his feet on the coffee table.

"So," Zhen casually grabs a magazine, aimlessly flipping through the pages. "What is your plan for that, Stacy, Tammy, or Nancy-whatever her name is."

"Teresa. " I corrected before I focused back on the computer.

"Yeah, whatever, if that's even her real name, what are your plans for her?"

Many thoughts have run through my mind since I've seen her in Han's restaurant. One particularly dangerous thought has had me thinking hard about this woman. I sat back in my chair, running a hand down my face. It's a stupid idea. I don't even know the woman, but she does seem capable. She is expendable, at the least.

I sat back in my chair, scratching my chin in deep thought, and then pulled out my phone to call Aaron. He picked up almost immediately, assumably because I've been dodging his calls for some time.

"So now you call; after ignoring all of my calls for the past week, you have the audacity to ring me up in the middle of the God damn night," my attorney rambled groggily "What the hell are you calling me about now?"

"I need you to come by tomorrow morning," I answer, loosening my tie.

An irritated huff came from the other end of the phone. Zhen looked up at me curiously, tossing aside the magazine before lacing his fingers together on his lap. I stood up and turned away, looking out the window with my cell pressed to my ear.

"Sure, I'll swing by-and while I'm at it, we can discuss matters of your fa-

*click*

The following day, I shower and eat an early breakfast before addressing business for the hotel. Simple things that needed my approval, signatures, and input. This place practically runs itself with the capable staff at my disposal.

By the time I made it to the penthouse at noon. Aaron is already at the bar, looking pretty disheveled while fixing himself a drink.

Zhen sat on the couch with his arms crossed and a newly acquired scratch on his cheek, a long one too. By his physical state, he looked like he had just crawled out of a bar room brawl. I can only imagine how he ended up this way.

"Did the maid bring up the food I asked for?"

I walked across the living area and met with silence. Zhen glared at the television like an angry child.

"Yes, the maid did stop by," Aaron adjusted his glasses, looking over at Zhen. "You just missed the fun."

So, it was that woman.

"Really?" I say with intrigue, glancing back at Zhen.

Aaron gave me an uneasy look, "Mind telling me why you have a cop here?"

Immediately, I switched my eyes to Aaron, confused by his words.

"What?" I bite out, getting angry.

"That woman," he points with one of his fingers. "She is a cop; matter of fact, she is the same one that busted Han. Certainly, it has been a pain in my ass. Zhen, you were there at the station with me, don't tell me you didn't recognize her?"

I glared at Zhen, "You didn't recognize her?"

"Not that Aaron mentions it, she does look familiar." He shrugged.

"Familiar!" I yelled in Japanese.

I knew she was up to something; I suspected this woman of lying but didn't think she was hiding the fact she was a fucking cop. I had my doubts, however I thought she was an innocent bystander who got caught up with Han somehow. Although, now that I think about it, she did act calm when I pulled out my gun. That also explains how she roughed up Zhen and Len. Zhen got up from the couch, stomping to the bar, clearly angry.

"I knew taking that woman was a bad idea," he spat out while standing next to Aaron.

"Which brings me to my next question; why is she in that room, alive? Don't you think bringing a cop here is a bad idea, Toma?"

I let out a drawled breath rubbing the temples of my head; she had to be a cop.

I can make this work.

"Toma? Are you even listening?" Aaron droned out impatiently. "I knew this would happen, avoiding my calls, canceling fucking deals I set up, ignoring your fa-

"Find me everything there is to know about that cop." I walked away from the bar upstairs to devise a plan.

Maybe, just maybe this new development will work to my advantage in the near future.

_____________________
9/6/23

Thanks for being ready! 📚

~Scarlet V.