'Hit the Floor' The Olivia Files: Jude

The Olivia Files: Jude

'That goddamn, Oscar!' thought Olivia. 'This was all his fault.' He'd pushed her to this. Her blue eyes appraised Jude. His dark hair was freshly cut and neatly parted. No doubt to impress Oscar, with his new score; that bleached blond starter from Ohio. Chase and she had been talking about all the new developments happening, not least of which was that, plus Oscar's new Hollywood arena. He wore an ill-fitting and inexpensive, some might say cheap, navy blazer with a light blue shirt. No tie. Odd. He always seemed tightly coiled and buttoned up, going tieless seemed out of character from what she'd seen. Olivia didn't know him well, but he'd been spending quite a bit of time buzzing around the arena the last few months.

"...what the hell, is this?" he asked, as he held up the red envelope, with JuDE written on it in black ink. He then hastily put it in his jacket pocket. She could smell the lavender and white soap on him.

She almost felt sorry for him. Almost. He was just a few years older than Eve. Eve. She moved a little uncomfortably in her burgundy shift at the thought of her only child.

Jude's green eyes looked at her with a combination of fear and dislike. She couldn't care less about his anger. But, the fear she saw was what she needed. "I think you know, what that is." Inside the envelope, on a personalized white note card, she had written No More Secrets in her flourished handwriting, inside it read; #22, 555-340-0154. It was a simple threat. Simple was always best. If she could manage it.

He squinted at her, the 11 deepening. "It's just some numbers..." he mumbled with a weak laugh as he looked down at his untouched food.

She had invited him to Bistro West; well, more like summoned. He then leaned slightly forward, and she could clearly see the panic that he was trying to hide.

Olivia sat up straight and tilted her long, platinum head. This was tiresome and tedious. "Listen Jude. I really wish I didn't have to do this," she said putting both arms on the white tablecloth, her French manicured fingers, framed her cobb salad. "But we both know it's your dealer. It's the same one that Jesse Reade uses for his clients. The one that you've used on multiple occasions for Derek Roman. You know I have the proof, right?" she said taking a slight sip of her red wine.

She saw the color drain from his attractive face. He bent further forward in the wicker chair. "How did you find this out!?" he said with an air of defeat.

She ignored his question and looked at him blankly. She'd hired Pierce Maniscalco. A grade A dirtbag. But a thorough and good at getting information dirtbag.

Once Oscar had canned her, and she'd decided that she was going to burn it all down, Olivia knew that she'd need back up. From all corners of the Devils Nation. Why not get his estranged, barely acknowledged son on her side? When she'd first met him, she'd pegged that he was gay. Not that she gave a shit personally, but she couldn't help but wonder what Oscar, that piece of shit, would think about his one and only son, liking dick. The man hated everyone from sick kids to ugly women, a gay son would not be tolerated by someone as shallow as Oscar. However, Pierce hadn't been able to produce anything from that angle. Still, this kid was in so deep denial, he could work at California Closets. Oh, well, drug distribution it would have to be. The threat of Oscar's wrath and jail time.

His eyes quickly looked over her shoulder, to make sure that the woman who sat behind her didn't hear them. "What the hell do you want?"

"I'm planning to bring Oscar down and I need your help to do it."

"Why are dragging me into your drama?"

"If his own son thinks he's a menace, then the fans and the media will take me just a little more seriously."

"He fired you. That has nothin' to do with me. Get a lawyer."

"Thanks for the tip," she replied dryly. " You might have to take your own advice if you don't do what I want." That made him sag like a little boy. "But, I don't have time to haul this through a lawsuit. Plus, Oscar has a way of making problems disappear." 'Mia.'

He gave her a lost look.

She took a deep breath. "If you don't stand with me at the groundbreaking, I will inform not only the police, the press, but your father of your...side hustle and that you brought that junk into his house!" she hissed.

"You want me to turn against my own father?" he said incredulity in his voice.

'Jesus. Was this really Oscar Kinkade's, kid?' He was like some sad kicked dog, desperately wanting its owner, in this case, Oscar to love him. She shook her head inwardly. "That man doesn't give a shit about you," she said bluntly.

He flinched.

"I've been in this organization, over 20 years. I even knew your mother briefly. I've never heard him mention you. Not once. Not even a photo on his desk...were you invited to his wedding to Karina last Summer? I was. It wasn't like he was hiding you...like, like he was trying to protect you," she said with thoughts of her daughter flitting through her mind. "He just didn't care. Why waste your effort? In fact, if you help me, I think Chase and I could find a place for you in Devils Management. Once I'm back in." She wasn't sure if she actually meant it or not. Maybe. He was smart, at least in business.

She could see everything that she was saying about Oscar he knew to be true, every emotion played across that boyish face. Until it settled on defiance. 'Never.' There was that Kinkade gene.

However, to her surprise he instead silently nodded his head before speaking. "Can I think about it?"

"Sure. But, you have 'till the morning of the groundbreaking...or everyone finds out about what you did!"

He shot her a look of pure hatred before he got up.

She watched him scuttle out of the restaurant. 'Shit.' Olivia let out a breath she hadn't known that she'd been holding. She took another sip of wine and looked at her Breda Revel; 12:49PM. In little over an hour, she was set to meet with Raquel. She actually liked the single mother. That made her sad.
~~~