The Miracle Clinic

S2 Chapter 31 - The West Side (Prologue)

Sitting at a table in the highly esteemed Yamamoto Family Japanese Restaurant are four unique individuals each with their own unique standing.

The first is Ryan Everst, the president of the fashion empire known as the Moon Shadow Affiliate. His usual joking and jovial attitude is a bit more reserved for this meeting.

Sitting next to him is one of the head fashion designers at his company; Brenda Delaware. Despite how dressed up she is for this dinner, she's the most nervous as she's having issues with using the chopsticks.

Across the table from them are Jackson 'Boston' Cavendish, the head of The Massachusetts Boys gang. His charming yet polite look doesn't seem to go unnoticed by their waitress as she constantly comes by to refill their waters if it shows the slightest notice of being a little empty.

Lastly, the fourth and final person at the table is Lucia 'Salem' Dulik, the second-in-command of The Massachusetts Boys. Her long hair is dyed blonde like Boston's, she has a mole underneath her mouth, looking into her brown eyes would cause you to receive a calculated yet coy look, and her white skin is glowing with no imperfections nor blemishes...all except the diagonal scar going across her mouth. She's wearing a gray chalk striped suit over a white button-up, however her blazer is slung over her shoulders like a cape with her arms not in it.

"So, I'm guessing you wanted to have this meeting due as a way to eat something good?" Ryan jokes.

"Hah, please Mister Everst, I wouldn't waste your time with such a request," Jackson laughs, "Like I said, we're here to discuss business, and the current state of our partnership."

"I see," Ryan begins to say as he rests his chopsticks in his hands, "And how has your business been going?"

"Well it's-" Jackson begins to say.

"Quite poorly to be blunt about it," Brenda interrupts.

Jackson's mouth closes as he kindly looks over to the fashion designer as she pulls out several papers from a folder she had in her designer purse.

"Your first fiscal quarter was great I'll give you that," Brenda begins to say, "But ever since you dipped a little in the second quarter only to plummet drastically in revenue gained in this last fiscal quarter. Even though the fourth one's just started this month, this trend does look to be continuing."

"I see you've done your research," Lucia Dulik, the second-in-command, states, "But you should know that our biggest moneymaker is no longer in the picture. Ever since the fall of Club Azure, our narcotics business has taken a significant hit. Without their presence, it's been difficult to find another buyer willing to spend as much as they did."

"All of the gangs working under us suffered from Club Azure's premature end," Brenda retorts, "Yet all of them have since managed to bounce back and are raking in more profits than ever before. So what's holding your gang back?"

Lucia goes to talk but Jackson lifts his hand as he says, "Now hold on Salem, I think I'll take over this part. And Miss Delaware, you're not supposed to cross your chopsticks."

Brenda silently corrects herself as she tries to grab the sushi off her plate, but it quickly slides off back onto her plate.

"It's been over three years since we got folded into working for your organization," Jackson begins to say, "I thought you'd have learned by now that we don't like to chase after cheap thrills and profits like the other gangs. If you help us with one thing, our profits will not only balloon but eclipse every other gang."

Ryan leans back in his seat, prepared to listen to Jackson's pitch while Brenda still struggles to eat a single piece of sushi.

"For the past couple years now we've been working as a 'clean up' service for those interested in buying up some property, and while it has been a successful business, it doesn't quite pay the bills as much as any of us would hope," Jackson begins to explain, "Which is why we've been starting to take a different approach. Have you heard of squatter's rights and adverse possession?"