A Little Sane

Chapter 115

Mercedes' eyes slowly fluttered opened. Jerome was lying next to her smiling. His hand gently found it's way to her cheek. He smiled lovingly.

"God you're so beautiful when you wake up.."

She gave him a small smile.

"Hi..."

She moved closer to him and pressed her lips into his. She wanted desperately to feel something. She still could barely feel anything from the pills the day before. Jerome played with her hair and pulled away. He gave her another smile. 

"I'll go make breakfast for you. Make sure to take your meds."

He pecked her lips one last time before climbing out of bed. Mercedes watched him leave the bedroom. She slowly made her way to the bathroom. one bottle of each of her meds set perfectly on the counter waiting for her. She didn't want to take them. Mercedes knew that in a couple of hours the dosage from the day before should wear off and she would feel something again. She wanted to feel anything. Mercedes shook her head as she made the impulsive and dangerous decision to flush her pills down the toilet. She tossed the pill bottles out the bedroom window to the ground, knowing that some drug addict would pick them up for use of a new container. The smell of eggs and bacon willed the bedroom. Mercedes headed towards the kitchen. She knew it was dangerous to throw out her pills, but she couldn't feel scared. She was still just as numb inside as the day before. 

Barbara, Tabatha, and Selina stood in front of Mercedes' desk confused as to why she called them to come see her. Mercedes gave them a smile.

"I have a very specific reason I asked you guys here. I want you guys to work.. with me.. not for me.."

Tabatha narrowed her eyes. Barbara stared at her intrigued. Barbara stepped forward.

"You want us to work with you? You don't see us as competition?"

Mercedes stood up and walked around her desk and smiled. She shook her head.

"No. Aren't you tired of men running this city? I think you guys could help me make great decisions."

"What's in it for me?"

Mercedes turned towards Selina. 

"Selina, I think you deserve more credit than you get. You deserve a position of power. You can enforce things while making money."

Tabatha tilted her head.

"Making money?"

Mercedes nodded.

"See I have one small favor to ask though. Let some of my girls come dance at your club. I have too many here."

Barbara narrowed her eyes.

"You want us to also operate a strip club? How is that helpful to you?"

"It helps me give these women a steady job. They would help bring in steady customers for alcohol at your club, but here's the thing. I let all my girls keep whatever people throw at them." 

Tabatha crossed her arms. She huffed.

"How much of our cut do you want?"

Mercedes shook her head.

"Five percent."

All three of them gave Mercedes the most shocked look. Barbara cleared her throat.

"Five percent? That's it? That's almost nothing."

Mercedes shook her head again. She set back down at her desk.

"I'll be getting money from my own club and other business I do. I don't want to be the richest in Gotham Barbara.. I just want to be able to take care of my kids. Feed them and clothed them whenever I need to without having to worry about if I'll be able to have the money."