LEO'S POINT OF VIEW

I screwed up big time.

I can't believe I almost told her the whole truth about me, Papa must be spinning in his grave now.
It's midnight and the scenario of what took place in Eleanor's house hours ago won't stop intermittently popping in my head, accompanied by an instant feeling of regret enveloping my being.
I'm going through the same troubled feelings I got when I slammed the door in her face.

I should have just lied, cooked something up so believable she won't have an ounce of doubt, but I did the opposite, even stuttered and fidgeted... I think. I'm so sure she has her suspicions all pilled up.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Even the glass of water won't stop jittering in my hand as I'm seated on one of the stools in the kitchen. I don't understand what made it so difficult for me to lie, it was like my bent up buried emotions started racing, tumbling over one another to get into my heart and mind. Could it be the sincerity of her tone? Or the worry resonating from her soul? Whatever it is, I need to get my shit together cause that was another version of myself I haven't seen in years, and it is the worst state I can ever been in.

Tomorrow night, I'll set things straight, clear the air, tell her what she wants to hear. Simply lie, I work in an insurance company, that I have two siblings; well, not technically a lie, and she asked about friends, Axel will do and maybe Gina, still on maybe.
Thinking of Axel, he sent me something about Kristoff bringing his Crony now that he is replacing his father as one of the five business companions.

After that incident had taken place last Saturday, on Wednesday morning, I got Mr. Leroy's message concerning his decision to leave, it was no surprise to me, I saw this switch coming.

Unfortunately, the rule about replacements where a predecessor who holds a position as one of the five business companions can never be substituted or replaced only by death, had been scrubbed off by my grandfather. Now, it favors Kristoff while I'm the one at the greatest disadvantage, The Capo can be impeached any time anywhere with consideration of some rules, but, it has never happened.

There isn't enough information from Axel about Kristoff Leroy's Crony, there is only one way to find out.

On the fifth ring, Axel's angry voice boom from the phone.

"What is it?"
I was not looking forward to the rage, he couldn't have checked who called.
"It is Leo"
"I know" he barks back.
Okay! I have interrupted something for him to be so furious, but I really don't care.
"Your message about Kristoff doesn't make a lot of sense, give me details. Who did he bring?"
"Can I forward the reply later?"
"Now Axel, do it immediately".
From the other side, I hear grunts, shuffles footsteps, thuds, and clicks of keyboard tiles, then a reply.

"Her name is Vanessa Esse Kandert, impeccable physique and skilled hand combat, that's it".
"Do you mean to tell me, Kristoff recruited a woman as his Crony?"
"Wow! Leo, I didn't think you a misogynist"
I shake my head at his sarcasm during this critical moment.

In the syndicate, there's an honor called Crony. It's a thing of respect to be selected as one and even though it's only reserved for the five business companion, it's not something to misuse. Papa's Crony before he died is his family, that was before I knew anything about the syndicate or what he does for a living, so, Cronies couldn't be hurt and must be protected during desperate measures.

Most importantly, they get access to the syndicate easily. Unlike the usual recruits, with the vigorous training and hardship they face to become an actual member, Cronies have it all easy, for this reason, when I was introduced to the business, I got dismissed as a Crony by papa.
I had it like every other recruit did, but Gina still wishes to believe everyone went soft on me.

What has me puzzled is, why Kristoff is being in a haste to choose his Crony and most importantly, a woman?
There's something more to this
"Hey Leo, are you there?" Axel's voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Yeah"
"I get where you're coming from Leo, something is up with Kristoff. We'll talk la-"
"-Don't you dare hang up, Axel. I need you and I mean for you to do a background check on this woman, find out how she's connected to Kristoff Leroy, right now, Axel"
"Goodnight Leo" and the line goes off.

Bastard.

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6pm on Saturday, I'm in the shower, rethinking my decision. Eleanor and I won't be attending any dinner party anyway, since we; Axel and I didn't proceed with HR's hotel management because Papa's business companions found out and wouldn't have The Capo be exposed to the public's eye, how they found out remains unknown but at the dying minute, even with my persuasion and the brilliant plan set out, they didn't agree, I could see their doubt in my new plan and just had to drop the idea, so it is Eleanor and me alone tonight.

Every so often, I wonder how Papa keep up with these old men. I have never been allowed to attend their meetings to watch how he controls the situation, which I believe, was a way he failed me, and the one thing I'm certain about is how those old men only see a rash youngling who doesn't know what he's doing.

Trust me I want to prove them wrong but when it's time, they'll know who they're dealing with. Tonight will be all about Eleanor and rewarding her for proving her point fairly.

When it's exactly 8pm, I leave my apartment to hers, knocking on the door twice to get her moving, but as I fold my fist to make the third knock, the door by the right, a few feet opposite hers flings open, a young man walking out. The moment our eyes meet, he sends me this strange look and instead of him to move along, he remains rooted to the spot, watching.

"Can I help you, man?" I decide to ask.

"Not at all" he replies.

With that response, I face the door again, expecting the man to leave, but it's the opposite, he's still waiting. His presence doesn't bother me, so I try knocking again, yet there's nothing but silence. She has bailed on me.
As I was receding back to the fifth floor, Eleanor's voice called out my name.

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Thank you for reading this far.
Darasimiwrites.