Chapter Seven

HENLEY'S P.O.V.

Ring... ring....

"Sister, you reached Bruno's cell and probably out obviously. Whoever you are, you know the drill, leave a message after the tone."

"Bruno you better get that fat ass here at Neon. Louie is here." I aggressively put the phone

down and head out. I really can't have a bad impression to Louie again, not after what I did the last time.

I looked for Flint and prepared, warned him, rather, about what is coming.

"Well, can you tell me first what he looks like?" he interrupts.

"He's wears fedora (A/N: 🎩 this is a top hat but the smaller version of that). I hope that's enough description," I replied while busy straightening his bow tie. I made him wear a sleeveless tank shirt that displayed his muscles that I know Louie would love to see.

"And why are you so terrified of him? Oh and who's Bruno?" He asks like a six year old toddler.

"Bruno is Louie's descendant. I don't know which side. All I know is that they are blood related. And he's our armour against Louie," I explained then ran to the make up stand and took a hairbrush and a gel.

Since Flint is taller than me, I told him to sit and fixed his hair, now looking like a vintage James Bond actor. I smiled at him.

"I see a fedora." he pointed while looking outside.

We both stood up and went outside. Flint was approached by three men who seems like his friends, with one of them wearing a weird mask.

Then I saw Louie walking behind them and one of Flint's friend was moving around while talking, and bumped at Louie. I ran towards them and apologized on his behalf.

"Louie, I am so sorry. Let's go inside, everyone is waiting," and I lead him the way.

"I bet you are sorry," he coldly replied while straightening his suit.

"Sorry man," said one of Flint's friend, while chewing a gum.

Louie only gave a cold stare and walked inside.

As we were all gathered inside, Louie did inspection to every corner of the quarters and is now giving the comments or asks some questions.

"Sabby, tell me the financial status."

"Uhm, compared to last month's earnings, we are on track and is gaining more customers by 12 midnight to 1 am," Sabby reported.

"Good. Any changes so far? Henley?"

"We found a replacement for Nathan. Flint just started 2 weeks ago. He seems to be the magnet of ladies because they keep on coming back." I looked at Flint with an encouraging look.

He took a step forward and gave a light nod.

"Turn around."

Flint obeyed and slowly took a spin.

FLINT'S P.O.V.

All eyes are on me as I spin around. The mood is so intense that I couldn't give a smile.

As soon as I finished my turn, Louie grabbed a flask in his pocket, opened it and offered to me. I looked at Henley first and when she gave a nod, I took it and drank from it.

It tastes sweet at first, then has a horrible aftertaste. And knowing that everyone is looking at me, I tried to make it look cool, hiding the awful taste of his gin. And then as soon as I took the flask down, everyone clapped.

"Welcome to the band, Flint," Louie announced.

I was left dumbfounded because I was honestly expecting the whole lot worse than I imagined.

"Okay, tonight, and for the following night, I want to make sure that no one is going that door unsatisfied. Now back to your stations"

As everyone were scattering, Louie called Sabby, Henley and Ymir and they all head to the private room.

I snuck around and followed them. Sabby left a tiny gap towards the door and it served as my peephole. I looked inside and saw the three of them on their knees, with Ymir getting beaten up in the head with a plastic bottle.

"The police are still on my tail!" he exclaimed, but not too loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"There's nothing we can do about it," Henley said, her eyes are glued on the ground.

"What am I supposed to do then?" Louie turned to Henley.

"Why don't you just come clean?" Sabby said, facing Louie.

"Are you out of your mind?" he blurted.

"That's honestly the best possible way," Henley added.

"I can't. It's too hard for me to."

They all slowly stood up from their knees and hugged Louie.

I am getting confused. (A/N: Me too)

I left and head to my friend's table inside the bar and entertained them while I can. I took a bucket of beer as my treat and placed them on their table.

"Woah, easy my friend. We don't want to wake with headaches tomorrow," Markus commented.

"You really don't know how to converse properly, do you?," Jacob replied. "It's 'Thank You Flint' Thanks, man" and gets a beer.

"Welcome, man. I have some work to do so find yourselves some entertainment so you won't miss me that much. See you around," I tapped Alex's shoulders and went on.

I was called to serve a group of ladies in room 3C and took an hour and a half. As soon as I'm done, I went out for some fresh air while counting the money I earned.

"I want a dark chocolate cake please," a voice suddenly came about. It was Henley, stepping on the cigarette she consumed and now walking towards me.

"Sure. What should I write on it?" I replied.

"'This one's for you' in a readable cursive, please"

"You got it" I said and pocketed the 58 dollars. "I see you don't love your lungs very much?"

"It's the only stress relieving habit I know."

"Well, I guess you have to know more habits then," I chuckled.

"If you're giving me a lecture again, I'll head inside"

"Do you want to go inside?"

"No. Not yet." her face dropped. She leaned over me with her head on my shoulders.

We stayed silent for a moment.

"I saw Louie," I broke the silence.

"Yes you did. Oh, and how does that tastes like?"

"The worst thing I ever tasted"

She laughed.

"I saw you three, with Louie, on your knees, head down. Wanna talk about that?" I opened. That is probably the reason why she smoked too.

She took a deep breath. "Louie has a personality disorder. He is always too hard to handle because he has 4 other personalities. Bruno, his relative, knows how to talk to every kind of Louie and always keeps him under his control. When he made the general checkup, it was the normal Louie."

"Who's Louie that I saw with the three of you then?" I asked. I circled my arm around her waist to keep her on her place.

"That is his tantrum. The drug dosed persona. He keeps on saying some parts of the past that were already resolved. And always want the upper hand, that's why we were on our knees earlier."

"Where is he now? Is he really managing Neon properly?"

"Honestly, Bruno really owned the place. We only act like Louie is in control because he needs the feeling of it, or else, Bruno will suffer. As far as I'm told, the drug dosed personality is the one who gave his family that hard time. The only solution, they say, is to surrender."

"He just fetched by his sister. And maybe will be back next month. A pain in the ass he really is. Gives everyone a headache." she exhaled and rubber her temples.

"Let's stay like this for awhile before going back in," I assured her and gently rubbed her back.

"I could really use a smoke right now."

"Not on my watch, Henrietta,"

Although I can't see her face, I know that she is smiling.