Which is More Favorable?

Zane allowed his brother to finish his lunch before dropping him off. His younger sibling didn't manage to squeeze any details out of him and the young mafioso intended to keep it that way. Julian wouldn't open his mouth about anything. He never spilled secrets. The issue rested on the idea of someone else having the information. Thus, Zane would keep it with him until after he saw where the cards landed.

"Are you sure that you want to go to your next meeting now? Perhaps it would be better to take place later?"

"Why? Are you worried something might happen with the unexpected guest?" A smirk flitted across Zane's lips.

"Don't worry about that. I think everything will turn out the way it needs to with him." The young mafioso would make sure of it himself. He didn't waste his precious time last night just to not end up going.

"Very well then. I will be certain to stay out of your way while you do what you do best."

"You really mean you will stay here so that you can go about listening to that music you enjoy so much." The young mafioso teased. The driver simply shrugged his shoulders without confirming or denying it. Zane didn't have any qualms with that. Diego tended to prefer to stick with a smaller crowd anyways. One unexpected would bother him more than enough.

Diego turned out to not be the one bothered by anything. Instead, Zane's guest ended up being the annoyed one. He didn't like the tie, the sleeves were too long, the collar too stiff, and the suit far too stuffy for the weather and unlike anything other had adorned in quite some time.

"If you keep messing around with that, you're going to end up ruining something. Try to just sit there for now." Zane scolded, glancing at the other over his menu. The kid tsked but stopped fiddling with this tie.

"You said that you had some kind of proposition for me, this wasn't what I had in mind." his eyes warily shifted around the small coffee shop. It wasn't the kind of place he belonged. The size could've fooled anyone. Everything on the inside though screamed of fancy and rich. No place for poor urchins to be stepping foot inside. No matter who they were with. Even the suit couldn't hide what kind of background he came from. The attempt of the young Don sitting across from him to make him feel more comfortable only backfired. It only served to make the situation worse.

"You're thinking too hard about it. You will see exactly why I brought you once he shows up." Zane glanced at his phone. Five minutes late but no text or call. If all remained well, Diego would still be coming. Something must've occurred to hold him up.

"What are you so worried about with being here anyways? You didn't seem that perturbed during last night's events."

"This and that aren't even comparable. I know that world well enough." He began to mess with his sleeves once more. Folding and unfolding the cuff to determine the more comfortable position for it. Zane purposely provided the other with one of his father's old suits. He didn't dare risk any of his own suits getting damaged. He couldn't care less what happened to his father's. He held no sentimental feelings towards that which belonged to Bernard.

"Richard. You know one might actually think you are your age for once. Or rather, you're acting far more like a kid than I would ever imagine possible after last night." Richard as Zane learned his name to be after a great deal of badgering shot the other a rather frosty look. The oversized suit somehow made him less intimidating than he likely meant to be.

"Don't go about thinking you can antagonize me. You might have a title above me but I outrank you in age." Zane shot the other a look of pure disbelief. Richard took in a slow, measured breath before releasing. One would think he would become desensitized to it eventually. Not easy though when it felt like an insult each time no one believed his looks didn't match his age.

"I am going to call this off now. I gave you ten minutes of my time. Your friend hasn't shown up yet. That leaves me free to leave." Richard stood up, shoving the chair out rather roughly.

"Hey there mate, you should really watch yourself. You're going to hurt someone if you go about doing things like that." The chair became rather weighted preventing it from going back any further. Richard turned around to face the other. An indifferent expression cast towards the man who scolded him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the newcomer looked rather familiar.

"Did I miss something? It seems you have company though I thought today was the day you said we would meet again?" He gave the youth a once over before turning to Zane.

"You have the date right, Diego. I just brought someone along with me for you to meet."

"Nice meeting you. I am actually on my way out of here. I don't think that there is any reason for me to stick around any longer." Richard gave the other a rather dismissive wave of his hand as he turned to leave. Except, he didn't end up getting anywhere.

"Now, now. Why don't you stick around for a little while longer? I'm sure there are a few things we could talk about." Diego placed a firm hand on the other's shoulder, stopping Richard before he could leave.

"If Zane brought you here to talk, I'm certain there is a good reason for it. Why don't you just sit back down for now." He tried to be warm, but it didn't seem to affect the kid. If anything, it only served to annoy him more.

"I agreed to give him ten minutes of my time. That much and more has already passed. There are other important things that I need to be tending to now."

"I told you though that I would be able to help you out. Now the person who can do that is here. Why don't you take a moment to think about which would be more favorable for you? Continue doing what you've always been doing or at least consider what my friend Diego here could offer you. Plus I already said I would be paying for lunch." The last line felt like an insult to Richard.

"I'm not a charity case for someone like you to be worried about. I have been taking care of myself for far long enough." Richard shrugged his shoulder to remove the hand still firmly placed atop it. Except, the hand didn't move. It remained firmly in place.

"If a job is what you're looking for, I think you'll find I don't pick up charity cases. At least so long as they're above legal age.". Diego used his other hand to direct Richard to turn back and face his chair.

"Just stay here and chat for a little bit. You're not being forced into accepting anything. Except for maybe a bit of food. Not to mention, being around people like us can only be good for you."

Good exactly how? Being around people like the young mafioso and his vaguely familiar friend usually ended up getting Richard into trouble. It didn't seem like he had much of a choice in the matter as he quickly found himself pushed back into his seat.

Whatever... Any offer could be rejected.