Making a Deal

[zydrate]

(looking for a male to take over the role of the opposing crime family--please send me a PM)

Name: Bella Russo
Age: 28
Height/Weight: 5'7"/115 pounds
Hair/Eyes: Blonde/Blue green
Occupation: Mob Boss


Bella Russo lit a cigarette with a lighter that was worth, well, the price she paid could probably feed 3 small families for 2 years.

That was how Bella was. She was eccentric to a point. She wanted nice things but she didn't want to have to pay for it. She just took it.

All right, let's start from the beginning. Bella Russo grew up in Brooklyn, NY, she was the only girl out of 5 older brothers and grew up tough because of it. She didn't take shit from anyone and those that worked with her knew it.

Bella's father was just a common worker. He worked at a fish factory and for that reason, Bella hated fish to this day.

So how did someone who grew up in an ordinary family from an ordinary place become one of New York's most highest rising Mob Boss, or in this case, Mistress?

It wasn't because of her looks. Hell, standing at 5'7" and weighing 115 pounds put Bella in the ordinary group. That was only if someone was to describe her. But if you looked at her, Bella had the body of a model! She was not only beautiful but she was damn smart. In no time at all she went from a loser family to being part of the top 5 crime families in NYC.

Yet, Bella wasn't satisfied with being in the top 5. She wanted to be number one.

She had no qualms about ordering a hit on a rival family or anyone trying to nudge in on her business dealings. She trusted those that worked around her and right beside her. Being the top member of a crime family was a feat within itself but then again, it was also a very lonely life.

As she stood in front of the floor length window that over looked the city, Bella did wish for one thing. And that was love. Oh hell, she just wanted a good fuck. It was hard because a lot of men were intimidated by her power. And was something she was not going to resign herself to. She need a good fuck. She needed a man to take power over her and make her beg him for his cock...

Sighing, she leaned her head against the glass of the window and carefully smoldered her cigarette against it, burning it out. She'd have to dwell on this more later. Tonight was reserved for a very special guest.

The son of a rival had requested to see her. Probably wanting her to ease up on his poor dying father's 'plans'. HA! As if. She knew no mercy when it came to money.

 

[Bevatoria]

"The lady will see you now. This way."

Finally, thought the one and only Stephen Horst. Standing 6'1 at a fit 175 pounds, he didn't have cause to be intimidated by anyone, even the two uniformed guards that were now flanking him as he was walked to the family's mistress. He never travelled with guards of his own, although that wasn't because he didn't fear for his life; there definitely were places that he kept his bodyguards with him. But not here. In this place, at this moment, he wanted to send the message that he wasn't afraid, in the middle of this next of vipers and snakes, of people who didn't like him or care for him.

That, and if they wanted him dead, they'd probably just send more people then he had guards anyways.

The building was well furnished, and kept, small minute details the he logged as they opened the door to the boss's room. The boss of this family, anyways, or one of them. He wasn't sure. All he knew was that this 'Bella Russo', whoever she was, had been causing his father hell, and one way or another, he intended to make that stop, tonight. Stephen was used to getting what he wanted, and when he wanted it.

And despite the circumstances and the priorities of their visit, he felt his eyes involuntarily running up and down the woman's fine body. He'd admittedly expected someone older; from the looks of things, she was probably a few years younger then his age of 31. He had come immaculately dressed, in a black suit, black shirt, and white tie to go with blank dress pants, socks, and perfectly shined shoes. By him, one of his many eccentricities.

But even with as striking as Miss Russo was, he had the presence of mind to meet her gaze when she turned to him. "Good evening, Bella. Thank you for seeing me." God, it killed him to say that to a rival. "I'm Stephen, and I'm Mister Horst's son." With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he stepped in. "I'm here to discuss the...pressure you've been putting on certain business aspects of the family." After taking a couple of steps in, he got no closer to her; awaiting his hostess' instructions before pressing on her hospitality any further. As much as he wanted to lash out at her, this was still her domain, and she was still in control.

 

[zydrate]

Bella was dressed in a white casual suit. The jacket was loose fitting but the bodice underneath was a pearl colour and pushed up her firm breasts. A silver necklace hung from her neck and carried only a solitare diamond. Nothing too flashy yet just enough to add sparkle to her outfit. Her skirt was just above knees and her white 3 inch heels made her toned legs stand out.

She always made sure she looked good all the time.

She acknowledged him briefly before walking over the mini-bar and made herself a soda water with lemon. Bella knew it was dangerous to have her back turned when someone entered but she wanted to see what sort of approach this man had. Besides, nothing would happen to her in her own place, no one had that much balls.

"Would you like a drink Mr. Horst?" she asked as she heard him and his 'men' come to a stop. That made her smile. Coming here with protection...it was either smart or a very stupid thing to do. But nonetheless, his approach was different than his father.

 

[Bevatoria]

"Leave us." He said to the guards; he wanted this to be a private meeting, and he gently rebuffed her offer of a drink. "Maybe later." He smiled, grateful for Bella's hospitality even as he just wished for this to be over with. The outfit she'd chosen fit her form well, and was still modest enough that she couldn't be accused of using her charms to get her way. Not that she probably didn't, or couldn't, but still...

He walked over to her; if she wanted them to sit down somewhere, he would acquiesce to her wishes, ideally ending up a bit closer to her then she wanted. Even during business, Stephen was not so noble as to not steal glances at a woman's body whenever he could. The ability to do that and focus on business, as far as he was concerned, was an admirable trait, and perhaps could put her offguard if she noticed him staring so blatantly. But for now, business.

"Miss Russo, as I'm sure you're aware, my father's recent...weakness has affected the profitability of certain areas of our family's empire." He briefly looked down for a moment before continuing, not wanting to just meet her gaze all evening. "Areas that you've taken advantage of in order to expand your own influence and wealth." He smirked slightly. "Nothing I wouldn't have done myself, of course, or that any opportune businessperson wouldn't have done in your place. However, this weakness has also led to certain aspects of how things were run under him to come under full review." A widening of the smirk. "My review." The look fell away as he let a moment pass before meeting Bella's gaze again. His tone indicated that he felt very strongly about his own abilities compared to his father's.

"Now, in lieu of simply...forcing you to withdraw your dealers and your people out of our territory entirely..." Which they couldn't do themselves, as much as Stephen would never admit as such. "...I'm here to offer a deal. Or at least see if you'd be amenable to something that would prove beneficial for both of our parties." Oh, how it grated him to all but grovel at the feet of the woman who would look better bent over the couch, skirt either up at her waist or in a pool at her feet...

 

[zydrate]

Bella took a seat on the settee in the middle of the room. Behind her, the lights of the city shone brightly and she had a wonderful view thanks to the floor to ceiling windows. She listened to Stephen's.....plea...

Perhaps it was a plea, more so than a request. And she thought about it, she truly did. At first, it was as if she wasn't going to acknowledge what he had said or in this case, asked. She heard every word of his 'speech' and considered it as she took a slow sip of her drink.

"Well...." she took a deep breath, set her drink down on the glass coffee table in front of her and stood, smoothing out her dress as she did so. "I do want to assure you, Stephen, that my intentions toward your father are not personal. I am sorry that he is sick and that this whole....mess, has not fared well on his health but as you know, business is business." She cross her arms across her chest, under her breasts, in which that action pushed them up against the low cut top she had on. She had meant what she said, it wasn't personal but when there was money to be made, you either acted on it or show weakness by letting it slide by.

Her years at NYU and the business degree she received while attending gave her that perspective.

Although it seemed that Mr. Horst had made the trip here, albeit risky, she intended to hear him out. Making money and gaining power was not like it was in the old days, where the one with the most kills was the most powerful. No, it was the one who made the proper business decisions and thus gained from that and earned a profit from doing so.

Sure there was still killing, but not so much as to attract attention to the dealings.

"I'm willing to listen Mr. Horst.." She told him as she stopped pacing by the windows and turned to him.

But... she thought, just because I'm willing to listen doesn't mean I'm going to agree.....

 

[Bevatoria]

"Well...." Stephen noticed the heave of her chest as she breathed in, smoothing her outfit before continuing. "I do want to assure you, Stephen, that my intentions toward your father are not personal. I am sorry that he is sick and that this whole....mess, has not fared well on his health but as you know, business is business." Another tantalizing motion as she pushed her breasts up, exposing them a little more in the top she had on, making Stephen wonder if she was trying to throw him off, or if the motion was natural. He bit back a hiss, watching her cross her arms, studying the deliberate pace she kept when moving around the room. This was a woman used to being in control, and that in of itself didn't bother him. But the way she was treating him and her family did.

"I'm willing to listen Mr. Horst.." she said, turning back to him. Stephen reclined in his seat, settling in as he examined her as a foe (and not as a woman, which he had been doing consciously and subconsciously). He could quote the numbers at this woman all day, but had a feeling she wasn't here to be swayed by profitability quotes, by business cases, or by fancy talk or political manueveuring. She wanted to know beyond all doubt that whatever he proposed would be better for her and her family, and for her chances of advancement.

And he knew there was probably no chance in hell she'd get that. So it was time for the games to begin, to tell the lies when the other side knew they were lying, and that they knew it, as well. Posturing for the grand show with no audience.

"Obviously, it would be a nuisance to simply get you to withdraw all of your assets out of our territory. Nor could you." And nor would we be able to force you. "Therefore, what I propose is a gradual profit share to incentivize your own people leaving." He pulled a few sheets of paper from a case that he'd brought in. "The numbers are all here, but basically after two weeks, we would ask for about twenty percent of your people's profits...followed by fifty percent in a month." He looked at her, knowing the reaction he'd be getting, yet continuing unabated. "Seventy five percent after three months, and then all of them in a year."

"To soften the blow, however, we would offer a portion of our own profits in the...trades that go on in the sectors you would be leaving. You'd get forty percent of what we make in those areas in the first month, twenty five for the five after, and then twenty for the six months until one year. At which point any 'tribute' from us would be cut off entirely." It didn't take an expert mathematician to see the numbers didn't add up, but his eyes showed the barest hint of threat. "This could be accomplished without further complications and without any potential damages on either side." He stood up to match her posture, his body language tensing.

"We're offering a good deal, Miss Russo. Your blatant violations of our business rights and territories has to end. I would ask that you give our offer all of the consideration it deserves. It's fair, friendly, and would go a long way to smoothing over the hard feelings between our families." He shifted a little, suddenly aware of another hard feeling as he watched her move, and listened to her respond.

Damn, she was feisty.