I looked at Moretti with very angry eyes.
“You’re a piece of work, Moretti. Why did you have to do this to Cole? He paid off all of his father’s debts and then some. He’s been a great client all these years.”
“Oh, don’t get all melodramatic on me, Clarissa, or should I say Candy Spice?”
“Hey, stupid,” I said. “I got out of that life many, many years ago, right after I had my son Michael. You know that.”
“Well, little old Michael owes me quite a bit of money, and one of you is going to have to pay.”
“Well, you can shove it up your ass. I don’t have that kind of money.”
Moretti was getting impatient with my attitude.
“That’s right, Moretti. We don’t have that kind of money. After I settled all my father’s debts with you, I was literally wiped out. Ibarely have enough money to run the clubs that I have left,” Cole admitted.
Dammit. Cole is broke. I need to change my strategy.
Moretti shook his head.
“And I’m supposed to give a shit about your financial problems? You either come up with the money, or little Mikey is going to have an accident.”
My heart dropped. I took a deep breath and let it out.
“This is stupid, Moretti.”
My expression softened.
“We shouldn’t be fighting like this. We’re practically family. We’ve known each other for so many years. It hardly seems fair that you take such drastic action.”
Moretti started pacing back and forth. He took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a drag.
“Things have been tough for me, too. The business is not what it used to be. Men are turning to online entertainment, do you know what I mean?”
“I don’t know what you mean, and I don’t care,” I snapped.
“Tell you what, you come back to work for me, and you work off the debt.”
“Are you out of your mind? I’m not in my twenties anymore. I mean, I know I look great for my age, but I’m sure nobody wants to go out with someone as sophisticated as me.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Cole chimed in.
I slapped Cole upside the head.
“Hey, watch your mouth. You wish you had some of this sophistication in your bed.”
Cole stayed quiet.
“And that’s my point, Clarissa. You hit the nail on the head. I need a sophisticated woman such as yourself for my older and much more sophisticated gentlemen. You know, lawyers,judges, and surgeons. I mean high-end clients who would pay a premium for your company.”
“It doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Cole mentioned.
“Shut up, stupid. He’s not talking about you giving up your sophistication to strangers. I don’t care how high-class they are.”
What kind of shit is this?
“Well, Candy Spice—”
“Stop saying that name,” I interjected.
