Rude Boy USA Page 6

  Celia went back to her shift manager and requested a sit-down. The shift manager told her that Bunny Mother Shirley would speak to her very shortly. Celia wanted to make sure that things were OK with her standing at the club. She was desperate for the extra work. She knew that it would be only a matter of weeks before Rose left for the spring semester, and she did not want to have big gaps where the burden of the rent would all rest on her. She could pay it, but she would not eat or have a phone, among other things.

  Bunny Mother Shirley came over and sat Celia down. “Look, hun, I don’t know what else to say to you. The general manager told me to remove you from the rotation after this week. It was a matter of bunny behavior.”

  Celia was stunned. “I am not sure what instance of my behavior would be in question,” she replied.

  “OK, I am going to be upfront with you because I love you dearly, and you have been one of our top girls. We had a person approach management about you. They were told that you might have been carrying on an inappropriate relationship with one of our keyholders, and they saw excessive mingling on the floor, which is the number one rule we have here. It is important to maintain a professional environment,” Shirley replied.

  “The only floor issues I’ve had were with Dr. Smith,” Celia said. “He flirts with me every night he is here. I have advised him politely on numerous occasions that we were not to date or talk for too long. He is always trying to get excessive small talk from me, get my number…”

  Shirley cut her off. “Celia, you are still very young and exquisite and have a great future in front of you, but I am speaking to you now woman to woman. You cannot claim harassment from one man in the same space where you are fooling around with another. We have had girls get themselves in a tizzy because they decided to pursue a wealthy client,” Shirley said. Celia sat there in disbelief. This was the worst month for her, and now she would add unemployment to the list of troubles. “You can finish your week, but after that you must turn in your tail, your ears, and your ribbon. You may keep the spare uniform you purchased for yourself, but you must turn in the original two that were issued to you,” Bunny Mother Shirley concluded. Celia stood up, gathered her things, and left for the night.

  Celia made it home and went to her room. She did not see Rose, and she did not want to interact with anyone for the moment. Celia cried, as she had never been fired from a job before. When necessary, she always aimed to transition from one place to another without ever missing a pay period. Celia suddenly went from having a plan for the future to being out of options in practically an instant. After a couple of drinks and a couple of hours, Celia picked up the phone and called Jerome. When he answered, the first thing she said was, “Is the offer still on the table?”

  Chapter 4

  A few doors down from the office was a diner that the guys frequented for their sit-down lunches. They discussed important but not overly sensitive matters over plates of food. Anything that went on the record was done within the walls of the office. They used code names in public because there was always a possibility that someone around them was wired. Since they were growing in popularity, they would often walk with security guards when all four of them were in a group together. Bernie felt that it was safer that way. Lose one and the company would still run; lose them all and then Chimera would be no more. He was not ready for that. Bernie knew that the company would not last forever unless they changed focus. He did not know of many gangsters that had pensions, and he would often remind his men that they always had to have a plan B.

  These meetings occurred about once a month right around pay time; however, this month would be different. Bernie decided to call a meeting in the office with a smaller security detail, as he had some important things to discuss. He felt that he could not do so in the public space. He had the food delivered to them, as he wanted the guys to be comfortable in familiar surroundings when he made his announcements. Bernie had many things on his plate. He had not divulged details about any of them to the guys before, but he planned to do so that day. He would occasionally spill personal secrets only to Red. That usually happened after they had sex and shared cigarettes or drugs. She did not care much about his problems as long as he took care of her. The issues Bernie was ready to discuss included money, crime-family problems, and new hires. He would first discuss Ambrosino-family problems, and then gambling, and finally new hires.

  Not far away, Bunny had spent the morning figuring out what to wear for her first day at her new job. She was to meet her new employer by one, which gave her time to get her things together. The location was convenient, as it did not take longer than a bus ride and a couple of blocks of walking to get there. She was nervous. She had become accustomed to evening hours after working a few years at the club. Instead of fishnet stockings, ears, and a tail, dry-cleaned blouses, and form-fitting skirts became her work attire. The heels remained the same, as she loved them. She knew that she would not have to do as much walking, as she would be returning to an office environment, which is where she got her start in the world of employment. The heels made her frame sexy, although they hurt her feet at times. Her feet were the one sacrifice she was willing to make for beauty. Confident in how she would handle herself this time, she decided to make the best out of her new start, although she was not sure exactly what to expect.

  Bernie discussed wanting the men to play bigger roles and enlarge the company. Chimera was very well known and successful within city and suburban limits, but Bernie wanted to expand. Hustling the public for funds was lucrative. Bernie figured he could use his resources, mainly his brain, his friends, his staff, and his girlfriend, who could provide him with firepower if needed. He intended to move more into the legal gambling business and away from the local Ponzi structure. He had a direct connection from Philadelphia, who had already set up shop in Atlantic City. Lucca “Luci” Graziani had been part of the Philadelphia mob, but they exiled him after his behavior became questionable within mob circles. Luci Graziani directly competed with the Ambrosino family from New York City for power in contract negotiations with the steelworkers and concrete unions. He and Bernie struck up a good friendship and agreed to do business. Bernie thought of this as the company’s plan B. Bernie understood that this brought his group to a new level—and possibly a new degree of danger. He justified the entire thing by saying they were smart. Egos and poor planning, not smart business decisions, got bosses and associates killed.

  Atlantic City, New Jersey, was in the midst of a transition. In the past, it had allowed only two legal forms of gambling: horse racing and social gambling, which consisted of scattered slot machines and bingo games throughout the state. Atlantic City was currently legalizing gambling, and it was in the early planning stages of building its first casinos. Crime families in Philadelphia controlled most of the activities in Atlantic City, and many of the New York City crime families wanted a part. This setup caused some members of various families in New York City to cut deals with families in Philadelphia. Other instances of unauthorized side deals resulted in the murder of one or more members of these families. If Bernie wanted a chance to compete, he had to restructure. They could not build casinos until later on in the next decade, but Bernie felt that since it was early 1971, it was time to look into the future. First, he and Graziani planned to link up with executives that he knew were working on obtaining licenses from the Casino Control Commission. He also wanted to use his connections to see about getting the unions involved in the potential projects. This meant a lot of travel for him. Before this meeting, Bernie gave John a heads-up and informed him that he was making John the leader of New York City and its surrounding areas for the time being. He did not want Ben or Jerome to know the plan, as he did not wish to create conflict within the group. He knew that Ben wanted to advance, but he did not trust his astuteness.

  At the meeting, Bernie and the other three discussed their initial course of action for the first hour and felt satisfied with their plans. They went on to
the next subject.

  “Gentlemen, I’ve hired a new person. Due to the nature of her job, she will be considered top tier, one of us. Our square is becoming a pentagon. That sounds great, doesn’t it?” Bernie said. John and Jerome nodded and did not say anything. Ben looked over at them and back at Bernie.

  “So what is this person doing with us? Is she recruiting the homemaker demographic?” Ben asked in a joking yet sarcastic tone.

  “She is our new bookkeeper. She will help us with the numbers,” Bernie answered. Ben’s face changed from amused to concerned.

  “But I do the numbers. You and I, we do the numbers. Things are fine the way they are. I don’t see any reason we need another body here,” Ben said.

  Bernie explained that since Benjamin and the others were spending more time out on the field these days, they were no longer watching the books or keeping an eye out as closely as they had been before. Bernie referred to Ben by his full first name, Benjamin, when he became annoyed with him. Bernie added that he needed someone there to pick up phones, take messages, and make sure that everything was in order back at the office. Bernie made a point to note that their paperwork and bookkeeping were a mess. Their office had been bare bones since day one, and he felt that it was time to grow a little. When everyone left, the rooms were locked. That left the place vulnerable to burglary and vandalism. Rivalries were becoming tenser between Chimera and other crime families, Bernie told his crew.

  “So we are hiring Batgirl or some shit like that? How is she protecting the office?” Ben asked.

  “Benjamin…we will move three of our workers to office security, and they will get training. She will be protected. I would not put a lady in danger,” Bernie answered.

  “Is she hot? Like, is she a hot blonde?” Ben asked. He looked over at John and Jerome. “You two are too quiet. Usually we can’t shut you two up when it comes to chicks.”

  Bernie interrupted him. “I’m approving the revised budget for this. I think all of our increased productivity supports it.”

  The door buzzer rang, and they saw that Celia had arrived at Chimera, thirty minutes early. She wanted to make a good impression on her new employers. Jerome got up and checked out the new arrival from the window. He went to bring her in. As he greeted her at the door, he asked her, “Are you ready, family?”

  Celia answered, “As ready as I’ll ever be.” When they both walked in, John said hi to her. Celia looked at him and nodded. Ben turned around and looked at her. He also said hi to her.

  “I’ve seen you before,” Ben added. Jerome informed Ben that he had indeed met her before at the Playboy Club. “Oh,” Ben said, drawing out the word. He looked over at John. “John’s lady friend. Bringing your girlfriend here to visit?”

  “Well, no…” Celia attempted to say before Bernie stepped in.

  “A formal introduction is due. I know that some of you already know her, but this is Celia Jones, Chimera’s newest member. She will be here in the offices every day handling our books and some of the accounting. She is helping take some of the load off of me, which I appreciate very much. She will be a good fit for us. I am confident,” he said. Ben looked at her and then back at Bernie before turning to John in an annoyed way.

  “Can we go somewhere and speak?” Ben asked Bernie.

  “Sure, Benjamin,” Bernie answered. “Men, while I am speaking with Benjamin, you two can show her around the place. Security won’t start until next week, so I will be generous and pay her in advance for the week until they arrive. She can come in and get things in order before she starts.”

  When Ben and Bernie went into the other office and closed the door, Ben began to pace and rub his hair back. “Bernie, is this some fucking joke?” he asked. “You hired a waitress to assist me at my job?”

  “Benjamin, this has nothing to do with you or your job. You put in great work. I need the help. This is not for you. It’s for me,” Bernie told him. “I am taking a sabbatical from the paperwork and want to go out there in the field more. I have plans. If both of us are out there, who will watch the fort? We got a girl, some of us know her well, and she worked in an office environment before. She’s pleasant.”

  “So you think John’s girlfriend, Jerome’s sister, cousin, or whatever, is the person for this job? No disrespect, and I am not questioning your judgment, for the most part, but I just don’t think she is a good fit for here. Where would a woman fit in here?” Ben asked. “No one discussed this with me. Don’t you think I should have some input on the matter? I’m the one who knows this like the back of my hand. That’s not fucking cool…Did they bring her here? You know they are taking over,” Ben said in an exasperated tone.

  “Who is ‘they,’ and what exactly are they taking over?” Bernie asked as he leaned forward.

  “Nothing. Forget it,” Ben answered.

  “She will fit just fine, and you will train her,” Bernie said sternly. “She is here now, and you will show her what to do. It won’t take that much time.” Bernie stood up and left the room. Pissed off, Ben kicked one of the cabinets and knocked over the pile of papers that had been sitting on top of it. He left the office for the rest of the day without sitting with Celia.

  Bunny walked into the office where Ben usually did the paperwork and bookkeeping. She anticipated him still being there but realized that he had left. She looked around at the unorganized mess. Papers were stacked a foot high in multiple areas of the room, even on top of the cabinet. She noticed some of the papers had fallen from it. She found three-ring binders full of papers with no tabs and no markings to identify what they were. Coffee cups lay everywhere. There was a chalkboard on the back wall behind the desk with various writing on it, and books and more papers were stacked on the built-in bookshelves. Since Ben was nowhere to be seen, Jerome encouraged her to make herself at home and clean up if she must.

  She sat down in the chair at the desk after Jerome left the room. The black leather chair had a permanent dent in the seat where Ben usually sat. She made a mental note to order herself a new chair. She opened the drawers and found more junk. She rummaged through the top drawers and found a bag of cannabis and rolling papers. Bunny was not into drugs of any kind, and she only drank alcohol socially. She looked further and found rubbers and cigarettes. She quickly closed the drawer and continued surveying the area. As she was attempting to tidy up the office, John came to the door.

  “Welcome. This is where we work. Sorry about the mess. He’s a fucking pig,” John said.

  “Thanks,” Bunny replied.

  John closed the door so he could talk to her. “Look, I don’t want this to be uncomfortable for you, and I want to clear the air. I’m sorry. I never got the chance to say it,” he said. “I don’t want you to think that what went on between us was a farce. It wasn’t. I do care for you, and I don’t care about a lot of people.”

  “It’s OK; I’m over it. Things happen for a reason,” she responded. “I just want to get started.”

  “Are we still friends at least?” John asked as he extended his hand to her.

  “OK, we are friends. Here’s to a brand-new start,” she responded. She stood up to shake his hand. Instead of shaking it, he kissed the back of it.

  “See, I couldn’t do that at your old job,” he said and smiled. He walked out of the room. Although she was disappointed in John and the way their relationship had ended, she still found his swagger irresistible. Control yourself, she thought.

  The next day, Bunny decided to go into the office to finish her initial cleanup. When she arrived, Ben was already there looking around at some of the progress she had made while straightening up the day before. He looked a bit disheveled smelled slightly of alcohol. “This place looks nice,” he said to her.

  “Thank you. I wanted to wait until you were here, but the guys told me to go ahead and start. You had a lot of things here that seemed out of order,” she told him.

  “Well, for your information, they were organized. My filing system is different
from everyone else’s. To you this looks like chaos, but I can find and identify every single piece of paper in here,” he said.

  “OK, well, we have to make this work since we are sharing this office,” she said. “I wanted to clean the drawers, but I saw you had some personal things in there,” she added.

  “Well, thank you for your consideration,” he said with a bit of snark. He walked over by her and sat on top of the desk. “So what is the deal between you and John? Are you two still ‘dating’?” he asked while making the quotes sign to her. “Is that how you got this job?”

  A bit offended by what he’d just asked, Celia snapped back. “I shouldn’t even answer those questions; they’re personal. But for your information, we are not a couple. We are just friends.”

  “Well, yeah, because he has a wife at home, or were you aware of that? Oh, I’m sorry,” he said to her.

  “I know about that, and once again, we are just friends. Can we discuss work matters now?” she responded.

  “OK, fine. Just one more question. Why does he call you Bunny? Your name is Celia, right?” Ben asked.

  “Yes, my real name is Celia. He calls me that because he thinks it’s nice, as an alias. I’m not offended,” she answered.

  “Well, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, and excuse my language, but Bunny is the most stupid fucking thing I’ve heard for a name. I won’t call you that. I’ll call you by your real name, Celia is it? John must have made that up. He’s a prick. He thinks he can run everyone. Celia is a more decent name. I can’t have people know that I share an office with a colored girl named Bunny,” he said.