Refuse the offer

“Fuck off, Mikka.” You spit at him and push the money back. “Professionals have standards. What you are offering me is the worst thing possible. I outta turn you in for what you are doing.”

Mikka’s smile fades. He takes his money and puts it back in his pocket. “Fine. We won’t do anything. But the deal is off. You’re not gonna get a single penny off of me.”

“You’re a piece of work.”

It’s disgusting. How could a security company allow such a twisted guy to work here? You follow him from a distance. You have to help him get the drinks, otherwise questions might start and it sour the night. You can’t let that happen. Not for Sachio and certainly not you.

When you return the drinks, you sit next to Sachio and ask how everything is going. Her staring lingers on Kenji for a little bit before she looks back at you. “It’s fine. Thanks for doing this. I’ll...Uhm, talk to you later?”

“Yeah, just uh, be careful how much you drink tonight.”

Sachio laughs in response to this. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve never really drank a day in my life. My mother would have killed me.”

You’re not gonna dive any into her personal life, so instead you scoot away and give her and Kenji some space. As you do this, you slide next to Akiko. You whip around and apologize for bumping into her. She tells you not to worry about it, so you don’t...Then continue to worry about it nonetheless.

Mikka, despite your rejection, proceeds to carry on the party as if nothing out of the normal happened. He sings, he dances, he drinks. Ruprik does the same, but he’s much more cut back than his partner is.

Truth to be told, this would have been a decent event if it wasn’t tainted for the questions a few moments earlier. You even manage to get a few songs in yourself, but it isn’t anywhere near the same league as either Kenji or Akiko. Sachio’s voice is small and shy. Knowing Kenji is no more than 6 feet away from her doesn't help either.

You leave the bar with no more than a simple buzz. Once you drop off the girls, you turn in back to the hotel you were at. Along the way, you meet McKinley in the lobby. He’s with his wife, Sasha.

“Looking sharp there, Warren.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets. He’s recovered almost all the way through. “How was your first contract with the Red Ties.”

“Mm…?”