Not half of a wrong word

Heavenly Father, thank you that your word enlightens my eyes, purifies my soul and preserves me for eternal life. Your word says that I can do all things through you who strengthens me. Please give me the strength I need to succeed in business. Bless my work with prosperity for my good and for your glory. May the love of the Father, the tenderness of the Son, and the presence of the Spirit, gladden my heart and bring peace to my soul, today and for all days. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

-  And be careful.

-  Yes, don’t get hysterical and lose control of the car, ma’am. – Georgio snickered with an innocent expression, tapping the roof of the car as he looked through the open window. He and Leo were seeing Ave off.

- I will make sure. – Ave said back with a sweet smile. –After I run you over, of course. – An irritation mark had formed along with her smile. – Don’t worry too much. – She was looking at Leo. –I will be fine. – She started lifting the window and they stepped aside, Georgio waving as she set off.

- Aren’t you afraid she’ll faint on the way there? – Georgio looked at Leo with the corner of his eye while waving to the now getting farther and farther away car.

- Not really. – He answered picking a cigarette from his pocket.

- That so? – Georgio looked at him with a raised eyebrow and Leo just shrugged it off. – Well, don’t they say that women are weak so they can’t drive? –Georgio had his mouth still open ready to spill a bunch of facts all-knowingly but Leo, fortunately, interrupted.

- Nah, is she even human? – Leo asked walking towards their own car. Georgio stared at his back and a wide smirk forming on his face, jerking a brow up.

- Straight to Bologna? – Georgio asked as he put his seatbelt on the passenger’s side. Leo nodded in agreement.

-If you ain’t gon’ tell me you are joking…- Georgio complained with a disgust.

-Georgio, this is the place. – Leo said for the second time to clarify. The building was  miserable; it looked shabby, mold spots on the walls and here and there water leaked.

- I think you ought to reconsider your business and talk with your dad- Leo grabbed his face and forced him to look at the opposite side of the road.

- O-O-O-O-O-O-O-OH…. - Georgio exclaimed, now satisfied.

- Pay attention sometimes, it won’t do you any bad. – Leo retorted with a laugh.

-You were the one who stopped in front of the five-star hotel for beggars. – He exclaimed making a tantrum, his hand up in the air. Leo got out of the car smiling softly at his friend’s idiocy. And he followed.

-How much?

-I will figure out the price depending on the purchaser. – Leo pulled out a case from the boot. They crossed the busy street and ended up in front of a completely different building. A fancy bar – The diamond trolley; the entrance was double, enormous windows from ceiling to floor surrounded by marble details and built-in Ionian columns were standing tall and strong. Once they stepped in they were greeted by the aroma of liquor, whiskey and vanilla. There were a few booths with brown and blue sofas and low ebony tables. The bar’s fence was also made of ebony wood and it was surrounded by tall blue chairs. Hundreds of metal stands were hanging from the ceiling right above the fence; behind it stood a middle-aged bartender with ginger long silky hair.

-We have an arrangement with Mr. Giovanni. – Leo told her politely with a soft smile. She nodded and mimicked with her hand to the direction she’ll be escorting them. Both of them followed suit right after her.

-Well, this is something else… - Georgio whispered jokingly and Leo gave him a stern look. He put his hands slightly up admitting his defeat with a smirk.

The bartender stopped in front of a door and knocked on it. A “Come in” was heard from the other side of the door. She looked their way and nodded taking her leave.

-Won’t you introduce us? – Georgio asked curiously. She shook her head.

- I aren’t someone worth to come into contact with Mr. Giovanni. – She smiled up at them. –Please, have a pleasurable rest of the day. – She greeted and left, crossing the corridor back to the bar. Leo gave Georgio a look and he just shrugged. Just then Georgio opened the door.

A man in his late forties welcomed them the moment they entered the room that was supposed to work as an office. It was plain; however, the shade of luxury hadn’t faded even a bit from the simplicity. A low ebony table like the ones in the main room of the bar, armchairs and a sofa in Victorian style, the curtains were thick and closed, letting no ray of the noon sunshine inside which surprisingly hadn’t affected the plant in the corner.

Leo and Georgio sat across the man that was leisurely smoking a cigar. His hair was grey and in medium length, a short beard of the same color had grown on his face and his bright grayish eyes were striking like lightning, inspecting the guests. Leo immediately felt every move of his being judged and each of his movements became slower and overthought, too precise. Georgio just walked in further and plopped on the sofa. After that Leo could do nothing but join him. Placing the case on the table he opened it and revealed a see-through bottle made out of glass filled with Campari. There were 4 small glasses placed around it. He took the bottle and three of the glasses out.

-Don’t bother. – The man said when Leo had just opened the bottle. His eyes went wide fixated on the bottle. He gulped, gathering the courage to look back at the man. – From the color of it I know. I cannot drink mud you present as edible beverage. – Leo sat ashamed he couldn’t bring himself to lift his head up and face his defeat. And from the first try is it? So soon? Too harsh. When father were to find out, he would have to shut down the factory and then he wouldn’t be able to- No, he ought not to be thinking like this. After what he did… it is unfair.

Despite Leo’s shock, Georgio took the bottle of which Leo had lost grip and then slowly poured himself a glass. The man’s attention was no more directed towards the smoke of his cigar but rather than that, it was now Georgio’s turn to be judged.

-You need to put a filter on your mouth. – Georgio said in a low voice, swinging his glass in a circular motion, observing the Campari in awe. And before taking a sip, he smelled it. He closed his eyes and smiled just so slightly to himself. He put the glass down and looked Mr. Giovani in the eye. It was his turn to feel judged as if under a microscope.

Georgio’s face was no longer innocent, his movements and body mimics weren’t childish and exaggerated, his eyes were no longer bright like a summer sky but an ocean during a deadly storm. He knew that the fun had to come at some point.