Francesca, page 6
I dropped Bobby off at Chris’s house and went off to meet my fate. I had never been to a casino before. This was a new experience for me. On arriving at the casino, yet again I was in awe. I thought the clubs looked amazing but this completely blew me away in all of its splendour.
Two bouncers were standing outside in their best dinner suits and ties. They looked down their noses at me, which obviously meant they had heard why I was there. One spoke into his radio to another one, announcing that I had arrived. This one wore a suit and dark glasses. He nodded towards me and held his hand out for me to follow him. I did this while still looking around at the huge casino tables and roulette wheels.
I was led down a huge corridor, and the man in front of me stopped. He then spoke into his radio and another guy came to meet me. This was all very cloak-and-dagger, like something out of a movie. The tension was building. I had expected to just walk in and knock on an office door. But no; this was all pomp and ceremony. If he had wanted to intimidate me before I got there, he had achieved his goal.
I was then told to wait. Eventually the man came back and indicated that I was to follow him to two large double doors. He opened one of them and simply said, ‘She’s here, boss.’ He stood aside for me to walk in.
Sat at a huge wooden desk was Mr Lambrianu, with Jake standing at the side of his huge leather chair.
I had expected to walk in and find an angry man, full of abusive language, but no. Jake held his hand out to me and asked for the envelope, which I handed to him.
‘Sit down, Francesca.’ Mr Lambrianu pointed to a chair at the opposite side of the table from him. ‘Coffee?’
This all seemed very calm and civil, not at all what I had expected. It was creepy, like a scene from Psycho. Everyone was being calm and friendly. Yet I knew my head was on the chopping block, and sat before me was my executioner.
He looked towards Jake, who by now had opened the envelope and was counting the contents. He looked up and informed us both that I had spent £3,000! My God, I didn’t realise I had spent that much. I’d showed off, spending money and buying clothes, food, and furniture. I had been ridiculous, and now I was facing the consequences.
‘Are you going to call the police?’ I asked. I found some courage to try and defend myself and announced that I intended to pay it all back.
They looked at each other and smiled.
I apologised and nervously rambled on, wringing my hands in the process.
Mr Lambrianu held up his hand to stop me. ‘Some spending spree. And no, I won’t be calling the police.’
They both seemed to find this amusing.
The two men nodded at each other, and then it came, ‘Of course you will pay me back. I already know that.’
I breathed a sigh of relief and managed an awkward smile of my own. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as bad as I thought. At least the police weren’t going to be involved.
He then asked me why I had stolen his money and what it had been for.
I felt the truth would sound like petty excuses. I felt sure that anyone who was called to his office to face his wrath would make all kinds of excuses, and he had heard them all before. This was personal. I didn’t want him to know that my family had been in a real mess because of my mam’s boyfriend. It sounded pathetic to say it out loud, so I just let him think what he liked and was prepared to face the music.
Taking a deep sigh, he informed me that £3,000 plus the interest he charged meant that I owed him £9,000! Can you believe it? The interest was more than the money I had taken.
‘What? You can’t be serious,’ I almost yelled at him. He couldn’t mean it. Could he?
Then he informed me in that slow deep crisp voice of his that he wanted it paid back in twenty-eight days, or more interest would be added.
Jake then walked to the door and opened it for me. This indicated that the meeting was over, and I was to leave. I was about to walk out, still in a daze, when he said my name again, and calmly and quietly informed me that I was sacked!
‘How am I supposed to pay you back if I’m not earning any money?’ I said. The panic inside of me made me raise my voice and almost screech.
‘Not my problem, Francesca.’ He then went on to explain that he couldn’t be seen to employ someone with her fingers in the till. If that was the case, then other people would think they could do it and get away with it.
‘Twenty-eight days and counting Francesca, I don’t do weekly payments. I want it in full, the same way you took it.’
Then I was dismissed.
I walked out of there in some sort of daze, not even waiting for his suited escorts to show me the way out. My mind was spinning, and tears were pouring down my face. His words were going around and around in my brain. I was back at the beginning—in debt, and no job.
I don’t know why. But out of desperation, I telephoned Sharon and tried appealing to her better nature about my job. It was like talking to a brick wall. The decision was made, and that was final. Mr Lambrianu’s word was law.
I had some savings set aside but nothing that amounted to what that loan shark was demanding. I was angry and bitter. Yet I realised it had been my own fault. I wished I had never heard the name Lambrianu, let alone worked for him. Damn him! Damn them all. And damn me for being so stupid.
I telephoned Candy and poured out the whole miserable story. She had left Lambrianu’s as I had presumed she would and gone back to the East End pubs. I asked her if I would be able to get my old job back, but she informed me that word had already spread. I couldn’t get my old job back. No one would go against his decision and hire me.
I cried buckets of tears. The more I thought about my fate, the more I cried. I did the only thing a girl can do and telephoned my mam. I didn’t mention that I had taken his money to help her. That would have been mean. I didn’t want her to feel responsible for my actions in some way, but I told her that I had been sacked. I also told her that I owed Mr Lambrianu some money. I mentioned that I had some savings but not enough. I didn’t know what else to do. Even after selling my car, I would still be £3,000 short.
Mam knew best of course. She told me to take what I had to him, something was better than nothing, and it showed I was willing. I suppose she was right. At least I had tried. Surely that stood for something?
Counting up everything I had and everything I could sell, it still wasn’t enough. What a cold-hearted man he was. Poor Bobby—he didn’t deserve this. Just as we were getting on our feet again, my stupidity had wrecked it.
I supposed to myself that it hadn’t helped not offering Mr Lambrianu some kind of explanation. Maybe that would have made some difference, though I doubted it. He was a businessman. After all, what is it they say? It’s not personal. It’s just business.
Ralph Gold was a very influential businessman, who surrounded himself with even more influential businessmen. Apparently, he had done it all in his younger days—gun running, money laundering, racketeering. Obviously, he had served his time in prison for his actions, but once out of prison he had decided to become a respectable businessman.
Although his businesses were still a little vague, he had covered them all up with sponsoring charities and had become the man of the moment. He bought into legitimate companies and served on boards of directors. He had worked hard to cover his past.
His friends were even more influential. Police commissioners, MPs, and judges, men who wanted to stand for local elections but couldn’t afford it, found themselves at Mason meetings asking for Ralph’s financial help, which of course he gave if he thought it would be beneficial to him.
That is what the Masonic lodges were all about. It was a gentleman’s club, renowned for helping other members out. Apart from all of the charities they supported and helped, the members of the Masonic lodges also used the funds to help each other. Ralph, through his wealth and influence, had become a member, surrounding himself with respectable members of the community.
He had become the epitome of respectability and envy. To do business with Ralph Gold was an achievement in itself. He did not do business with anyone who would ripple these calm waters.
Tony Lambrianu and his business partner Jake often felt they had gone as far as they could go. They had earned a huge amount of money achieving the success they had so far. But to do business with Ralph really would be a ‘gold’ opportunity. They had met him on the odd occasion at a charity function and suggested a meeting or business lunch, but he had turned them down.
Ralph liked them both. They reminded him of himself when he was younger, but he had learnt through age and experience to not attract media attention, which in turn attracted officials looking into some of his other business dealings.
The striptease clubs did not bother him. Nor did the nightclubs and casino. The usual gangland bosses, as they were known, often paid Ralph some sort of protection money so that he would help them should the need arise.! These days, he hid well in the shadows, letting everyone else make the money and take the chances for him.
He was a lot older than Tony and Jake, around fifteen years older, which was why he had the experience and the friends they didn’t. He had once had dark hair, but these days it was greyer and slightly receding. He was of average size, but the good life had contributed to his middle-aged spread. He wasn’t fat, more bulky, and with his much younger wife Julie at his side—forever his eyes and ears—they represented the perfect, respectable couple.
Jake was a married man and had been for a while. Tony, on the other hand was always featured in glossy magazines with some young, aspiring model or surrounded by celebrities at his parties. He was notorious for his womanising ways, his ‘kiss and tell’ rendezvous, and his girlfriends.
As much as Ralph admired Tony, he also felt he was not a risk worth taking. Most of the men he did business with were respectable married men with families. Of course it was known that most of them also had mistresses, but the mistresses were kept under control. Their intimate affairs weren’t spilled all over the papers for a price or a moment of fame. For an aspiring young model, there was no such thing as bad publicity.
Recently though, Ralph had been thinking about his empire and who would help with the running of it. He was in his late fifties now and couldn’t be everywhere at once. He had his group of lawyers sorting things abroad for him and accountants spreading his money into hidden accounts and non-existent companies. His henchmen or ‘soldiers’ as they were known expressed their loyalty and were always at his side, but, he also knew that they both respected and feared Tony. He was hot-headed. It was Jake who saw reason and was the calmer of the two.
When he met Tony and Jake again, he agreed to a meeting next month. He wanted to listen to what these two like-minded young men had to say and what propositions they could come up with that would make him decide to do business with them.
Ralph knew that Tony in particular had started out as a leg-breaker in the protection racket and worked his way up. He also knew him to be a mean bastard who didn’t suffer fools gladly and was feared by most. So this charming front he portrayed hid a thousand lies. He knew the newspapers called Tony ‘Mr Teflon’ because any accusations that were made about his dealing never stuck. He always had an alibi—usually on the front of one of those glossy magazines. He was having his photo taken, and he couldn’t be in two places at once. Ralph admired the fact the Tony used the newspapers for his own good.
Tony and Jake couldn’t believe their luck. After all this time asking the man, he was prepared to meet them and listen to their proposals.
So there it was. Their goal was in reach, and they had their offers of business all ready. But they knew what Ralph demanded more than anything else—respectability, a lower key lifestyle. What you did behind closed doors didn’t bother him, but the only publicity he wanted was complimentary, not bad gossip.
The business lunch was held at a lavish hotel restaurant in the heart of London. As predicted, Ralph had turned up mob-handed with his soldiers. He knew he didn’t need them, but it set the scene for who they were dealing with. Tony and Jake had gone alone. That also set the scene for friendship—no guns and no arguments, just two lots of businessmen out to lunch. Both had gone in their chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces.
Ralph was impressed and liked their business proposals, though he still had misgivings. During his brandy and cigar, he pointed out why he had them. Jake and Tony could both feel their opportunity slipping away because of Tony’s elaborate lifestyle. You only got one meeting with this man, and they had to make it count. It was all or nothing, one chance to prove yourself. Tony didn’t like the idea that he would be responsible for letting Jake down.
Trying to think on his feet, Tony suddenly blurted out that not everything was as it seemed. He did have a steady girlfriend with possible marriage on the horizon, but it was all low-key. His girlfriend wasn’t a model or famous, and that was the way she wanted it.
Jake froze to his chair and stared at Tony, not knowing what to think. They both knew that lying to the man otherwise known as the ‘Godfather’ and being found out was almost certain suicide. Now Tony had started and captured Ralph’s interest, he couldn’t stop.
He explained with a charming smile that he still liked the ladies and a bit of window shopping, but he also felt it was time to move on and settle down.
Ralph raised his eyebrows, took another sip of brandy, and considered the situation. He looked at Tony, almost through him, and then at Jake. The latter looked shocked and stunned at this confession, but he could see he was trying to hide it.
‘You look as surprised as me, Jake, to learn there is a lady in the wings—someone Tony’s considering settling down with?’ Although it was a question, it was more of a statement.
Jake had also learnt to think on his feet. Both of them had been in sticky situations before and had learnt to talk their way out of them.
‘Not surprised exactly, Ralph,’ said Jake. ‘I am more surprised that Tony would confide in you about this. As he says, it’s all very low key, and the lady in question is very private.’
Yes, she is private, thought Jake to himself, because she doesn’t bloody exist!
More brandies were ordered, and Ralph had turned into the Spanish inquisition, wanting to know more about this mystery woman.
If Tony was prepared to clean up his lifestyle, then this would put a different slant on things. Ralph was prepared to put it to the test and see what bimbo Tony was going to pull out of the closet. With all of this in his mind, he invited them both and their partners to the ladies’ night at the Masons Charity Ball of the year. This great event was held once a year and was very grand. There were dinner, speeches, and dancing. Most of all, the men took their leave at the bar to discuss business, and the ladies were left to chat. This would be where his wife, Julie, would come into her own, finding any skeletons in this new girlfriend’s closet!
Tony and Jake were pleased and stunned at this unexpected invite. It was members only. They had a foot in the door. The only problem was the lack of a girlfriend. Standing up and ready to leave, Ralph shook their hands and told them he would be in touch. Suddenly, he turned to Tony, ‘By the way, Tony, what is the name of this woman you’re keeping under wraps and who my wife and I are looking very forward to meeting.’
‘Francesca,’ Tony said quickly.
Jake just looked at the floor and hoped it would swallow him up.
Ralph smiled and shook their hands again.
Once alone in the car, Jake started. ‘Tony, who the hell is Francesca? And what the fuck are you playing at? It’s over, mate. You always were a chancer and hot-headed. But this even goes beyond you. We’re in shit, Tony, and there is no way I’m going to some bloody ladies’ night knowing it’s going to be my last supper.’ Jake was worried and it showed.
‘Francesca, you know her, the stripper. Her name just popped into my head, and it’s not a name Ralph has heard of before.’ Tony was smiling, pleased with himself.
Jake looked even more shocked. ‘You mean thieving frigid Fran? She’s your secret girlfriend, is she? What are you playing at? You could have had your pick of any woman, and you choose the stripper you just fired. I hope you know what you’re doing, you mad bastard.’ Jake paled. Nothing usually frightened him. But trying to pull the wool over Ralph Gold’s eyes and get away with it—that was a death warrant waiting to be signed.
Tony didn’t know what he was doing. He couldn’t explain why her name had suddenly popped into his head. All he knew now was that he would have to think of something and soon.
My time was up. I had to go and face the music. I was still two thousand pounds short. I had sold everything possible, including my car. I had no income as such. Now it was time to do as my mam had suggested and take what I had. Something was better than nothing, and it showed willingness.
I had made my telephone call to Sharon, who was acting as the go-between. She gave me a set time and date when I was to go back to the casino. I was nervous, and it showed. After the same pomp and ceremony I’d had the first time, I was shown into the office.
This was a total replica of my first visit. Mr Lambrianu sat in his large leather chair at his desk, and Jake stood by his side. I took the money out of my bag and put it on the table. I looked at them both, nervously waiting while Jake counted it.
Then he told me what I already knew. It was short. I explained that was all I could get together at such a short time.
Mr Lambrianu didn’t seem to be listening. He was looking at me, and then he sat back in his chair and gave a little sigh. He turned towards Jake and smiled.
He dismissed the money and then explained to me that he was in need of an escort for an evening. I was puzzled as to why he was telling me this.
‘Do you think you could use your acting skills and escort me for the evening at a very grand social event? People will be curious about you and some ladies possible bitchy. But this is important to myself and Jake—nearly as important as that money and what you owe is to you.’ His voice was deep, and he spoke eloquently, but his eyes were smiling as he turned towards Jake and nudged him with his elbow. ‘I’ve thought of something,’ he said, with a large grin on his face.
