Business as usual
[Ottawa, Canada]
Orlando blew on his hands to keep them warm, and stamped his feet to get circulation moving. His heavy overcoat kept the bulk of his body warm, but the wind blowing in from the Lake made it impossible to stay warm. He eyed the warehouse, mentally calculating the size and dimensions. "I like this one," he said, turning to the man next to him. "Good location, good size."
"I'll mark it on the list."
"Where to next?" Orlando asked, turning back to their car. "Tell me it's someplace inside and I'll double your salary for today."
Ethan smiled as he opened the door for Orlando. "As a matter of fact, it is. Your meeting with Charles is next."
Orlando grimaced. "I'd almost prefer the outdoors," he muttered, sliding over to allow Ethan room inside. "The hotel, please," he told their driver. "I suppose he has a million ideas about expansion and distribution that I must hear while I'm in town?"
Ethan smiled, showing a small gap between his front teeth. "Yeah, well, you know Charlie. Always full of ideas to make himself richer."
"It's Capone who's making us all rich, and don't forget it. Without him, we're just short-timers."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Ethan asked, twisting in his seat as they rumbled along the busy, seaside street. "I mean, you were a legend already in New York."
"Yeah, but a legend on the wrong side of Lucky Luciano," Orlando replied. "We get along now, but it was touch and go for awhile. Anyway, it's past. So, Charlie, then what?"
"Some swank new place opened up, and you've been issued an invitation as 'visiting dignitary'," Ethan said, consulting his clipboard. "It's formal dress."
"Sounds wonderful. Gives me something to look forward to," Orlando smiled. He slouched low in his seat and tipped his hat on his face. "Wake me when we get to the hotel. Still a bit tired from the trip."
"Sure thing, Mr. Bloom."
Orlando blew on his hands to keep them warm, and stamped his feet to get circulation moving. His heavy overcoat kept the bulk of his body warm, but the wind blowing in from the Lake made it impossible to stay warm. He eyed the warehouse, mentally calculating the size and dimensions. "I like this one," he said, turning to the man next to him. "Good location, good size."
"I'll mark it on the list."
"Where to next?" Orlando asked, turning back to their car. "Tell me it's someplace inside and I'll double your salary for today."
Ethan smiled as he opened the door for Orlando. "As a matter of fact, it is. Your meeting with Charles is next."
Orlando grimaced. "I'd almost prefer the outdoors," he muttered, sliding over to allow Ethan room inside. "The hotel, please," he told their driver. "I suppose he has a million ideas about expansion and distribution that I must hear while I'm in town?"
Ethan smiled, showing a small gap between his front teeth. "Yeah, well, you know Charlie. Always full of ideas to make himself richer."
"It's Capone who's making us all rich, and don't forget it. Without him, we're just short-timers."
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Ethan asked, twisting in his seat as they rumbled along the busy, seaside street. "I mean, you were a legend already in New York."
"Yeah, but a legend on the wrong side of Lucky Luciano," Orlando replied. "We get along now, but it was touch and go for awhile. Anyway, it's past. So, Charlie, then what?"
"Some swank new place opened up, and you've been issued an invitation as 'visiting dignitary'," Ethan said, consulting his clipboard. "It's formal dress."
"Sounds wonderful. Gives me something to look forward to," Orlando smiled. He slouched low in his seat and tipped his hat on his face. "Wake me when we get to the hotel. Still a bit tired from the trip."
"Sure thing, Mr. Bloom."