Penultimate Hustle: L.A. - Chapter 5, Part 1

5 – Acquisition

The next
morning, the staff of Ultimate Hustle were met by Natalia and her crew, with
their rush order for the girls’ bedroom. As they were setting up, Janice walked
in and noticed her lit cigarette. She slapped it out of her mouth, crushing the
holder under her heel.




“No smoking
in the building,” she said.




“You can’t
do that!” Natalia shrieked.




“I just did.
If you like, I can sue you for breach of contract and just keep every thing you
delivered. Unless you’d rather end up in a ditch with your face cut up.”




Natalia, a
Sicilian, knew hardball when she heard it, and declined to protest further. The
bedroom was quickly set up in silence, and a frightened Natalia and crew set
avoided any further contact with Janice.




Before they
left, Janique offered Natalia a position with the company.




“Natalia,
what do you make per year?”

“Seventy-five
thousand,” she lied.




“I’ll double
it.”




“For what?”




“Set design.
We have an option on the floor above us, another eight rooms. Plus we’re going
to be buying more properties, not to mention an apartment and eventually a
house.”




Natalia didn’t
have to think about it for long.




“Creative
freedom?”




“Of course,”
Janique said. “I love your designs. The bedroom looks great.”




“Then yes, I’ll
do it.”




“Tell Janice
you need the standard non-porn contract.”




“She scares
me,” Natalia confessed.




“Oh, don’t
be silly. She’s a sweetheart. I’ll come with you.”




They walked
into Janice’s office and Janique broke the news to her, eliciting an eyeroll
but no words of protest.




“May I use
the phone?” Natalia asked her.




“Of course,”
Janice said, her demeanor now friendly.




“Hello, Jim?
Natalia. I quit,” she said simply, hanging up.




“Cancel the
contract and give her a budget,” Janique told Janice.




“No problem.
Welcome to the family, Natalia.”

###

“Chris?”




“Yes, love?”




“Buy me the
computer store.”




“Sure.”




He called
Lawndale and got Dana on the phone.




“Yes, hi. I
need the number for the owner.”




“I’m afraid
I can’t give you that information.”




Chris hung
up and got the keys to the Camaro.




“I’ll be
back.”

###