Ben appears first, the small boy behind him looks petrified.
I smile and hold my hand out to shake his. “Jarvis, we meet again.”
He smiles. “Hey, fuck off.”
“Watch it.” Ben growls.
I smile at the private joke we have before my attention turns to Ben. “It’s ok, that’s what he calls me.”
Adrian’s face drops in horror. “Why would you call him that?”
The kid shrugs “Because those were the only two words he ever said in prison.”
The boys’ eyes all meet and they shake their heads and smile. “My apologies for not picking you up myself but I didn’t want to go back to that place. This is Cameron, my brother, and Adrian is the manager here.” He shakes their hands and tries to smile. He’s as nervous as hell. Poor kid. “And you know Ben, the head of my security.”
He turns to Ben and nods.
“Take a seat.” I gesture to the chair.
He falls into it, completely nervous. He’s wearing old clothes and appears un-kept. My eyes sweep over him. “Take a seat, Ben.”
Ben sits down next to Jarvis.
“I want to know why you went to prison.” I already know this but I want him to tell me.
He drops his head. “Stealing cars.”
I nod. “Why did you steal cars?”
He swallows nervously. “I had my reasons.”
My eyes hold his. “So, you used to steal cars, but in prison you gave up a million dollars to get me heroine when I asked you for it?”
He doesn’t answer me.
“Jarvis, I knew you could get it, so why didn’t you?”
He shrugs and looks to the floor.
I see Cameron and Adrian make eye contact with each other as they have light bulb moment as to why I want to help him.
“You even went so far as to tell the warden I wanted to kill myself and got me moved to protective custody. Why?”
He doesn’t answer.
“If you were so hard up for money, why did you do that?” I ask. “I really do want to know.”
“I knew you would regret it.”
My eyes hold his, but he looks away.
I swivel in my chair. “I have a business proposition for you.”
“I’m good. Thanks anyways.” He starts to stand.
“Sit down,” Ben orders. He falls nervously back into his chair.
“Let me rephrase that. You were going to be in prison for another two years, but now that I have paid your bail, you will do whatever I ask of you for two years.”
He looks at me, stone faced.
“You will work here at the office for me as a trainee. Nothing too hard at first, and we will help you with everything. I have rented you an apartment and we’ll go and get you a car tomorrow.”
He frowns.
My eyes drift to Adrian and then down at his clothing. “Adrian will go with you shopping this afternoon and buy you a new wardrobe.”
“This isn’t necessary.”
“Yes, it is.” I reply.
“You looked after me and now I am going to look after you, whether you like it or not.”
“I don’t fit in here.”
“I don’t care. You will in time. You are to leave that old life and those old friends behind you, or I will take you back to prison myself and you will have everything taken from you.”
His wild eyes hold mine and I can see that he’s angry. I smile on the inside. I like this kid.
“You will be given a guard of your own at all times.
He frowns in disgust. “I don’t need a fucking security guard!” he snaps.
I raise an eyebrow. “I know you don’t, he’s there so I know you are sticking to the rules. No crime, no seediness. New life.”
He runs his hands through his hair.
“I’m giving you an opportunity, Jarvis, to turn your life around. I want you to take it with both hands.”
He glares at me.
I stand and smile proudly. “Let’s go and see your new apartment.”
He frowns. “You got me an apartment? You are serious?”
I nod. “Deadly.”
Adrian smiles sympathetically. “I think we should go clothes shopping first, Jarvis.”
The kid looks down at his clothing. “What’s wrong with my clothing?”
Arian looks to the ceiling for guidance. “Everything.”
Ben pulls the car into the parking lot, pops the hood, and we start to retrieve the multiple shopping bags from the trunk. Adrian is hiding his excitement but I know poor Jarvis is his new styling victim. We have just bought almost everything in town.
“Its up here.” Adrian signals to the block of apartments to the right.
Jarvis stops and looks at the building in awe. I drop my head to hide my smile. He has been silent throughout the afternoon, but polite. I wish I knew what was going through his mind. We finally get to the third floor and Adrian shuffles around for his key before handing it to Jarvis.
Jarvis puts his bags onto the floor and looks at the key in his hand.
I smile and gesture to the door with my chin as I struggle with the bags of shopping. “Hurry up, fuck you.”
He hunches his shoulders, opens the door, and peers in like a scared child.
“Go in,” Adrian urges.