Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Price of Silence
The restaurant sat in the center of the high-end district where everything looked expensive with gold-rimmed menus and air that felt filtered and costly. Alexander and Marcus were still in their work suits and blended in looking like young executives closing a deal. The host bowed slightly as they walked in.
"The usual table sir?" said the host.
"Yeah bring us something special and a good bottle" said Marcus.
Alexander watched Marcus move through the room because it was a world he usually saw through glass windows while walking to his shift at the Seven-Eleven "Do you come here often you like this?" said Alexander.
"Once you taste the premium world the clearance racks stop making sense you’ll see" said Marcus.
The waiter poured two glasses of dark wine and Alexander took a sip feeling the flavor heavy and bitter on his tongue "I always wondered where you got the cash" said Alexander.
"I know but I’m under contract because if I’d told you the truth before they might have cut my throat" said Marcus as he leaned in with a face that went flat "Listen Alex no loose tongues and never talk about this because I’ve seen things."
Marcus stared into his glass "A couple of my superiors taught me the ropes when I started and they were nice guys until one day their heads showed up in a cardboard box. I got a text right after with one word silence" said Marcus.
Alexander felt a chill while the luxury of the room felt sharp and dangerous "Shit I’m glad you didn’t tell me" said Alexander "honestly I thought you were just being a prick and I guess I was just a resentful loser."
Marcus gave a dry laugh "Don’t worry about it how’s school you still doing those plays?" said Marcus.
Alexander sighed "There’s no money and the school doesn’t care because we’re amateurs. I tried to put together a show but the costumes were from a charity bin that I literally begged for" said Alexander.
Marcus cut into a steak that cost more than Alexander’s phone "Well now you can fund it yourself so work a bit more and build your own theater because there is no more begging" said Marcus.
Alexander looked around and he had money in his pocket but it felt heavy like a weapon "I never thought acting would lead to this" said Alexander.
"Life is a joke so just keep the mask on tight" said Marcus.
A shadow fell over the table where a woman in her fifties with a heavy pearl necklace stood smiling next to a younger woman in a tight red dress "Marcus is that you dear?" said the older woman.
Marcus didn’t flinch and wiped his mouth to stand up with a practiced smile "Mrs. Gable you look stunning tonight" said Marcus as he turned to Alexander "Alex this is Mrs. Gable and her daughter Serena who are old family friends."
Alexander stood up while Serena looked at him like she was checking the price tag on a suit "Mind if we join you the place is crowded" said Mrs. Gable.
"Please sit because we were just celebrating since my friend just finished a long shift so excuse him if he looks drained" said Marcus.
They sat and the air felt thin because Alexander knew what family friends meant now "A long shift what line of work are you in Alexander?" said Serena as she leaned forward with eyes locked on his.
"Consulting high-pressure" said Alexander.
"He’s being modest because he’s the best new talent we have" said Marcus while giving Alexander a sharp look "but even he needs to blow off some steam after a job like today’s."
Mrs. Gable laughed with a cold and sharp sound "I bet those jobs are exhausting but the rewards are worth it aren’t they?" said Mrs. Gable.
Alexander drank his wine and realized Mrs. Gable wasn’t just a friend because she looked at Marcus with the same hunger Helen had shown earlier which made this an inspection "So Alexander" said Serena while her voice dropped to a whisper "does your firm handle private clients or do you work in teams?"
"I’m still learning" said Alexander.
"Maybe I could teach you a few things because I have a soft spot for consultants" said Serena.
Under the table her heel brushed against his shin and Alexander looked at Marcus but his friend was busy charming the mother acting like the perfect family friend.
