A business proposal.

   "I have a business proposal for you," Caleb Martinson voiced out in a weak tone.

     Anthony eyes moved from the book in hand, to the battered face of the half dead man on the floor. His index finger placed itself between the pages as he casted an even better glance at the man.

      "You have a business proposal." He repeated in a hushed tone.

Caleb nodded slowly. His back itched badly, but the ropes around his hands prevented him from taking action.

     "I'm listening." Anthony said out in disbelief. What business proposal would cover up a seventy grand debt?

   Was it even a debt?

   No, he wouldn't call it a debt. It shouldn't be a debt, if it was gotten through theft.

   His eyes bore into the old man as he awaited the hearing of the idea.

    "My daughter. My first daughter." Caleb said out in a scorched voice. His head was hurting and his eyes felt dilated, but he couldn't pass out. He knew better than to grow unconscious in the presence of his angry boss.

     "Your daughter..." Anthony repeated again, in a slow tone. He remembered the girl. Blonde hair, brown eyes, slender,and tall. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't good either.

      "We already have enough strippers here and she's definitely not fit for a prostitute"

   Caleb's eyes opened in shock.

 He recollected himself in a second, before he began.

    "I did not mean for you to employ her as a hooker."

      Silence lingered as Anthony expected more words from the man's mouth.

     "You can take her in as your wife."

    The silence dawned on again. Anthony frowned.

     "As my wife?"

     "Yes. For free. I have five of them. I don't need her."

    Anthony nodded in sarcasm.

      "how does that cover up the money you stole from me?" he asked, shutting the book in his hands.

      Caleb's nostrils inhaled a deep breath.

      "I have been your driver for twenty years," he began.

     "Cut to the chase." Anthony prompted.

     "I know you and the kind of business you run. I know the illegal shit you do. I have evidences,but I would never rat out my son-in-law." He dropped the hint.

       "how do you know that?" Anthony asked as he alighted from his chair.

   Caleb watched as the huge man moved to his front. He gulped down a heavy lump of saliva.

    Anthony lowered himself, until he was at face level with Caleb. He chuckled as the man cowered back.

"How do you know the illegal shit I do?" He asked mockingly.

      

    "Pull a chair towards me." He ordered. A leather swivel chair was pulled forward. Anthony gracefully sat on it, as he placed a foot on Caleb's face.

  

      "My question was never answered." He said,as his foot dug deeper into Caleb's skin. Caleb winced in pain.

    "How do you know that?" He asked again.

    A tear dropped from Caleb's eyes. 

     "I don't know anything, sir."

     "But, you do."

     "I don't. I swear. I know nothing. I'm a fool. I am stupid. I know nothing." He pleaded as he saw his boss wrap large, spiky chains around his arm.

 "Stop whining"

    "Please, don't hurt me. I know nothing. I'll never speak of anything, I swear."

        " You promise?" Anthony asked.

    "I promise. I swear on my daughter's life, I will never say anything to anyone."

         "Fine. I believe you." He silently replied, pulling off the chains from his hands.

   Caleb's eyes widened in fear. Anthony lowered himself again, until they were at face level. His soft palm brushed over Caleb's bloodstained forehead.

     "How can I trust you?"

     "I've given you my word. I will never tell anyone." He promised again.

      Anthony grabbed his chin, as his fingers pressed into his cheeks. He heaved a deep breath before he spoke.

    "You have been my driver for twenty years... "He started.

   Caleb's widened eyes remained in place as he shook in fear.

     "I know you wouldn't tell. You're just like family." He continued. Caleb nodded eagerly.

     "but, families don't loot money from each other."

     "It was a mistake!"Caleb cried out.

    "I understand." Anthony shrugged. "Mistakes happen,right?"

  Caleb nodded.

  "It's business. Mistakes happen everyday,but do you know something special about business men?"

  Caleb shook his head.

   "we hate mistakes. When mistakes happen,we do our best to ensure it never repeats itself. So, I have to ensure this mistake never repeats itself."

"Goodnight ,champ."Anthony ended his speech.

His grip tightened on Caleb's cheek and in a quick moment,he slammed his driver's head into the tiles. More blood spilled on the floor as Caleb coughed out blood from his mouth.

     "Ensure he isn't dead, I need him." Anthony ordered as he walked out of his office. 

******

  It was five am when the alarm rang. Florence slowly pulled herself back to reality as she took in her environment. Her eyes felt stupidly heavy,but the alarm would not stop. Her finger gripped it easily,and she threw it across the room. 

   A quick glance, and she realized she was still in her red velvet dress. Her hand still grasped the bottle of vodka she seemed to have downed earlier on. Luckily, her shoes were on the floor. 

    "Fuck," she cursed quietly as she pulled herself from the bed.

    Caleb had promised her the previous day that they would be out for dinner, but he never showed up. He never did. Not when Sandra was born, not when any of his daughters were born. Why did she think he would change? When would she learn? 

   She knew he had probably spent the night elsewhere, but decided to...

   Her eyes snapped as she heard the loudest scream her ears could handle. 

   Recognizing the voice, she sprinted out of her room and into the living room. Her eyes widened as she viewed the entire scene. Her daughter's phone had fallen in shock.

    "Step back, Sandra."

 The twenty year old quickly stepped back as her mother took over.

   Right above her husband's body was a letter, and a file underneath.

     "Call 911" a panicking Florence ordered. 

   She obeyed.