Chapter 3 - Roman’s Rules
Roman answered on the second ring.
“Gallagher.”
Nora frowned.
“You knew it was me?”
“You're calling a private number.”
“It’s almost midnight.”
“I noticed.”
She closed her eyes.
“Is the position still available?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
“I have conditions.”
Roman sounded amused.
“Of course you do.”
“Everything I do is legal.”
“Yes.”
“I don't carry messages. I don't move unexplained money. I don't ask questions whose answers could get me arrested.”
“Agreed.”
Nora hesitated.
“And I need an advance.”
Roman’s voice changed.
“How much?”
“Forty thousand.”
Silence.
Nora immediately hated herself for saying it.
Then Roman asked, “Why?”
“Personal.”
“No.”
“You said the job was mine.”
“The job is. Forty thousand dollars isn't part of the job.”
Nora tightened her grip on the phone.
“Then forget it.”
“Nora.”
“What?”
“Come to my office tomorrow morning.”
“I work tomorrow.”
“Ten.”
“I said—”
“Ten.”
The call ended.
“Unbelievable.”
At 9:58 the next morning, Nora walked into Castiglione Holdings.
Roman was waiting.
So was Leo.
Leo looked furious.
Roman pointed toward a conference table.
“Sit.”
Nora remained standing.
“You have a problem with chairs?” Roman asked.
“I have a problem with being ordered around.”
“Sit, please.”
She sat.
Roman almost smiled.
Leo slid a spreadsheet toward her.
“Since you're apparently a financial genius, explain why this projection is wrong.”
Nora studied it.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then sixty.
Roman said nothing.
Nora tapped one column.
“Your debt servicing assumption changes here.”
Leo frowned.
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Yes, it does.”
She turned the sheet.
“You're calculating against quarterly revenue while the liability schedule is monthly.”
Leo froze.
Roman leaned forward.
Nora pointed again.
“This makes your liquidity cushion look larger than it is.”
“How much larger?” Roman asked.
Nora calculated.
“About 1.3 million by the end of the quarter.”
Roman looked at Leo.
Leo went pale.
“That spreadsheet came from junior staff.”
“You signed it,” Roman said.
Silence.
Roman stood.
“Leave us.”
Leo stared at Nora.
“Roman—”
“Now.”
Leo left.
Roman walked toward the window.
Nora folded her arms.
“You set that up.”
“Yes.”
“You knew there was a mistake.”
“I knew there might be.”
“You wanted to test me.”
“Yes.”
Nora stood.
“Then I'm leaving.”
“Forty thousand.”
She stopped.
Roman placed a check on the table.
Nora stared at it.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“About?”
“Why you need it.”
She hesitated.
“My father has gambling debts.”
“To whom?”
“I don't know.”
Roman studied her.
“Take the check.”
“I’ll repay it.”
“It’s an advance.”
“Against my salary?”
“Yes.”
Nora picked it up.
“And if I quit?”
“You repay the unused portion.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That's surprisingly reasonable.”
“I can be reasonable.”
“I've heard conflicting reports.”
Roman almost smiled.
Then his phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Roman looked at her.
“Your father’s name is Arthur Gallagher?”
Nora went still.
“How do you know that?”
Roman turned the phone around.
A photograph showed Arthur leaving a betting club.
Beside him stood Leo.
Nora stared.
“Why is your accountant with my father?”
Roman’s expression hardened.
May you like
“That is an excellent question.”
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