Hamilton shifted her stance slightly as the man's hands lingered on parts of her body for longer periods of time than she was completely comfortable. But, as he moved around her, it was not only the physical intrusions that made her feel uncomfortable, Hamilton was also subjected to the man's halitosis and unfriendly body odour. Her wish to protest was muted however as she was eager for the event to complete as soon as possible and she knew that any protest was likely to extend the enjoyment of the male lump she had long ago nicknamed Steroid. For her own amusement Hamilton had constructed nicknames for each of the muscle bound goons who welcomed her each time she visited Tony Franklin.
Hamilton had made several fashion changes over the course of her previous visits to the palatial property Franklin used for business and pleasure, mixing her outfits between slacks and skirts in a bid to find the least opportunistic outfit for her intruders. Today she had settled on a blue cotton trouser suit if only because that way she would be more likely to be aware of the location of Steroid's hands with no opportunity for them to travel beneath the hem of a skirt. Steroid, whom Hamilton had nicknamed so due to his over sized unnatural body shape, continued to touch her in ways that would have normally led to his undoing. He continued to smile at her each time they came face to face releasing more of his tainted breath towards her nostrils.
"Bag!" Her physical examination complete Steroid now held out his right hand in expectation that his demand would be met without protest. Hamilton handed him her shoulder bag which was only slightly larger than a purse but gave her the preferred option of carrying her personal items in a manner that kept her hands free and, of course, reduced the possibility of unnecessarily unsightly lumps in her clothing.
Content that neither her person nor the contents of her bag were a threat to her host Hamilton was wordlessly waved through towards the building's lobby. As usual neither Steroid nor his mate Knuckles, employed by Tony Franklin for their physical rather than their intellectual mass as his personal protection, sought to body search Tracey Smyth. Hamilton did not always bring her daughter with her to visit Franklin, but word had passed sufficiently that even the new goons were less interested in the 'goods' as far as Tracey was concerned.
The contents of Tracey's bag were, though, searched with similar interest as Hamilton's. But their approach to her daughter, and therefore the threat that could remain undetected, had long ago confirmed Hamilton's thoughts that her own physical search was merely to intimidate Hamilton rather than to protect Franklin.
The two women had stepped only a few paces into the lobby of the building before they were confronted by Sanchez, one of the few guards Hamilton had gotten to know reasonably well but whose body mass similarly tested the stitching of his suit, which, like the rest of his colleagues, was a dark poly-wool mix with, Hamilton expected, added Lycra. Both women followed Sanchez as he escorted them into the main body of the ground floor. Sanchez guided them towards an open door on the right hand side. Even though the door was open Sanchez knocked at the door as he stepped close to the room's boundary. There was no audible welcome but Sanchez still walked through the opening and ushered the women to follow him. Hamilton checked her watch on her right wrist as they entered into the room.
Hamilton was first to enter the large room behind Sanchez who vacated the room once Tracey had also stepped inside. Their guide having departed Hamilton walked towards the large mahogany desk at the right end of the expansive room behind which their host, Tony Franklin, sat noisily eating what appeared to be a beef roast with a knife and fork. Although, Hamilton assessed he had only recently been introduced to such cutlery by the manner in which he was cutting and shovelling the food from his plate.
Seated just in front of the desk on a leather low backed chair with a liquor filled glass was Franklin's lawyer Mike Daniels. During one confrontational meeting between Hamilton and the lawyer, Daniels had listed all of his qualifications to her in a manner that sought to affirm his status as her superior. It was clear though that Franklin saw Daniels as no more than his gopher and legal safety net for when things got uncomfortable. Hamilton was certain Franklin's actions kept Daniels busy.
"Ah, Paula how nice to see you." Daniels greeting was suitably false. Franklin did not look up from his plate. "Oh, and I see you've brought.......company." Hamilton's watery smile in response had no impact as Daniels continued. "Mr Franklin will be with you momentarily."
Although Hamilton's attendance was at the appointed time she was not surprised that Franklin and Daniels were keeping her and Tracey waiting. It was a tiresome power play which mirrored her treatment on arrival. The only break in the silence was the sound of Franklin noisily finishing his meal. As they waited neither Hamilton nor Tracey were offered a seat. Daniels studied some paperwork as he sipped at his drink. He made no attempt at small talk, for which Hamilton was actually thankful as she despised the man's view of intelligent chatter.
"So....." all eyes shifted towards Franklin as, mouth still partially filled with food, he broke the stillness, "....I suppose you're wondering why I summoned you here?"
"Oh? I thought we were invited rather than summoned Tony. Especially as we've been welcomed so warmly." Franklin scoffed and wiped the remnants of food from his mouth with a white linen cloth.
"You really think you're something special don't you." The question was rhetorical and Franklin continued without waiting for Hamilton to respond. "Nah, you were summoned bitch, and if you'd decided not to attend you know full well your attendance would have been less voluntary. Daniels chuckled and Hamilton looked away defensively as the script required, but inwardly she felt no fear only contempt.
"Of course Tony. I apologise."
"And stop calling me Tony. It's Mr Franklin where you're concerned. And why the fuck have you brought that freak with you again." Another rhetorical question.
"Grant!!! GRANT!!!" Momentarily Steroid appeared and walked a few paces into the room.
"Yes sir."
"Take this fucking freak outside until we're done here. It makes me feel sick and I just had a nice meal I wanna keep down."
"Yes sir." Steroid took hold of Tracey's upper right arm with his meaty left claw of a hand and gave it an ungentlemanly tug but Tracey did not move. Instead she looked to her mother who gave a gentle nod of her head. At which point Tracey became more accommodating and took the firm guidance to exit the room.
"And close that fucking door after you." Hamilton watched over her shoulder as Tracey was taken from the room and prepared herself for the expected verbal onslaught from Franklin. As instructed, Steroid closed the door behind him but Hamilton's attention was returned to her host before the lock had clicked shut. "Chloe tells me our acquisitions are going well and you are doing a good job."
"Why, thank you." The sarcasm in Hamilton's delivery was intended and by the reaction on Franklin's face she could tell it had landed.
"Thing is, you seem to think you're smarter than any of us by trying to run an operation off the books."
"Off Mr Franklin's books," Daniels chimed in before taking another sip of his drink.
"The lab is all part of the....operation," she responded quizzically.
"I'm not talking about the laboratory, as well you know bitch. It seems you thought you could squirrel some money from me. Money which I am enabling you to make."
