It had barely been a month since he had joined the gang so he never expected an order from so high up. "The boss has been impressed with your efforts and would like to meet such a promising new recruit." He had rolled those words in his mind so many times that they had been burned into his memory by now. Michael tried to imagine how this meeting would go, but none felt quite right. The boss was quite secretive and there was little known about his or her identity so what could someone as powerful as the boss want with him?

Michael could feel his heart pounding in his chest as the burly man who had frisked him earlier opened the large oak doors. The interior of the room was dark and quiet, and Michael could only hear the soft rug beneath his feet as he walked in. Twelve. It was twelve steps before he was standing in front of a magnificent mahogany table with an armchair behind it. The figure sitting in it was still too obscured within the shadows to distinguish any identifying features.

In an instant, a tiny spark lit up a small light on the table as if by cue. Michael blinked his eyes to adjust to the new lighting to see the woman sitting in front of him. Michael was speechless as he gazed upon her figure. Despite not having any limbs, the tiny woman held herself up with such an air of confidence and elegance that he had no doubt he was standing in the presence of a powerful mafia head.

The Donna smiled at him, looking him over. Their eyes met, and he saw that her eyes were also mismatched. Her left eye, a piercing emerald green scanned him up and down while the other barely moved.

“Curious?” Donna Trish’s voice was soft but commanding, and Michael could feel himself nodding wordlessly as if his head was beckoned by an invisible force.

“Assassination attempts,” came the whisper, “Countless assassination attempts have left my body in the state you see it in now. From assassins to car bombings to poison to snipers, I’ve survived through them all.” There was a silence that lingered in the air.

"A cigarette." Her words were soft but the order was a demand. There was a shuffle of movement behind Donna Trish as a bodyguard behind her reached into his suit pocket. The two men that stood behind her stood so still that Michael only now noticed them. They seemed like statues, motionless yet imposing, but Michael barely felt their presence until now. The Donna continued, “I’m sure you’ve realized by now that you won’t be able to kiss any rings or hands today. Instead, won’t you light this cigarette?”

Michael could feel his hands shaking as he held his lighter in both hands and brought it close to the cigarette held in The Donna’s mouth. He tried not to let her piercing gaze affect him as he lit it.

Donna Trish took a good long drag. The bodyguard close to her held onto her cigarette as she exhaled in such a fluid motion that it seemed natural. It was back between her lips it seemed like she had done it herself. Another pause and drag before she spoke. “I have a feeling you’ll accomplish great things. Don’t let me down now.”

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