Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4) novel Chapter 102

“You broke it,” Natalia said.

“I guess I’m good at that,” Tonya said with a little giggle.

Natalia didn’t think that was something she should be proud of.

“I’ll get that fixed,” Tyrone said, rising.

“I have errands to run at lunch. Tyrone, can you walk me out?”

“Certainly.”

“Don’t touch anything other than paper, Tonya.”

All the ladies laughed.

Natalia headed out the door with Tyrone.

“I think things are finally coming together,” she said.

“Let’s take the stairs,” Tyrone said. “That elevator is still down.”

“Good idea.”

They trotted down the stairs. Natalia noted other Viperians heading down. It was the prime time for going out to lunch.

“Thanks, Tyrone.”

Natalia saw the limo pull up.

“No problem. See you this afternoon in the meeting.”

Natalia walked quickly to the limo. Bonnie opened the door for her. Natalia slipped in only to find the door on the other side open. Anpu slipped in and sat across from her.

‘Why are you here?’ she said.

‘We’re discussing how you want to use the dance troupe,’ he said.

‘I see. And why would I do that?’

She wondered what was up. Bonnie had to know he was back there, but the limo pulled away from the curb without any response from her that Anpu was there.

‘I’m sure we can think of something. Party. Celebration. Entertainment for your guests.’

‘Any other reasons?’

‘You can’t be alone,’ he said.

‘I’m going to pick up Lisa,’ she said.

‘And until then, I am your company.’

He smiled.

‘Uri knows about you.’

‘Of course, he does. He’s not stupid,’ Anpu said. ‘And neither am I.’

‘Who has decided this?’

‘Council.’

‘I’m on the Council.’

He shrugged.

The limo pulled up to Lisa’s business. She was waiting outside. While she was getting in. Anpu slipped out.

“Oh, Nattie,” Lisa said.

Natalia decided that Lisa was unaware that Anpu left.

“I have the blouse done. It looks better than the one I made for the lady at work.”

She pulled the blouse out of a bag.

“Wow,” Natalia said, changing her focus to the blouse and pushing Anpu and the Council from her mind.

She quickly switched blouses.

“Lisa. This is… this blouse looks better than the blouse I had on and that is an expensive blouse.”

Lisa smiled big.

“Can you do suits?” Natalia said.

“Of course, I can. I can sew anything. I hardly need a pattern unless you want something copied.”

The drive to the tailor’s store didn’t take them long and the limo pulled up in front.

“I hope she’s here.”

Natalia thought the store front looked empty.

Bonnie opened the door for her.

‘I heard she is still here,’ Bonnie said.

“Thanks, Bonnie. I’ll text when we’re ready to go.”

Natalia opened the door to the shop. The first time she had entered, every nook and cranny had been full of sewing supplies. Now it was empty except for dust and cobwebs.

“Yige Zhi? Are you still here?”

Natalia didn’t know if it was proper to head on back without an invitation. However, there was no answer.

“Let’s see if she’s in the back.”

She edged around the counter. The next room was how she remembered it. It was full of sewing machines, mannequins, rolls of cloth, mirrors, and shelves filled to capacity.

“Oh to have a room like this,” Lisa said with some envy in her voice.

Natalia saw that the door heading to the kitchen was closed. She opened it to find the same woman who had served her the first time she had been there. There was even a pot of soup on the stove.

The woman gestured outside.

Natalia stepped out to find Yige Zhi arguing with three men. All three were Undent. She immediately got the idea that the men were harassing her. The once immaculate alley was strewn with all the items that Natalia figured had been out front.

“You box,” Yige Zhi said in a loud voice.

“I don’t see any boxes,” one man said.

“You to bring boxes. You box. You move. You store.”

“I can’t understand a single word you’re saying.”

“Then get the fuck out of here,” Natalia said.

The men had ignored her presence when she had stepped out, now they seemed surprised when she spoke.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Doesn’t matter. Get out.”

One man stepped up as if to challenge her, then looked like he changed his mind. She was glaring at them and holding her ground. All three backed off and left.

“Stupid. Crap,” Yige Zhi said. “I need stuff moved.”

“I have a store for you. Will you work for me?” Natalia said, cutting right to why she was there.

Yige Zhi glared at all the things in the alley as if she hadn’t heard.

“My friend, Lisa, here is also a good seamstress. She’ll be managing the store. She does good work. She sewed this blouse.”

Yige Zhi’s attention immediately snapped to the blouse. She walked up and felt along the cuffs and the seams. Then she shouted out gibberish.

Natalia thought she was criticizing the sewing, except a moment later a young woman ran up the alley. She was Undent with black hair and eyes. Natalia had the feeling she was related to Yige Zhi.

Yige Zhi said more gibberish. The young woman looked at the blouse.

“This is good work,” the young woman said.

“Lisa is a good seamstress,” Natalia said, gesturing at Lisa. “Who are you?”

“Kimi. Granddaughter.”

“I offered your grandmother a new place to go to work for me.”

“Well?” Kimi said to Yige Zhi.

“Well?” Yige Zhi said with a shrug.

“It’s a much larger store. Big front windows to show your stuff and Lisa’s. Custom alterations for those people who have a hard time finding clothes that fit right off the racks,” Natalia said, feeling like she was doing a commercial spiel. “It needs a good cleaning and some updates, but it has the room for you.”

“What are you going to call it?” Lisa said.

Natalia felt relieved. Lisa was helping give Yige Zhi time to think.

“A Stitch By Design,” Natalia said.

“Good name,” Yige Zhi said. “Where is location?”

“The new area. A Hell Of A Place.”

“Bad area,” Yige Zhi said with a shake of her head.

“You won’t recognize it,” Natalia said. “Come see this Saturday.”

“I need to move this now,” Yige Zhi said.

“You will work for me?”

Natalia wanted a verbal agreement.

“Yes. If you find me store, I will work for you.”

“And you are okay that Lisa is the store manager?”

Yige Zhi looked like she was chewing her tongue.

“Yes, she will allow this,” Kimi said. “Grandma.”

“Yes. She is a good sewer,” Yige Zhi said.

“Give me a moment.”

Natalia took a few steps away. She called Bonnie.

‘Bonnie. I need some assistance. I need men and a truck to empty out the tailor’s store. I’m moving her to number 4 Nattie Ave, but I’ll need to get a key from Uri.’

‘I’ll arrange it.’

‘After work, we can go there and show her the building. Thanks, Bonnie.’

‘No, problem. She’s a good tailor.’

‘Let Mina know that the tailor problem is solved.’

Natalia ended the call.

“Yige Zhi...”

“Call me Yiggy.”

“Yiggy, are you teaching anyone else to do sheaths?”

“I’m her apprentice,” Kimi said.

“I’ll want you to come, too.”

“If grandma goes, the whole family goes,” Kimi said. “I’m looking forward to a bigger and better store.”

“You’ll love this place. I have men and a truck coming. Can we have lunch here?”

Yiggy moved faster than Natalia had ever seen with Kimi right behind her. Before she knew it, there was a table with four chairs positioned in the alley.

“Sit,” Kimi said.

All four of them sat and the woman from the kitchen served them soup and egg rolls.

“I take it the kitchen comes with?” Natalia said.

“My aunt Wang Fang,” Kimi said. “Yes. They are always cooking.”

Natalia made a note to see if she could get a license for a small food stall.

“Well, I have to get you back to work,” Natalia said to Lisa after they had finished eating.

“We’re cutting it close, but that’s okay if I’m going to be quitting soon,” Lisa said.

A truck turned into the alley. It drove right up to them. Two men exited. Natalia could see they were Viperian.

“Take everything she wants moved,” Natalia said, gesturing toward Yiggy. “Bill it to me. Nattie Osrisca.”

“Where’s it going?”

“Number 4 Nattie Ave. Hell.”

Both men smiled and nodded.

“I’ll stop by tonight, a little after five, and we’ll go to the shop to show you and give you keys,” Natalia said to Yiggy.

It was Kimi who nodded.

“We’ll be ready.”

Natalia led Lisa out. The limo was already waiting.

Lisa seemed out of breath.