Nandi pushed aside the small glass of wine he nursed. “You really think people would pay money for this show?”
“Not for the show, Ric. For the clothes we’ll feature during it.”
“I thought we were just selling fabric.”
“We are, but think of what we could do if we sold more than fabric?”
“And you think Athena can-”
“I know she can. Remember the evening jacket you went on and on about while we were on the boat? The one you said would get you every woman on the ship if you had it?”
Nandi started to grin. “Si, si,” he stopped short when Liam dropped a wad of olive green cloth into his lap.
“Mother of God...” Nandi breathed once the cloth unfolded to reveal the jacket. “Athena?”
Liam smiled. “More gifted with needle and thread than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Nandi marveled over the garment. “I knew she was a genius in the kitchen,” he inhaled the smell of peppers and sausage roaming the house in preparation for supper. “But this...”
“I only pointed it out to her. Two days later, this. Over the last three weeks, she’s made two shirts, three pairs of pants and two suit jackets. And that’s just for my wardrobe. You should see what she has in mind for the show.”
Nandi’s eyes widened as he stood. “Where is she? I should thank her.”
“She took a nap after putting dinner on to simmer. All the work has been wearing her down, but it’s been worth it I think.”
“Agreed,” Nandi sighed.
Liam knew his friend was finally seeing the possibilities as he did.
“What do we do?” Nandi asked.
Liam shrugged. “We’ve done it. If my plan works, we’ll have a clothes show to rival one of those fancy Milan extravaganzas.”
“Visionario,” Nandi breathed out his prefered compliment, “Salud,” he raised his glass to Liam in toast.
Silence extended as the men sipped the wine courtesy of their Napa vineyard owners. Liam drank lightly, watching as Nandi drained his stout glass.
“Tell me,” Liam said once the wine from Nandi’s glass was gone.
Nandi winced.
“Tell me about Athena, Ric.”
“Oh no, paesano,” Nandi responded with a knowing grin. “That topic is off limits, no? Just now, the concern is our new neighbors.”
“Go on.”
“The guys want permission to bring on a few extra men to the docks for unloading our client products.”
“Are we expecting more than usual?” Liam queried, eyes narrowed. “If so, we shouldn’t make a habit of it. We can’t risk upsetting-”
“That’s not it, Li,” Nandi leaned across the small end table between the worn chairs in the office. “I think we have a theft problem,” he said while pouring more wine.
“How big of a problem?”
“Small now, but I fear it’s just the beginning.”
“Right,” Liam saw the danger as well. “Add the extra men. Do we know who’s at fault? It’s no secret we have strong backing from the old country. Maybe it looks like we’re ripe for the taking.”
“It’s not anyone around here.”
“Dockworkers?” Liam guessed.
“Dockworkers. Americanos.” Nandi stressed.
Liam smiled as if the revelation were no great surprise. He’d already had a taste of that particular brand of hospitality while settling the last of the paperwork to secure the warehouse.
“The Americans...they don’t totally care for...our kind coming into their so-called clean country. It doesn’t help that they’re all starving because of this Depression. Can’t be easy for them seeing all these new faces.”
Nandi chuckled. “Or the beauty of our faces, no?”
Liam chuckled then as well. “They see us coming in, starting businesses in the middle of their horror and...” he shrugged. “It’s fear.”
“It’s hate,” Nandi corrected. “Do not forget, paesano, their ‘clean country’ was built on the backs of people they stole.”
Liam stiffened. “What are you proposing?”
“We should add men for security as well. This dock situation is only the beginning. We need a strong hand to let these bastards know we’re serious and here to stay.”
