Maximino's Musings
Part 2
“Just that you’re too much of a nice guy to be in this line of business. Not your style. Why don’t you find yourself a nice dame and sail away to the next world?” He refilled Manny’s tumbler. “Only one girl for me, Max, you know that.”
“Same with me, Cal.” Maximino lifted his glass. “To Olivia, and to your one true love.”
They both drank, but Manny looked uncomfortable. “Max, there’s something you should know. I caught Olivia and Nick kissing in the Blue Casket.”
Maximino laughed. Nick Virago was his lawyer, the closest thing he had to a friend. The idea of him and Olivia was ridiculous. Nick was a good lawyer, but wasn’t exactly burdened with brain. Whereas Olivia was creative, intelligent, unconventional, sophisticated, beautiful and had what Maximino respected most in his line of work, a business-orientated mind, no matter what that business might be. “Olivia’s got better taste,” he chuckled, but then he caught sight of Manny’s face and sobered. “Manny, Olivia and I are in love. Surely you’d understand that? We’re all buddies here. We kiss each other.” He took another drag on his cigar, dismissing the subject as a misunderstanding.
“No, Max, I mean kissing.”
This was starting to become annoying. “Listen, Manny, Olivia wouldn’t betray me, least of all to Nick Virago. Now, let’s talk about something else.”
“I can’t stay and chat, Max, I’ve got a ship to catch. I’m skipping town.”
Maximino was surprised. Manny had seemed happy in the little niche he had created for himself in Rubacava. He flirted with the security guard, Carla, he was friends with the dockmaster and most of the characters around town, and his club was doing well. If asked, Maximino would have thought him the last person to leave on a whim.
“Well, stay out of trouble, Manny. Any ideas what you’re going to do with the club?”
“Probably sell it to Olivia. But I don’t have time for a complicated deal. I might just give it to Lupé. Anyway, I should go, Max. My ship leaves at dawn.”
As he left, Maximino shrugged. Easy come, easy go. He had meant what he had said about Manny not being up for a gangster’s lifestyle. It was probably the best thing that he was leaving. Olivia would be pleased if she bought the club – then again, maybe Maximino should buy it for her. It might make up for that embarrassing blimp incident earlier this season. Then again, it might not. The blimp had been named after Olivia, after all. He took another drag on his cigar and looked out of the window. Maybe Rusty Anchor would come through after all.