I got up from the bar stool and headed towards the living room. It was slightly lower than the rest of the house with only a couple stair steps. Ahead was a fireplace nestled in the corner with bookcases and a tv lining the walls. A long gun was propped up beside the fireplace. The walls themselves had black patterned wallpaper and a tall, dark elaborate wainscotting. But hanging in the center of a wall was a large picture with a golden frame. In it was a painting of a slim bear nonferal with a suit and tie that felt as if they were looming over the room as they glared down with one of their faded purple eyes.
Wendell was sitting in one of the arm chairs near the sofa with his flip phone out. He seems to be struggling to type something as his hands were a bit big for the phone. While he was busy, I made my way to the sofa beside him and sat down. I kept my head turned towards him until he noticed me. In the time it took for him to get done I noticed he wore a golden ring on both thumbs.
He glances at me with a hint of annoyance, “What do you want deadbeat? Don’t you have a job to get to? Maybe a minimum wage to act like you deserve.”
I tilted my head some at him, “You know you made Dante cry right? I assume he cries every time he pretends to stand up to you.”
Wendell flips is phone shut and takes a dramatic breath of air as he rolls his eyes, “He does this every fucking day. Does it look like I care? No. That guy is just a walking bald spot. If I were him I’d be crying every day too.”
An idea starts to creep up as I fold my arms, “So you hate his guts? Like you don’t even like a single thing about him? If you were standing by a volcano and had the chance to accidentally push him, would you?”
Wendell nods, “I would! That guy h-”
I interrupted him, “Then why is he still here?”
A hint of rage boils up behind Wendell’s eyes as he turns to completely face me. His voices raises in volume, “Don’t you ever fucking interrupt me like that again. I run this show here and if you so much as try to butt in, I will make sure both your eyes know what an acid wash feels like.”
Instead of cowering away, I deadpanned at him. He scared me as anyone would raising their voice like that, but I knew what’s going on here. At least he’s putting in more effort to make my job here easier. I just wish I didn’t see through it so quickly.
He paused as if expecting a reaction as I waited. Eventually I broke the silence again to continue the shit show, “Ok so, could you answer the question? Like you’re the landlord. You can just kick out people you don’t like. The place is so dirt cheap you could easily get a reroll on new people. Anyone would come by wanting to live here. Maybe win the social lottery and you get another prick just as feisty as you are.”
Wendell huffs, “For the record this place is a privilege. I only keep the whiny bitches around for entertainment because I enjoy being mad and calling you guys things that make you crack under pressure. Besides, most of the town knows that’s what I enjoy so they would rather live out on the streets than under the same roof as me. They know their place.”
“You make it a habit to show the world your attitude then?”
“I didn’t have to show it. I know you’re ill-informed so I'll dumb it down for you.” His tone changes to be overly condescending as he was talking to a child, “I am part of the Barret family business. We own and rent out land. We also repossess antiques and sell or store them away. We started in the town next door and now we are setting up shop here in Wickerwoods. Everyone in this town knows that the Barret’s land is crime free or else you get your shit rocked. So setting up in a town full of crime will only strengthen the family name by proving we can remain strong no matter the environment.”
As he talked down to me my face turned sour along with my words, “You know no one else can hear us here right? Dante is busy bitching to himself and you said there’s no security cameras on the property. You can drop the act.”
Wendell sounds more serious as he looks me dead in the eye, “There isn’t any act. This is fucking it. This is why I hired you to begin with. You go off script again and there will be trouble. Even if no one can hear us, get it?”
I furrow my brow, “So when can I ask abou-”
He interrupts me with a snap, “NEVER! Finish the job and don’t ask questions. It’s the easiest cash you’ll make in your whole fucking life. Spend it on whatever the hell you want. I don’t give a shit! Just don’t act like you have the privilege to go snooping in my business.”
I get up and put my hands to my hips. Back to the script, “Whatever. I gotta get to my deadbeat job! Gotta earn my privilege!" I flash a fake smile at him and a finger gun before turning and walking out of the living room.
I faintly hear him yelling back at me as I leave, “Wash that dirty ass mane before you go!”
I walk past the bathroom, raising a hand to flip him off before turning out of sight and heading outside the lodge. I sighed to myself, “Marley was right about no one daring to go up here.”