A funeral is not where Rissa thought to find herself just two weeks from being released from the Department of Corrections: Menard Correctional Center.  Fucking feds had been lurking and waiting to pinch her ex-boss, but she got off with a lighter sentence, serving 73 days of the 120 days sentence dealt to her, due to the fact her part in the firm was only forging the numbers on the paperwork.  She could have gotten off easy with no time served if she would testify against her boss, but Rissa had refused to be a snitch.  Arthur Anderson, founder and owner of Andersen, DeLany & Co., had been her employer for the 16 months prior to her brief incarceration.

She'd not been to many funerals before in her life, except maybe a grandparent, and a cousin that had had a freak accident, so Rissa had stayed what she thought was a respectful amount of time, given she wasn't extremely close with each of the departed, before she made her way to the back of the church.  Her pace had slowed once she spotted a man at the back of the church....eating chocolate biscuits or cookies, she couldn't tell right off yet.  What the fuck was this? 

She paused midstep then continued with her slow pace, his brief glance up to meet her eyes showed his surprise, which she simply attributed to her height.  Being 5'9" then add in wearing heels, Rissa was used to the stares, or comments most of her life.  He broke his attention away then glanced back towards the rest of the people present, and namely his chocolate cookies, dropping crumbs everywhere, so she kept walking, her feet bringing her to stand behind the scraggly looking character. 

His head turned slightly looking towards the right side of the church, noticing the scarcely filled pews then glanced over to the right side of the church.  In between bites, the man mumbled a few words as he stared up towards the casket.  Perhaps he didn't realize he had spoken outloud, despite his low tone, but...Rissa had heard the remark.  What nerve and disgust, talking of stealing shoes from a dead person.  Especially when said deceased person was a lady of stature and well respected.

Rissa had taken notice of his appearance, his clothing especially, pants a little too short to reach his ankles, revealing decent shoes, and at least he had the presence of mind to remove his gray cap while inside the church.  Hopefully those chocolate crumbs won't stain his white shirt.  Rissa adjusted the cheaters a bit on her face, having grown used to the spectacles constantly sliding when looking downwards, as she was now at the man from behind then spoke softly where only he could hear her.

"Stealing things from dead people is simply deplorable in front of the friends and family.  At least wait until the body is buried a few days then have a go, grab the shoes, and jewelry."

A small sigh escaped as Rissa adjusted the spectacles back on her nose again after standing up.  She straightened the skirt of the black Chanel dress then turned to leave the church before he could turn around in his seat.  The Chanel dress was the typical 'little black dress', but was one of her small indulgences since she began working in Chicago.  Rissa had kept a nice size savings in the bank the entire year and half she was employed with Anderson, DeLany & Co., as well as the promised reward for being loyal to her former employer.

Arthur Anderson's sentence guaranteed his imprisonment for several years, so that left Rissa in need of employment elsewhere.  She had spent the past two weeks readjusting back into the daily routine, and not having to deal with the four walls around her suffocating and limitating her every move.  Now it was time to get serious about finding more employment, and she had begun putting out feelers for something similar to her old job.  Rissa had a few good leads, a few that even interested her greatly, and then the one that intrigued her so much that she found herself at two funerals of people she didn't even know.

Walking down the sidewalk, Rissa delved her hand into the pocket where the note resided.  Her mind was already focused on what the note had said, and how she had received it last night, slid under her apartment door.  Rissa was instructed to attend both funerals before the arranged time of meeting later that evening.  She was curious to the people whose funerals she was to attend, and did a bit of research before just showing up, and the possible connection to the man behind the note.

Rissa checked the time as she made her way to the meat shop.  An odd place to hold a meeting, Rissa thought, but once she arrived there, she was greeted by the man himself.  An older man than what Rissa had expected if she was honest, but she introduced herself then was led back to the office where he actually handled some business.  'Call me Uncle Joe', he said before offering her a seat.  He then said he'd heard a lot about her which caused Rissa to shift nervously in her seat then chirp out curiously.

"Just what have you heard?"

Sitting there in his office with Clarissa, Uncle Joe didn't want to waste any of her time. 

"I've heard you're good with numbers. I've also heard that you can keep your mouth shut when it counts. I reached out to you to arrange this meeting because I want your help with my shy business. I believe with your talents that you would be good for business. Most men don't ever give women a footing in this thing of ours but your talent precedes you."

Standing up and making his way to a cabinet in the corner of his office, Uncle Joe opened it to retrieve a bottle of scotch and two glasses. Joe poured the lovely Clarissa a drink and sat back down to continue on.

"What I'm looking for is someone who can help me keep track of the money and payments. Someone who isn't afraid to go out on their own and make moves for themselves and this borgata."

Having expressed what he needed, Uncle Joe sat there eagerly awaiting Ms. Portelli's response.

Uncle Joe had a calm way about him, Rissa noticed, his mannerisms and the way he talked.  The mention of her recent past, and the fact he seemed completely aware of the details intrigued her as he continued.  She wasn't quite sure what this 'shy' business exactly entailed, but it dealt with numbers, and numbers were her passion.  Rissa had complete confidence in herself when dealing with numbers for anything.  She agreed that women weren't given enough credit to be given a shot, which made her more impressed with Uncle Joe for giving this meeting.

Growing up being teased nonstop for her mature appearance at a young age, increasing as she grew older, Rissa had learned to develop thick skin against comments.  That extended to her academic side as well, being extremely smart, first one always done with exams, raising her hand within seconds when the teacher would ask for an answer.  Rissa had a knack for handling number problems in her head before others could even begin to write out the problem on paper.

Once he made the initial offer of being a help to his business, Uncle Joe had turned to gather some scotch.  Once he handed one glass to her, Rissa nodded then gave a soft thank you then listened intently as he continued onwards.  Before giving an answer to his question, she had  raised her glass in his direction with a nod.  Rissa took a long, slow sip enjoying the taste, savoring the flavor of such a damn good choice of scotch. Once he was finished, and awaiting her response, she offered a genuine smile then spoke.

"First of all, you flatter me Uncle Joe, and although I'm not quite sure where you've received all that information, I'm not one to pry.  I'm sure a successful man such as yourself seems to be, I've no doubt you'd have connections to get whatever info you wanted.  More importantly, your proposal sounds like just the type of work I've been looking for, and could thrive in doing.  I am very interested in taking you up on this offer Uncle Joe.  What do I need to do to get started."

Rissa took another long sip of the scotch as she awaited his reply.  He looked at her with a half smile then launched into more specifics.  She was listening with interest, not fully understanding everything quite yet, but the job was intriguing to her and something different, yet the same with the comfort of numbers.  Throughout the meeting Rissa felt like she should be taking notes, but she paid close attention to the details then when he paused to take a drink of his scotch, she followed suit needing a drink herself.

Uncle Joe went on to explain that he wasn't sending her out there alone, she'd have some form of 'muscle' and protection if you will.  He was raving on about this new addition to his family that he thought would be perfect to accompany her.  Uncle Joe said the lad hailed from Brooklyn as well, and that bit of info made her smile before taking another long sip of her scotch.  The next comment he made was disastrous.

'.....his name is Rocco Borrello.  I think he'd....."

Rissa instantly sputtered and spit out the scotch in her mouth, damn near choking to catch her breath.  What.  The.  Fuck.  Was this some kind of joke?  She looked towards Uncle Joe who seemed concerned at her current state, but waited calmly then arched an eyebrow in curiosity.  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and placed the glass on the desk.  Rissa was in a state of shock. How can this be happening.  the pest and rival she had all through school was now her... her protection?  Fucking hell.

She reached for the glass once she had calmed herself, and listened as Uncle Joe continued on with the remaining details.  He slowed his speech as he watched Rissa down the remaining contents of her glass then set the glass back down on the desk with a soft thud.  She thought she was gonna need a refill at this rate.  He paused then asked if she was okay, but Rissa just nodded.  Of course Uncle Joe had no clue of the rivalry she had with that pest Rocco.  He seemed to be finished with everything as he sat there watching her with a somewhat amused look.

Rissa took a deep breath to calm herself.  She wasn't gonna let that man keep her from doing this job for Uncle Joe.  She was an adult, and she handled things differently now than when she was in school.  She couldn't say the same for Rocco since she lost contact with him once he dropped out of high school.  Her mind went back to that first meeting, and the slap she gave him full force knocking his ass to the ground.  Ahh those were the days indeed, and she briefly wondered if he had grown any.  Guess she will find out soon enough unfortunately.

"Well I won't take up anymore of your time Uncle Joe.  I thank you for the meeting, and most certainly the job offer.  I look forward to assisting you with this, and won't let you down.  I'll just need to know where to go and when to begin."

Uncle Joe gave her the information she needed then Rissa nodded with a smile before exiting his office.  Heading back through the meat shop area, she desperately needed to get outside and in some fresh air.  Once outside she took a few deep breaths then hailed a taxi.  Of all the places in this country she could have ended up, why in the hell did she end up with Rocco.  She silently glanced up cursing the skies as the clouds began to move about.  Why now?  Why him? 

Only one thing made her smile just then as a taxi pulled up to the curb.  Rocco would be in a way working FOR her, well in her mind anyways.  Despite the fact she didn't need protection, Rissa wasn't going to second guess or disagree with her new boss.  Rocco and her would just have to find a way to work together, or see who got shot first.