Welch Ave, I decided to go to my favorite coffee shop to grab a bite. I pick up the paper and before I can even order I throw the paper across the shop.

Headline read "The body of Bernie Rosenstein found in dumpster in the Bronx."

Sitting there agitated I say aloud to myself "how the fuck did this happen?" I then lean back before hearing a man speak up near me before joining me at my table "It was business, had to make some changes!." The man extends his hand and introduces himself "names John... John Doyle.".

"Have me met Mr. Doyle?".

"No KL we haven't, but you look confused and I don't blame you so let me explain. You been fucked over by these Irish as of late... well what all of them forgot is I gave them their start. They all let their ego's get in the way. Now Bernie, he was an informant and on top of it one of my men double crossed me and went to work for him hence body in the dumpster. Now this Higgins guy you deal with now, he's being dealt with as we speak... don't take it personally its only business. Now once Higgins is gone all the Irish will no longer be a problem for you, I was the original Irish boss in Chicago, people tend to forget it especially my former associates. Now KL once these loose ended are taking care of I will be going back to the south side of Chicago so no worries about me asking for percentages or blackmailing you... that's not what I'm about. I'm a business man and these men needed to go or we would have been behind bars."

I sat there and took everything in before responding "Well Mr. Doyle it looks like my NY connection is gone as well as some of my income from the diner Higgins was running under me."

Doyle stands up and fixes his suit "Well Mr. KL its better then prison right?. You have your turf and now no more worries, however if you want to do business I am on the south side. No hard feelings, this would have been handled awhile ago but I was away in Ireland. By the way I seen your hotel...I was impressed by the establishment. I'll let you get back to your day... you need me or want to take business I'm on Fleming Ave, south side Chicago."

Man walks out of the shop, I pick the paper back up and slap it back on the table and turn to the sports section. When the waiter approaches I order a coffee and think about everything the man said.

A few blocks away on Welch Avenue, Karmen had just finished some business of her own. She had been working on this drug deal for a few days and was glad to see it go through with massive profit. She began walking the short three blocks to the Coffee Shop, imagining one hundred dollar bills raining down on her as she walked. She smiled a little and wondered how exactly she would go about spending it, then thought maybe some gambling was in order. She didn't gamble often but when she did.. She usually lost a lot of money.

When she arrived at the coffee shop, she pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by the smell of coffee and cookies and donuts and an assortment of other goodies. She took a quick scan of the people in the room to see an agitated KL, sitting alone at a table with a paper opened in front of him. He was scanning the stories but it didn't look to her like he was actually reading them, so she figured it would be okay to go sit with him. She could use some good conversation with a friend.

She quickly ordered herself a large coffee with two sugars and three creams, and when the Barista set the cup on the counter, she set down a ten dollar bill as payment, grabbed the cup, then made her way over to sit across from KL. When he looked up, she saw a look of frustration pass over his face, then a smile when he realized she wasn't who he thought she was originally.

She smiled and said, "Hey there! I just finished some business down the street and decided I wanted some coffee. I arrived here and saw you after I walked in, so... Here I am. Sitting with you. How's it going? You seem a little... irked today."

"Just had a meeting with someone, didn't go the way I expected. Can't do anything about it now."

As I lean back to relax I remember the conversation me and Karmen had last time we were in a room together, a smile came across my face once again."

"So what brings you down to this part of town?. Business or you taking me up on that lunch offer?".

She watched KL talk and saw the quick smile cross over his face again as he recalled their conversation at her Made Ceremony.

She smiled and said, "Well.. maybe a little bit of both. Just finished a deal down the road and wanted some coffee to warm up a bit. It was only luck that I happened to come here while you were here! Does this place even serve lunch? I see and smell that they serve cakes and donuts and such but.. lunch?"

"Yea good point, donuts isn't lunch. Maybe down the line if we find a nicer place. Anyway how is business with Koehler?."

I glance at the paper again thinking to myself that I had to of had a bad day to think a coffee shop was a good lunch, however it was good for a business meeting.

Karmen laughed and said, "Oh business with Koehler is just terrible.. He's so pushy.. And demanding.. And needy.. And I'm just kidding of course! He and his crew is pretty great actually. He acknowledges people for things they do well, engages everyone in conversations, etc. I'm just working my butt off and all that good stuff. Enjoying the calm of North Side! How about work with Joey? He seems like a good guy!"

"He is a good guy, has a good handle on things. I have a lot of respect for both Koehler and Joey. As for you, you keep busting your ass and your going to find yourself in a good position of power."

I take a sip of coffee and ask the waiter for dessert.

Karmen smiled a little, remembering her Mom and all the stories she told about her crew that she lead, then said, "Well someday I'd like to follow in my Mom's footsteps but.. That will happen if and when it happens basically. For now I'm just coasting along, doing this and that, enjoying my time spent in Chicago, conversing with friends.. The fun stuff, you know? But thank you for your faith in me and the kind words. No worries about me ever NOT working hard though. I won't stop working until I'm dead!"

When KL asked the waiter for dessert, Karmen asked for a refill of her coffee and a slice of pie to go with it, and the desserts and her coffee were quickly delivered to the table for them.

She took a bite of the pie and enjoyed the taste for a few seconds before saying, "You seem to be a pretty popular guy! How do you have free time to just sit here in the coffee shop after a business meeting? I saw that you own a Hotel. Seems like that would keep you extremely busy!"

I take another sip of my coffee and place it down before making eye contact with Karmen.

"Well I'm only as popular as my friends and family make me out to be, but your enemies are the ones who can take it all away... there's always someone out there wanting to make a name for themselves... someone with something to prove. The hotel I love, I always wanted to be a hotel guy and my family made it happen... Clover had a lot to do with it may she rest in peace. Yea the place keeps me busy but I have family that helps in there as well so when I can get away I do."

I fix my tie and take another sip of coffee.

"What about you?... you have plans to open a major establishment?."

Karmen couldn't personally imagine owning and running a hotel at all, even with the help of family. She wasn't a big people person except for her close friends and of course her family. Dealing with strangers and a sprinkle of people that she's seen around town would probably give her an anxiety attack or something! She laughed at the thought then said, "Well I commend you and your family for being able to work with people in that kind of environment. I can only deal with a select amount of people. My family and friends and that's about it! Anymore than that and I'd probably go insane! And as for opening my own establishment? I'm not sure on that one.."

She smiled and said, "My mom opened a business shortly before she died but it never took off. I've learned that opening a business requires loads of research. Like, asking around to see if that kind of business would even be successful. That's something my Mom didn't do. She just kind of.. went with her dream business that she'd always wanted to do and.. it flopped! So.. If I open a business, it will be quite a ways down the road when I get that million dollar idea. For now I'll just stay low. It's just easier that way."

"I can respect your way of thinking. Remember though as I told you, never know until you try. Your mom seemed very ambitious like you, wish I could have met her. And even though it flopped she went with her dream...I respect that."

I look at my watch.

"I hope I'm not keeping you, Koehler may be looking around for you by now."

Karmen laughed and said, "No you're definitely not keeping me from anything. I actually took the afternoon and evening off because I had such a HUGE deal go through earlier. I think Koehler's completely alright with me taking a personal day of sorts.."

She took a quick sip from her coffee because it was finally cool enough to drink, then said, "I admired my Mom as well, and I too wish she had had the pleasure of meeting you. You guys would have gotten along great I'm sure! And, I wish for her that she had had more time to make the business she opened thrive but.. She actually died just a week or so after she opened the doors of her Record Store Bar."

She laughed again and continued, "Even saying Record Store Bar just sounds silly, but hey.. That's what she wanted to do. At least now I know not to open that kind of business! And, if I'm actually keeping YOU from something, don't hesitate to let me know. We can always continue this conversation at a later date!"

"No your not keeping me, I don't wander far so if family wants me they will find me. And Record store bar huh?... well for you like you said you like family and friends and a bar, well social club you know prohibition wink wink, you get a lot of regulars in there... so might be something to think about."

Karmen rubbed her temple in thought and said, "That's actually not too bad of an idea. A social club."

She smiled and continued, "I also like drinking. As a bartender I could probably take shots with everyone and no one would even care! Hmm.. You're a genius, you know? Maybe someday this thought will be turned into an actual business but like I said.. For now I'll just lay low and wait for the right time, the right building, the right location, etc. to open a social club, or bar, or whatever it will end up being called. Maybe I can think of a clever name or something so the cops never catch on to what it actually is!"

"Wouldn't say genius, just a business man and a loyal friend... if and when you decide to try, let me know I can help pull some strings."

She laughed and said, "No I would say genius. You think of ideas I wouldn't normally think of. But, I agree with the loyal friend part. So far you have been nothing short of awesome. And, I will definitely let you know if and when I open the business. You'll probably be the first person I go to actually besides getting the A-ok from Duplicity to open it in the first place!"

"Duplicity is very reasonable, should be no problem there... and I'm honored that you think highly of me, for the record I respect everything you done so far. I would vouch for you any day, all you have to do is say the word."

Karmen smiled in appreciation and said, "Well I'm honored as well that you think highly of me. It's nice hearing people say they respect you. Respect isn't easy to come by in this world so I'll try my hardest to maintain that. And same goes for you. I'd vouch for you if needed! You've never done anything wrong in my eyes. Only good!"

"This line of work is respect, money, power and loyalty... if you have all of it your doing everything right."

"Well I seem to lack the power," she said. "But maybe someday I'll be up towards the top of the pile. Just gotta' keep working to get there and that's what I do daily. However, I'm sure you'll be at the top of the pile way before I ever make it up there! You have followers, you have respect, you have money, you have loyalty.. I only have three of the four.. For now!"