After a long day I walk into The Royal for the first time. I hand my jacket to the worker near the bar, and make my way to Mr. Scaletta. As I shake hands with my good friend Vito I look to his friend, I believe her name was Billie.

"Good to see you Vito, congrats on the promotion." I turn my attention to Billie. "I don't believe we met yet, I'm John Noto." I reach out to shake hands.

Vito looks up at the sound of Noto's voice and a big grin shows up on his face immediately as he stands up almost stumbling.

"Hey Noto!!... Lemme introduce you. This is Thomas O'Shannon. I've taken to callin' him Tommy as long as he doesn't call me Mr. Scaletta, and make me feel like an old man and what not. And this lovely lady is Billie Faegan she sings here when she's not too busy. Which you gotta hear Johnny. She has a beautiful voice."

He then turns to address the two already at the table 

"Friends, this is Johnny Noto or John Noto. Me and him go way back and he also runs the Paragon Tower. Pull up a chair John, Have some drinks I'll have Tony bring you some food. Speakin' of which I gotta introduce you to Tony."

Vito says as he sits back down

"Pleasure to meet both of you. Vito I'm sorry it took so long for me to make it here, business has been crazy. Must say you have done a great job with the place."

I look around the Restaurant and see that business is booming.

"Yea I heard Billie had a wonderful voice, looking forward to hearing you sing." A waiter then brings me a whiskey and asks what I would like to eat.

"Vito, you son of a bitch, you know me to well. Think ill try the ziti and meatballs."

"Hey don't worry about it Noto, you came in right at the right time, we're all just hangin' out."

Vito then nods at the waiter.

"That's Tony, he's the best at what he does. He keeps this place runnin' truthfully. But eat up and drink up it's all on me... Well the house which makes it on me anyway. Go ahead Billie make sure you get some good food too. Everybodies gotta eat."

While sitting and enjoying my meal, the name Thomas_OShannon clicks in my head.

"Tommy! I recognize the name now, you left me a note last night at The Paragon Tower, about the.... incident. I read the note, and I had one of the workers deliver the note to KateLogan's penthouse. I am awaiting a response from her, if I get the ok...the situation will be dealt with."

I take a bite of my food.

Billie shook Noto's hand with a felicitous smile. "It would be my pleasure to serenade you, Mr. Noto," she crooned. "If you are... satisfied with my performance..." she continued with a subtle, husky emphasis in all the right places, "perhaps we could arrange further entertainment for your guests." 

Leaning daintily away from the table, she turned to Tony and whispered softly for him to bring her one of the famous steaks and the best scotch in the house. Leave it to a woman to be shy about ordering. Turning back she flashed another stunning smile and continued, "I've been thinking about starting a regular rotation at different locations in the city - nightclubs, high end restaurants, concert venues and the like - to help stimulate the recovery. I'd be absolutely delighted to include the Tower. And I'd be willing to help... coordinate business between establishments." She winked, giving the men a knowing glance. 

"What do you think, gentlemen?"

"Ms. Faegan you are welcome at The Tower anytime! It would be a pleasure to have you perform there. Perhaps in time we can get to know each other a little better, that is if your interested."

I give a slight smirk to Billie before taking a sip of whiskey.

"I would love to know more about you, maybe we can have dinner together sometime."

I was not one to ask women out on date's, but Billie looked spectacular, looked as though she carried herself well, and had all the talent in the world.

Thomas sat back as Noto had approached. He already knew the man's face from Paragon Tower, but waited to be introduced properly. As Vito name tossed, Thomas stood and shook John's hand and gave the man a nod before returning to his seat.

As Mr. Noto recognized the name, Thomas' lips curled into a smile. After pouring another shot of the single malt Irish into his glass, and Billie's, he offered to everyone...

"I'm glad ta hear that it will be handled, Mr. Noto. If there be anythin' I can do ta help ease that transaction, please... Let me know. It be in great interest that I wish ta see it handled quickly, an' quietly. An' there be a group that would gladly take tha fall fer such."

Thomas sat back after pouring rounds for all and relaxed a bit.

"If it is decided that Kate an' tha Paragons want naethin' ta do wit' this.... issue. Bring word ta me, an' my organization will handle all furt'er transactions wit' them."

He lifted his shot glass to all and nodded, "Ta unity... Detroit, an' Ireland both." He took his shot happily.

Billie's voluminous curls bounced lightly around her shoulders as she chuckled. It was a captivating, melodious sound; genuine and utterly euphoric. "Why Mr. Noto, I'm flattered. Truly." She blushed ever so slightly, a flattering twinge of rouge flooding her face and chest. "There's really not much to learn about me, I assure you." 

She glanced down to her hands, folded neatly across the table, a hint of self-consciousness filtering through her well practiced poise. Softly she cleared her throat and returned her gaze to her acquaintances, "But, I am always keen to get to know my... um... associates," she stammered just a bit, obviously still unaccustomed to the terminology of this thing, "and dinner, I'm sure, would be lovely." She smiled again, her eyes crinkling around the edges as her mint green eyes danced with cheer. "I'm at your mercy. Whenever it suits you, Mr. Noto." 

Clearing her throat again, more loudly this time, she clapped her hands together and smiled cheekily at the other two. "Right so, enough of that, then. I think we were talking bullshit and business. Am I right?" With a determined grin she shot Thomas a well disguised look of make-me-stop-talking-now, and motioned Tony to hurry the hell up with that scotch. 

"Hey Noto make sure you take her some place nice, and well taken care of, and local, Ya know.. kinda like the place we have here. Ya know what I mean Johnny?"

Vito said and threw Noto a knowing smirk before looking thoughtful and frowning.

"On second thought.. If youse go out to eat here I probably gotta let ya eat free.. hmm.... maybe that's not the best idea."

Vito says playfully looking thoughtful before he takes another drink from his shot glass

Focusing on Billie, I noticed she became a bit blushed.

"Glad you are interested Billie, and I am sure there is a lot to learn about you. Tell you what... you let me know when its a good time for you, and you pick the place. And it will be my pleasure to show you a good time."

I then look to Tommy.

"I appreciate that offer Tommy, and I will defiantly be taking you up on that. Swing by the Tower tomorrow and we can talk. Got something quick and quite for you. As for me, I need to make a statement so... it won't be quiet."

Billie laughed aloud, and playfully slapped Vito's shoulder. "Not hardly, Dear Heart. Tit for tat and all that." She winked playfully before locating a random shot glass and filling it for her self. Where the hell was Tony??

A large man entered the restaurant carrying a package. Some combination of his brutish strength and humourless expression caused those around him to falter in their conversations. Thick, black brows crashed together and his narrowed his eyes and scanned the room for his targets. He gaze landed on Billie_Faegan , Vito_Scaletta , Noto , and Thomas_OShannon and he began moving quickly towards them. The crowd got out of the way of his long strides and, as he approached, he reached inside the package. The four people in front of him began to tense- some even started to go for weapons... but a thin smile broke out on the man's lips as he placed a bottle of the finest champagne in front of the group.

"Name's Jack. Bodyguard. Miss Logan said she may be by eventually- but if she wasn't, she wanted you all to have this anyways."

His delivery completed, Jack quickly exited the room.

Thomas nodded to John, "If yeh nae want quiet, it do'nae have ta be... Am nae afraid ta make a scene, Mr. Noto. Nae are me friends. Matter o' fact, we're known fer quite tha opposite. Messages be our forté. Just thought that Miss Logan maybe nae wantin' ta draw too much attention ta Paragon territory."

He chuckled and waved his hand, "Eit'er way, I understand if yeh want ta handle tha Ulster fock yerself."

His body language changed, and the laughter ceased as he leaned over the table... There was an air of severity on his voice, "But I will'nae wait fer long. Me ears will be listenin', an' if there be nae move on tha issue at hand... It will be handled. Accordingly." His finger tapped on the table with the 'it will be handled' as to emphasize his meaning.

Thomas leaned back, and then the smile returned. It was no threat to Noto, or to anyone within the Paragons, merely a comment on not wasting too much time.

Billie nearly knocked her chair over, jumping to her feet as this neanderthal of a man pushed his way into the restaurant. Instinctively her hand flew to her chest, slipping beneath her blouse to the under-bust halter she wore at all times now. Gripping her Colt 1908 firmly as she scanned the room for a tactical advantage. She'd just begun to pull the gun from it's snug hiding place when a bottle of champagne emerged from the mysterious box. 

Billie melted back into her chair with an audible sigh, looking fried and deflated. Releasing her deathgrip on the slim, hammerless pistol, she folded her arms and buried her face in the table. A muffled groan emanated from somewhere beneath her elbows as her shoulders began to shake. For a brief moment it would appear that she was sobbing, no doubt staining the pristine white table cloth with mascara and lipstick. 

But as she tilted her head back, the sniffling sound quickly morphed into a boisterous chuckle. And before she could help herself she was laughing her ass off. Pouring another glass of... whatever the men were drinking... she continued chuckling. "Goddamn, that woman," she sighed softly, "I love her."

Raising the glass she toasted, "To Kate fucking Logan, ladies and gentlemen!"

 Vito was laughing hard as he seen how serious the whole place got as Jack walked in the room. He recognized him and had the same reaction the first time he saw him. He almost reached for the gun in his holster but even though he was slightly drunk he couldn't forget a man like that under any circumstances. After he composed himself enough he took his glass and raised it to match the height of Billie's

"To the boss, cent'anni, may she live and reign for a hundred years."

Vito said as he started to lose composure chuckling to himself a bit remembering their reactions

After finishing my meal, I seen it was getting late so I stood up.

"Everyone please excuse me, I'm off to the Hotel. Vito, great place here... and the food is incredible. Tommy, I will see you tomorrow and we will discuss that matter further."

I then walk over to Billie, grabbing her hand gently, I kiss the top, just above the knuckles.

"It was a pleasure meeting you Billie, hope to see you soon."

I then put my jacket on and head back to the Hotel.

Thomas hadn't pulled a gun, but he did stare as Jack made his way to their table... His eyes and worry growing as he did so. He'd seen the man, didn't mean he was a friendly face... But... it smiled?

A Bottle. It was a fucking bottle. A fucking bottle of champagne. Thomas erupted in laughter thanks to the previously tense conversation, and the equally tense entrance of Jack the Bodyguard...

"Fock me," he chuckled out finally calming himself and raising his shot glass to Billie's toast.

"Ta Kate fockin' Logan..." He looked to Noto and Vito.

Thomas nodded to Noto, "In tha marnin', lad. I'll be there before yeh wake." He chuckled. He stood and reached for Noto's hand before shaking it again then giving a wave as Noto headed out the door.

Returning to his seat, he waved Tony over.

"Bring anoder one o' those pies, Tony, Vito's looked tasty, an' we need somethin' meaty ta go wit' this champagne."

"I think Jack is the one who ran Johnny off. He didn't react at all He just took off."

Vito laughs as he pours himself another glass of champagne

"That Noto, a true business man indeed, and quite the charmer too, wouldn't ya say Billie?"

Vito asks and throws her a playful wink