Only another 10 miles and he would be home. He glanced over his shoulder for the thousandth time to make sure the pie boxes were still intact. Unfortunately he had lost a couple swerving to miss a damn cat and then of course he needed some sustenance to keep him going on his long drive home from Detroit. It was a good job the shop owner had given him a few extra and he must remember to repay his kindness by sending him a package of assorted cheeses.

He had been driving all through the night to make sure he was back for the big meeting but with a bit of luck as long as he didn't get snarled up in the rush hour traffic he would have time to stop buy his house to freshen up and change the crumpled suit that looked like it needed to be trashed for good. He made a mental note to pick better cloth next time he was at his tailors.

Pulling up outside his front door he nodded to a couple of his Bg's parked up opposite his driveway. Was good to see they were alert and not sleeping on the job. After a quick shower and change of clothes he headed for the HQ. He wondered what the big meeting was about, he was normally kept in the loop as to what was going on but any discreet enquiries he had made with Sharp and Victor were just met with,           

"Dunno"

He reminisced about his Detroit trip and how his initial meetings had gone well and the Boss would be happy he hoped with the outcome. Then he suddenly flushed red remembering the embarrassing incident with the cookies and with Ilene the donkey. What a fool he had made of himself, he just hoped word had not got back to the family or he would never live this one down. Only to make matters worse then there was the debacle at the pie shop. How could he have forgotten what pies the boss had wanted and even worse how the hell did he not think about how he was going to get them all on the plane!

Parking up he beckoned to a couple of the family goons to carry the boxes up into the HQ.

"Careful lads, valuable merchandise for the boss."

"Is everyone here?" he asked

"A few are upstairs, Sharp is being an Ass as usual" replied one of the goons with a twinkle in his eye and a smirk.

No, it can't be, that was just a throw away remark surely?

"And that Donkey Victor is running late again" the second man said with a smirk.

Noodles froze

"What did you just say?" looking at the last guy to speak.

He watched as both men gave him that knowing look and burst into laughter.

How the hell had they found out! He turned away from the men and ran towards the entrance knowing this was going to be one of the most humiliating days of his life. He would never hear the end of this..

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" he screamed out loud.

      Victor pulled up to the HQ and sighed, his clothes were disheveled, almost as much as his hair. How was he supposed to know pies were incoming so quickly? He took a finishing drag off of his cigarette and stepped out of the car. Victor was donning a white shirt with no tie and a black jacket, his shirt was improperly buttoned and his jacket wrinkly. He could smell the liquor off his breath, and clearly others could as well. His hair was the worst part, it was unruly and he was doing his best to comb it on the way to the door. He was already spotted by the bodyguards and cleared to enter. He put his hand on the door and paused. One of the guards was snickering at him. Taking a drink of his jacket flask he turned to confront the bodyguard.

 "What are you laughing at?" He snapped

 "Nothing Mr. Dallas, just a joke earlier" He replied

Was he mocking him? He eyed himself in the reflection of his flask, he looked disorderly but there was nothing else abnormal. He must be missing something.

  "Care to fill me in? And remember who pays your salary. Well, it's not me, but I'm sure someone does!" Victor retorted

The vague poorly worded threat made the bodyguard almost break into a laugh. Victor grumbled, drank the rest of the flask and turned to enter the building. He walked upstairs and met someone standing outside the door. He raised his eyebrow and asked the questions suddenly burning in his mind.

   ''What gives?