A Work Etiquette Faux Pas

Alex had fallen into his current position within the British crime family he worked for. It had started small with a hand on his shoulder when he was dealing letting him know that if he was going to be selling in this area then he would need to be doing it under them. He’d paid the cut every month without complaint, the family kept his territory free of interruptions and since he was the first to sign with them his competition dried up swiftly. He’d done well. Well enough that when he was meeting with his regular guy to drop off the cut he’d been offered a far sweeter deal. He’d made his way up and up until finally he found himself working with a legend within the family. Stuart Hatford was part of the main family and he’d brokered a very beneficial deal and treaty with the Moriyamas the year prior. There’d been some talk that it was for the young man that would be the Hatford heir but Stuart had denied it making it clear that his nephew had no interest in running the family business and so long as his nephew made good on his deal with the Moriyamas there was nothing more any of them needed to do. Alex wasn’t close enough at the time with the main family to get the full story but he knew through other people whispering. Knew that the young man who should be the heir had chosen to remain a Moriyama asset and knew that if he couldn’t manage it then there was nothing on this earth that would stop Stuart and the rest of the family from taking him into the fold. The Moriyamas were powerful, but the Hatford’s were embedded. In a war of attrition, it was no guess who would win. Especially if they had the home field advantage. He’d gotten used to working with Stuart. Gotten used to the calm and methodical way that the man went about every aspect of his job. The man was a great teacher, it’s just that the subject matter left a lot to be desired. The man was a staunch professional, never having a hair out of place, a wrinkle on his suit, or a stain on his shirt. Stuart Hatford was so professional that he felt inhuman. Which is why Alex was having a hell of a time reconciling that man with the one who was holding a six pack of beer in their office while wearing an eye-searing orange Exy jersey. “Good work today.” Stuart says, “Finish up the report and you can head home for the weekend.” He says as he turns towards Alex and the Jersey has Palmetto State and a large #10 in white on the front. “Boss?” He can’t help himself. “Yes Heinley?” he asks. “What are you wearing?” he hears himself ask more than he thinks about asking it. The office around them grows quiet. Stuart looks down at his outfit as if he didn’t see anything wrong with it, “My nephew is playing his first game of the college season. This is his Jersey, I will be watching.” Stuart explains. “The one who plays Exy?” He asks thinking about the time difference between London and the East Coast of America where he had heard the possible Hatford heir resided. “Yes, thankfully it’s a home game.” Stuart says. “He plays for Palmetto State.” He says unnecessarily as if Stuart would be wearing that eye-searing color for anything less than his nephew. “They won the Championship last year.” He adds. Alex Blinks. Is... “I heard about that team beating the Moriyama’s pet team before the spare went and killed himself.” Alex says with a huff, knowing that Ichirou had taken out his younger brother. It was one of the things he hated about the Moriyamas and appreciated about the Hatford’s. The Hatford’s cared about every last blood member fiercely and cared about the rest of their people immensely. There was a reason Alex was happy to work for a crime family. “It must have been a great game” He offers. “Yes, it was a great game. I watched that one in person.” Stuart says, “My nephew blocked Moriyama’s spare in the second half. He played incredibly well considering his normal position is as a Striker.” Stuart says. Alex blinks again. He is! Stuart Hatford is Bragging. Bragging about his Nephew. “Do not interrupt me unless there’s something dire.” Stuart says looking at his watch, “I believe Neil will also be on the post-game interview as well so if you need help it will have to wait until after that.” He adds before turning back towards his office. Alex blinks. He had thought that Stuart would be going to a pub to watch the game considering he had been wearing the jersey. Exy wasn’t as popular as football in England, but it was far from unpopular, there were plenty of bars that had games up on the big screen. It’s the most human his boss has ever felt. “Can I watch with you?” He finds himself asking before he can stop himself. He can feel the dozen eyes of others looking at him in surprise and the silence is almost overwhelming. Stuart turns around immediately and Alex fears for his life for a moment, “I would not be opposed to company” he says. “How much do you know about Exy?” He asks. “Not as much as I know about football, but I like it well enough.” Alex says. Stuart nods in acceptance and walks into his office, notably leaving the door open for Alex to follow after him. Alex still can’t believe his workaholic boss is fine with him stopping his own work to watch his nephew but when he follows after Stuart and sits in the seat that Stuart points to it does not take him all too long to piece everything together. He watches Stuart make sure the game is being recorded and when the pre-game starts up Stuart is quick to point out his nephew. Palmetto’s #10 starting Striker Neil Josten. The kid didn’t have his helmet on yet and Alex winced at the sight of the scars on his face. Stuart must have noticed, “I killed his dad and his rabid bitch for those. Still don’t know what Mary was thinking not bringing Nathaniel back home. He’s as loyal as any Hatford so now he won’t leave his team unless he’s dragged or in a body bag.” Stuart scowls into his beer. The camera seems to linger on Neil and the commenters start to comment on the scars until a larger boy with a larger #4 on his chest scowls at the camera. His large body blocking any further sight of Neil and Alex watched as a girl with white and pastel hair helped handed Neil his helmet with a smile. His scars weren’t visible once the helmet was on, but his entire team’s ire had the camera man moving away swiftly. “At least it seems like he picked well.” Alex offers glad to see the loyalty shown to the heir. “I suppose.” Stuart says mildly but Alex knows him well enough that Stuart does approve of his nephew’s teammates. “So, he’s a Striker?” Alex asks hoping to bring Stuart back onto better thoughts. “Yes,” Stuart nods, “he’s the fastest Striker in Collegiate Exy.” He brags. Alex is more than happy to listen to his stoic boss rattle off his nephew’s, admittedly impressive, stats. He talked about Neil’s many strengths when playing and even a few things that he believed Neil would need to work on. Stuart had been less detailed when teaching Alex about the best places to dispose of a body in London than he was about Neil Josten’s shots on goal to goals made statistics. Alex hides a smile into his beer. Stuart Hatford, the consummate professional, had worn his nephew’s bright garish jersey because he had wanted someone to ask him about it. He’d wanted to brag about his nephew to someone. Alex had just been the only one caught too off guard by the color to hold his tongue. Alex watched the game with Stuart and found himself greatly enjoying it. He cheered for the Palmetto Foxes and enjoyed Stuart’s commentary. He got to watch sides of Stuart he hadn’t seen in the months since he’d started working under the man directly. He watched as a burning fury almost had Stuart reach for one of his burner phones when a Backliner fouled Neil by crushing him into the boards after Neil had already passed the ball to his fellow striker. He’d almost been nervous for the backliner until Neil rose from his crumpled spot on the ground and waved off his teammate’s concern. He watched as Stuart belted out a loud laugh when Neil passed the ball to that same Backliner and proceeded to steamroll him in a completely technically legal play before scooping up the ball with his own racquet and running unimpeded to the goal. It was not the last technically legal play that Neil pulled on that particular Backliner until he was replaced at half time. A Hatford in all but name. He watched as Stuart pumped his fist and smiled whenever Neil scored or assisted the other striker, Kevin Day, in scoring. Stuart Hatford was the very picture of a doting uncle. The Foxes won their game by 6. Stuart chats about the game with him and Alex can agree that his nephew is quite impressive on the court, “That goalie was incredible as well.” He adds watching as that same goalie was walking with Neil as they shook hands at the end of the game. “Ah, yes. That one…” Stuart trails off sipping his beer. “Is there a problem with him?” He asks. “No, not a problem. I think he may have been less protective before Neil got kidnapped but now he’s firmly in the stab first ask questions never. He got me last time I showed up unannounced and startled Neil.” He pointed to his side. “He got YOU?” Alex can’t help but yell in shock. “It was a minor stab wound at best, Neil stopped him before he got further than the first knife.” Stuart says and Alex can tell that Stuart was impressed despite himself. “He and I came to an agreement of sorts. If the branch Moriyamas try anything with Neil again he has my number and if Neil can’t make good on his deal with the Moriyamas for any reason, then he’ll get Neil here.” He rubs his temple. “Then why sound like that?” Alex frowns, “Sound like he’s a good protector for your nephew” he says. “Because he’s Neil’s boyfriend, even if he’d gut me if I used that term for him. The bugger is impossible to give a shovel talk to when he’s got more claim to Neil than I do.” Stuart scowls. “He broke Riko Moriyama’s arm when the git was about to kill Neil and he was ready to slice me open when he thought I was a threat to Neil. He loves my nephew, and I’m just going to have to deal with it.” Stuart says sounding every bit like a father trying to come around on who their beloved child had picked as their life partner. “Well then it sounds like he has a good partner.” Alex says not quite sure how to feel about the possible Heir’s boyfriend being someone who could pull multiple knives and was good enough to stick Stuart Hatford with one of them. They watched the post-game interview and Neil Josten has a smart mouth. Stuart visibly enjoys every second of his nephew mouthing off to a rude reporter. Eventually it’s the end and Stuart hits stop on the recording. He took out the tape and labeled it with a series of letters and numbers that probably meant something if someone had the cypher. “That was good. Your nephew really is talented. I’ll have to catch more of his games.” Alex says and is not surprised to find that they’re the last two in the office this late on a Friday. “Feel free to join me. He has another game this time next week.” Stuart says and Alex blinks. “Yeah, I think I will. Maybe I’ll get a jersey like yours.” He says with a wry laugh. Stuart nods, “Good. I trust you know how to lock up?” He asks. “Yeah boss. I’ve got it. See you Monday.” He waves goodbye. He checks his phone for the first time since he entered into Stuart’s office and has around 100 text messages from his associates and friends. All of them want details and the only thing he can think to text them back is a link to where one could buy Palmetto State’s #10 Starting Striker Neil Josten’s official Jersey. Stuart wouldn’t mind if there were a few more people cheering for his nephew.