บท 30: Small Business and Deborah's unexpected offer

In the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the struggling café that Lorenzo wanted to acquire was nestled in Orchard Street. It was a small, cozy establishment, with only a few regulars as patrons. Inside the café, Lorenzo, Max, Patrick, Philip, and Adam were sipping their coffee.

"You sure you want to buy this café? I think it's just a waste of money," Max said to Lorenzo as he looked around the café.

Lorenzo took a puff of his cigarette and sipped his coffee. "Hey, just trust me. Besides, I'll put more money into this than all of you combined. If you don't want in on this business, you can back out."

Max, Patrick, and Philip exchanged helpless glances.

Adam, meanwhile, sipped his coffee and then reached for the food on the table. "Tastes like coffee," he said before taking a bite.

The café doubled as an eatery as well. Besides serving coffee, they also served food. Thanks to the knowledge bestowed upon him by his [Godfather System], Lorenzo knew about the founding of Starbucks, including the secrets of the founders' roasting techniques and recipes. The only difference was that the 1940s coffee-making technology paled in comparison to that of the 1970s.

That's why Lorenzo wanted to acquire the struggling café from a widow named Mary Goldstein. She had been running the café single-handedly since her husband passed away five years ago.

With her children to support, she barely managed to make ends meet while also managing the café, which was losing more money than it brought in. So, she was more than willing to sell it to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo could see that the café's failure was due to Goldstein's lack of marketing efforts; she relied solely on her regulars and a few passersby, without any active promotion.

As they sat in the café, Lorenzo and the others discussed the acquisition details with the owner, Mary Goldstein.

Afterward, Max and the others tagged along as Lorenzo visited another business he was interested in: a clothing store occupying a small but visible corner shop near a popular local bakery and grocery store.

Lorenzo negotiated with the middle-aged owner while browsing the expensive clothes. Given the war's current situation, few people would be willing to splurge on such luxuries.

To turn a profit in the clothing business, he would need to design more commercial and affordable attire. And to do that, he'd need to acquire a textile factory – an endeavor far more costly than buying the café and clothing store combined.

Undeterred, Lorenzo purchased both the café and the clothing store, and with Tom Hagen of the Corleone family handling the paperwork, the legal transfer was seamless, taking only a few days.

For now, however, he couldn't implement his plans for his café "Starbucks" or his clothing store "Lupo." Instead, he used the café and the clothing store as a front for his illegal smuggling operations.

---

At the Corleone family residence, Vito Corleone listened intently as Tom Hagen spoke.

Tom said with a hint of amusement, "I helped Lorenzo acquire a clothing store and a café. It seems he's using those legitimate businesses as fronts for his gang's illegal operations. Surprisingly, the kid's thriving in his neighborhood's underworld activities."

Tom Hagen, being a skilled lawyer, found it a breeze to handle the paperwork for Lorenzo.

"And," he added, "Lorenzo gave me $500 as a token of his gratitude."

Don Corleone nodded, "Interesting. Isn't it the Barzini family who has more influence in Lorenzo's neighborhood?"

Tom Hagen nodded. "Yes, Don Corleone. I've also heard that he's paying 300 dollars a day to the gang under Barzini's control."

Don Corleone fell silent for a moment before saying, "I can see that the kid has ambition. He has potential. Next time you meet him, ask if he's interested in joining our family. If he does, he won't have to worry about paying protection fees to the Barzini anymore."

Tom chuckled. "I did ask him about it, Don Corleone… but he said he wanted to be his own man."

Hearing this, not only Don Corleone but also Peter Clemenza and Sonny couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe, that kid's got ambition," Don Corleone laughed, but he didn't seem to mind Lorenzo's decision.

Peter Clemenza interjected, "Don Corleone, should we take him out while he's still young—"

Don Corleone cut him off. "No, no. Leave him be. Lorenzo is a friend, and I can tell he's not the ungrateful type after all we've done for him."

Tom Hagen agreed. "I concur with Don Corleone. Ambitious as he may be, I see character in that boy."

Sonny Corleone, lounging on the couch, asked, "Is this the kid you brought over before, Tom?"

Tom Hagen nodded.

Sonny remembered the innocent-looking young man who reminded him of his younger brother, Michael.

"Never thought a face like that could become the talk of the town," Sonny thought to himself.

---

Strolling through the neighborhood, Lorenzo stopped in front of the café he had just acquired and introduced it to Deborah.

"What do you think? Care to try the coffee?" he asked with a grin.

Deborah hesitated for a moment, trying to push away her sadness about his impending war enlistment. "Sure, I'd love to."

Lorenzo took her hand and led her inside.

As she sipped the coffee, Deborah recognized the taste immediately. "Wait… this tastes just like Nescafe instant coffee."

Lorenzo couldn't help but chuckle. "You're right on the money!"

Deborah pouted. "Hey, I thought you were going to treat me to brewed coffee!"

Lorenzo laughed, "Alright, alright. Don't be mad, okay?"

Lorenzo signaled for Adam to brew a fresh pot of coffee for Deborah while he continued their conversation with a smile.

Adam, who could see the chemistry between them, felt a pang of jealousy but was genuinely happy for his friend. He was also moving on, having fallen for Tiffany.

Lorenzo changed the subject. "So, what do you think of my new venture? If you ever need any fancy clothes, just let me know."

Deborah nodded, but then fell silent.

"What's wrong? You're awfully quiet," Lorenzo prodded.

Deborah sighed. "Are you really going to war?"

Lorenzo sighed too. "Of course I am. How could I call myself a man if I don't protect my country?"

Of course, Lorenzo's reason was a facade. His real motive was to experience the war firsthand, complete his system's missions, and forge connections on the battlefield.

As they continued their conversation, Adam brought over the freshly brewed coffee.

Deborah took a sip and nodded. "Not bad."

Lorenzo smiled.

In the distance, Max, Patrick, and Philip watched them from afar.

Patrick couldn't help but shake his head. "Poor Noodles… His girl's slipping away from him."

Philip agreed. "Yeah, there's nothing we can do about it. After getting to know Lorenzo better these past few weeks, it's best not to mess with him."

Patrick nodded, while Max just observed the pair, deep in thought.

Lorenzo also took Deborah to his newly acquired clothing store, where he helped her choose a dress. As she entered the changing room, he couldn't resist and secretly peeked through the crack in the door.

Deborah, sensing his presence, pretended not to notice. Moments later, she emerged wearing the dress, her flawless figure accentuated by the fabric. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her angelic face. The dress hugged her slender frame, accentuating her modest yet perky breasts – just the right size in Lorenzo's eyes.

Lorenzo's heart raced as he admired her beauty, trying to keep his composure. "You look… stunning," he managed to say.

"You're breathtaking," Lorenzo said, his voice thick with desire.

Deborah smiled coyly. "So… why were you peeping on me earlier?"

Lorenzo feigned innocence. "Me? Peeping? I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm not that gullible, Lorenzo," she teased.

"Alright, alright, you caught me," he laughed. "But can you blame me? You look stunning in that dress." He stepped closer, his hands caressing her waist.

"You're such a pervert," Deborah giggled, but didn't pull away.

"If I were a true pervert, I would've taken you already," he whispered in her ear. "But I'm a pervert who loves and respects you."

As he said this, their lips met in a passionate kiss. Their tongues danced together as his hands roamed her body, feeling every curve through the fabric of her dress.

---

A few days later, Lorenzo informed Max, Patrick, and Philip that they were all enlisting for the war.

Max frowned. "Why drag us into this? You can go to war by yourself."

Patrick and Philip nodded in agreement.

Max argued with Lorenzo, but he just patted Max's shoulder. "Listen, this is our chance. If we perform well in the war, it'll earn us respect back home – in business, politics, and even our… other ventures. It'll open doors and help us make connections."

Max reluctantly saw his point, but Patrick and Philip didn't understand the full implications as well as he did.

"I don't want to go to war, sorry, Lorenzo," Patrick said to Lorenzo, and Philip nodded in agreement, indicating he didn't want to join either.

After a brief conversation, Lorenzo managed to convince Max.

Max then spoke up, "…alright. I'll join you for the war."

Patrick and Philip were shocked. "What? I thought you didn't want to?"

Lorenzo smiled as he looked at Max. He then turned to Patrick and Philip, "You two don't have a choice but to enlist with me now."

Patrick tried to reason, "What about our business? We can't just leave it now, not after all we've built so far."

Lorenzo shook his head. "Don't worry, I have Adam to handle the operations here."

Patrick, Max, and Philip shared skeptical looks. "That guy? I don't think he can handle it," Patrick said, voicing their collective doubt.

Lorenzo shrugged. "Adam will be fine as long as he's careful. Besides, I've taught him everything he needs to know so far. If you still don't trust him, we could always leave Philip here to supervise."

---

After discussing with Max and the others, Lorenzo headed to the Gelly family Delicatessen. In just five days, he would enlist himself, along with Max, Patrick, and Philip, to go to war.

Entering the delicatessen, he made his way to the room where Deborah was. The moment they laid eyes on each other, a heavy silence hung in the air, thick with the knowledge of their impending separation. They both felt a mix of sadness and solemnity.

Lorenzo hugged Deborah tightly, their lips meeting in a desperate kiss. He could feel her trembling in his arms, and he knew she was thinking the same thing.

To his surprise, Deborah whispered in his ear, "Do you… want to… do it?" She trailed off, blushing furiously.

Lorenzo was taken aback. He knew what she meant by "it." They'd never been intimate before, but the thought of being apart, possibly forever, had changed her mind.