Chapter 338: Tony's Answer
Fiona had worked plenty of jobs before—but they were always temporary gigs. Waiting tables one week, working a reception desk the next. Day labor. Short-term contracts. No stability.
That kind of hustle was worlds apart from a formal, full-time position.
It wasn't just about salary.
It was about benefits.
No health insurance. No retirement contributions. No safety net. For many people in America, just having employer-provided medical insurance is reason enough to fight tooth and nail for a "real" job.
Anyone who understands how the U.S. healthcare system works knows how brutal it can be. There are stories of people trying to climb out of ambulances because they're terrified of the bill.
The difference between having insurance and not having insurance?
It can bankrupt an entire family.
And a multinational corporation worth billions—like Gretchen's company—offered benefits that made people envious. Formal employees received comprehensive coverage, retirement plans, and all the protections that came with a legitimate corporate structure.
People would fight their way in for a chance like that.
If Fiona wanted stability, she could work there for the rest of her life—stay until retirement if she chose. She could live a respectable middle-class life.
And if she worked hard, proved capable, and earned recognition, she might even rise into management someday.
Fiona was only in her early twenties.
She was young.
Her future still had countless possibilities.
This was the first option Frank gave Fiona:
Join Gray Matter Technologies and start at the very bottom as an entry-level employee.
Gray Matter even had a branch office in Chicago. Fiona could buy a small commuter car, drive to work every day, and wouldn't have to move far from home.
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"The second option," Frank continued, "is New York. I have a friend there with connections. He can get you an internship at a well-known accounting firm."
"You've never been to New York, but don't worry. I have friends there—they'll look out for you. No one will bully you. Honestly, you might end up living better there than you do here."
On the surface, both options sounded similar. Accounting work either way.
But in reality, the difference was enormous.
If Fiona chose the second path, she would leave Chicago.
She had never left the city in her entire life.
New York would be unfamiliar—intimidating, even—but it would also be a clean slate. A city of infinite possibilities.
And interning at a reputable accounting firm meant exposure to real industry operations. If she learned the ropes, she could one day open her own accounting office and become her own boss.
The money Frank would leave behind—once divided among the kids—would be more than enough to serve as Fiona's startup capital.
And if needed, all Frank had to do was make a call to Cottonmouth.
Cottonmouth wouldn't just make sure Fiona stayed safe—he'd likely go out of his way to protect her. After all, his rise to prominence in New York had depended heavily on Frank. He owed Frank a serious debt.
If Fiona went to New York, it might even attract the attention of Cottonmouth's sister—the congresswoman.
That's why Frank believed Fiona could have an even better life there than in Chicago.
No matter which path she chose, she would have stability. Security. A future.
And that would let Frank leave this world without lingering regret.
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Frank's state of mind now was painfully common.
Like aging or terminally ill parents who worry about their grown children not yet being married. Parents who hope—before they die—to see their child settled, safe, secure.
It was human nature.
"I… need to think," Fiona said quietly.
She had always felt lost about her future. Recently, she had simply followed Frank's suggestions—finishing her high school diploma, studying accounting—so long as she didn't hate the idea.
But now, faced with two concrete life paths, she didn't know what to choose.
"You don't have to decide right now," Frank said. "I can hold on a bit longer. Think carefully. This is your future. You can't rush something like this. The most important thing in life is choice."
It was the second time that day Frank had said that.
After a few more words, Fiona left his room.
Rationally, Frank hoped she would choose New York.
Leave Chicago. Leave the South Side. Leave this house.
Fiona had spent her entire childhood raising her siblings. That instinct—to sacrifice herself for the family—was carved deep into her bones. If she stayed, she would keep giving and giving, never truly living her own life.
In a new city, without those ties binding her, she could finally build something that belonged solely to her.
But emotionally?
He wanted her close.
It was selfish. Contradictory.
In the end, he would respect her decision.
Still, if Frank felt torn, Fiona must feel even worse.
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While Fiona wrestled with her choice, Tony had already made his.
A few days later, Officer Tony came to see Frank. They talked for a long time.
Afterward, Frank contacted Nando's men. Tony took a few days off and flew to Brazil.
Because in the end, this wasn't Frank's decision to make.
He was only the middleman.
The final say belonged to Nando. It was, at its core, a family matter.
Nando personally evaluated Tony—tested him, measured him, judged whether he was worthy.
When Tony returned from Brazil, arrangements were quickly made for him to meet the Brazilian girl.
It seemed he had passed.
Soon after, Jimmy finalized his divorce.
The Brazilian girl married Tony.
Everything happened swiftly. Efficiently. No drama. No chaos. Everyone cooperated.
Jimmy had been desperate to regain his freedom. He couldn't wait to get divorced.
Tony, having made his choice, had already prepared himself mentally—Frank had laid everything out clearly beforehand.
As for the Brazilian girl?
Loyalty had never been part of the equation.
Even while married to Jimmy, she had maintained contact with her boyfriend back in Brazil.
That boyfriend had been shot by her father, dissolved into sludge, and dumped into the sea.
Yet she moved on quickly—entertaining new lovers, flirting with male models. Jimmy rarely went home, and she didn't care.
Her marriage had never been about love.
It was arranged by her father, Nando.
She had no right to refuse.
If Nando said divorce Jimmy, she divorced Jimmy.
If Nando said marry Tony, she married Tony.
That was simply how her world worked.