by J. J. Bella
In her office, she fumed until she had to get up and pace.
“Do you want to walk outside for a while?” Clay asked.
“No. I want to take action. Do you attack people for money by any chance?”
He gave her unamused look. “No.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to settle for taking things into my own hands.”
She reached for her desk phone, but it rang before she could pick it up. She glared at it. The last thing she wanted was distractions.
“What?” she growled into the phone.
“Umm, I’m sorry to disturb you, but I think you should come out here,” the receptionist said.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Well, there’s been… umm… some damage? To your car.”
She slammed the phone down and looked at Clay as she made her way to the door. “Someone did something to my car.”
Clay put out his hand to stop her before she bolted out the building’s front door. “Let me make sure it’s clear first. I don’t want harm coming to you, too.”
She stood there, arms crossed, feeling the eyes of the receptionist at the back of her head. Sierra spun to face her.
“You didn’t see anything?”
The receptionist shook her head with wide eyes. “Jeffrey came back from lunch and said he noticed your tires were slashed. I can’t really see much from here.”
Sierra didn’t want to take it out on the girl. It wasn’t her job to police the parking lot anyway. She turned back around and saw Clay returning.
“It’s clear,” he said. “Come take a look.”
She followed him out to her car and saw that all four of her tires were flat to the ground, large slash marks in the tops.
“Can you get any evidence or anything?” she asked.
“That’s not my job,” Clay said. “The police will do all that. All we can do is not touch anything to keep from getting in their way.”
“Then let’s make a call.” She walked back to her office freshly pissed off and ready to tear Dalton a new one. He had gone way too far this time.
She ran through her mind all the things she would say to him. Unbidden, the memory of his lips on hers came to her. Her cheeks grew hot, and she forced herself to think about something else. She was not going to let something so stupid as a kiss get in her way, even if it’d been a hot one. He’d called for war and that’s what he would get. She was done playing games.
Calling the police took up the rest of her day. By the time they got there and took photos and fingerprints, then got statements from anyone involved, hours had passed. Sierra wasn’t so much pissed as before, but exhausted. She just wanted to do her job and not be harassed for it. The deal was cancelled now anyway, so whoever did this could move on.
She tried to finish up a few things in her office. Some paperwork from their most recent acquisition needed to be filed. Everyone else in the office had left, but like happened many nights in the past, Sierra was still in her office, plugging away. Clay sat in the corner, reading a magazine. Every so often, he’d get up and walk the building and outside to make sure no one came back to do further damage to the car.
She was finishing an expense report and hit save when Clay stood and stretched.
“Time to make another round,” he said.
Sierra yawned. “I should be done here soon.”
Clay walked out of the room and she heard him walking around the building. Then she heard him outside circling the building. Footsteps came closer to her office window and she let out a breath, feeling much safer knowing that he was there to protect her. After the tire incident, she started to feel paranoid again. First the attack at home, and now this. She wasn’t even sure what the tire slashing was meant to show. The deal was cancelled. So what was the point?
A loud crash came from behind her. The sound of shattering glass and a loud thump. She screamed and jumped back from the brick now lying on her office floor.
Clay was back in the room within seconds, but it was too late. He stuck his head in the room, saw what had happened, and took off running.
Sierra stood there, shaking, feeling far too vulnerable with Clay not right beside her. She hoped he would catch whoever it was and come back quickly. What if there were more than one? Someone might come in through the new hole in the window or come busting through the door while Clay was outside looking.
But Clay came back quickly. He was breathing heavy from running.
“Didn’t see anyone,” he said. “Did you call the police?”
She shook her head.
He took the initiative and made the call. She listened to his words, staring straight ahead, not sure what to do. Her mind was reeling. Her heart was still racing. This was getting bad. This was getting worse.
For the third time that week, she spoke with the police. They took more photos and picked up the brick for evidence.
“Did you see this, Miss Saunders?” An office held up a note written on yellow paper. “It was wrapped around the brick.”
She took the note from the officer and opened it.
“This is what you get,” it said.
She handed it back to the officer. “I think it’s referring to a business deal. When I was attacked, the person told me to cancel my deal and I didn’t. Then the deal was cancelled from the potential client’s end. I thought that was the end of it until my tires were slashed, and now this.”
“My guess is someone is trying to prove a point and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” the officer said. “Were there any other demands made at any point?”
She thought about it, then shook her head.
“It’s good you have personal security,” the officer said, nodding toward Clay. “Make sure you call us immediately if anything else happens, and take any threats seriously.”
“I will.” In that moment, she didn’t think she’d ever do anything risky again.
7
Sierra woke the next morning still feeling exhausted. She hadn’t slept well and had gotten to bed late on top of it. After thinking of all that had happened in the office, she decided to do a rare thing.
“Not coming in today,” she texted to Tom.
“Good. You need a day off,” he texted back.
“I’ll do some work from home.”
“Don’t overdo it. Take some time.”
She told Clay her plan and, after making coffee, forced herself to sit on the couch and relax. By her second cup, she was feeling more awake and had started to think through things.
Dalton had taken things way too far this time. She’d thought that same thing—that he’d gone too far—after the attack and then the tire slashing, but things kept escalating. One possibility kept running through her mind. Maybe this was because she’d rejected him. Maybe it had nothing to do with the deal. What if he meant this is what she got for turning down his merger idea, for turning him down sexually.
Another horrible thought gave her chills and made her wrap her arms around her middle. What if he decided to start just taking what he wanted anyway? He might come after her himself next time. He had already forcefully kissed her. Wasn’t forcing himself on her the next step? Or maybe next time she’d end up hospitalized or dead.
Maybe Tom was right. Maybe this wasn’t worth it. It was just business. Just money, wasn’t it? Her life and well being was worth more than that. But, if she didn’t play hardball, how could she succeed in business? Was it time to give up and move on? Get some office job somewhere?
For a few minutes, she let her thoughts wander toward other job options, but nothing seemed right. How could she do anything except what she was doing right now? She loved the rush of it, the feeling of triumph at taking over something that was failing and turning it around, while making a ton of money doing so.
She had never considered herself a very prideful person. She had her moments, she supposed, but she wasn’t arrogant normally. Still, something in the idea of giving up and giving in felt very wro
ng to her. How could she just let him win like that? Let him bully her around and push her out of her business and her field.
The anger returned and built. The stress of it all, the fear, the fatigue, all mixed with the anger and had her blood boiling in a short time. Dalton was not going to get away with this. He was not going to push her out. She wouldn’t stand for it. She’d come too far and done too much to give it all up now.
She paced a few times in her living room, then picked up her phone. She dialed Dalton and launched into him the second he answered with his cocky sounding, “Well, hello Sierra.”
“Stop right there. I talk, you listen. Got it? I am sick of your shit, Dalton. This is business. Deals are made and lost, people steal business. It doesn’t give you the right to attack someone, to threaten, to slash tires, and break windows. The deal is cancelled anyway, so I don’t know what your deal is. You think you’re scaring me? You want to try to force me to let your company take over mine? You’re crazy. It’s never going to happen. Got it? Never. Stop with your threats and attacks. I’ve told the police everything, and they’re watching you. You come so close as stepping one foot near me, and they’ll come arrest you. I will—”
“What the hell are you talking about?” he interrupted. “This is all because I kissed you? I don’t care how you try to deny it, you—”
“You think this is about the kiss? This is about having someone attack me at my home. This is about slashing my tires. This about throwing bricks with threats through my office window. I’m done playing games with you. This—”
“I didn’t do any of that.”
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect you to fess up. And no, I assume you hired someone to do it, obviously.”
“I would never do something like that, Sierra. I don’t need to stoop to those levels to make money. I have plenty of it, believe me.”
“Just stop. I know you’re behind it, and I’m calling you to tell you it stops now.”
“Sierra. I did not hire someone to attack you or slash your tires or throw a brick through your window. Yeah, I was pissed Jack Goods chose you over me. But it happens. I’ve had it happen before and I’m sure it’ll happen again. That’s why I wanted to talk about a merger. But it doesn’t matter. I did kiss you, yes, and you can try to say I forced it on you, but you kissed me back, and you know it. So, you can call me up and try to blame all this on me, try to threaten me right back, but you’re wrong. And I suggest you stop wasting time pointing fingers at me and figure out who’s really behind this. Call me when you’re ready to apologize.”
Her phone beeped. He’d ended the call.
She stared at the silent and dark phone in her hand. Of course he was lying. He couldn’t fess up to something like that. Then he’d be subject to criminal charges due to a confession. Not that she’d remembered in her anger to record this call, but it didn’t matter. Hopefully her calling him out would be enough. If he knew that she knew it was him, it was only a matter of time until she had all the proof she needed to bring him to justice.
8
When she went back to work, Tom was the first person to come talk to her.
“Have you heard from the police?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“I hope they catch the guy soon. This can’t keep going on.”
“You’re telling me.” Sierra pulled out a folder and opened it on her desk. “Here’s the file for Johnston, Inc. See what you can do with it.”
Tom sighed. “Yeah, okay. They’re not our strongest option, but I guess it’s the safest.”
“I hate doing business this way.”
“Me too, but it’s what needs to happen right now.”
She shook her head. “I can’t believe something like this could happen over a business deal. Just crazy. Dalton has some serious issues.”
“I’m not convinced it’s him. I know he’s an asshole, but do you really think he’d go this far?”
“Yes. I have no doubt it’s him. He’s a master manipulator. He does whatever it takes to win.”
“Well, I hope the police find something soon so this can be put to an end. I’ve also hired a security guard to watch the building.”
She nodded her head absently. She didn’t want to say it with Clay in the room, but she doubted that would help. Having Clay with her hadn’t stopped her tires from being slashed. Hadn’t stopped someone from throwing a brick through her window. There was no way to know if a physical attack had been planned, if he had deterred something like with his presence. She didn’t plan to end her security contract yet, but she was starting to wonder how much good it was doing.
Later that day, when the reception called to tell her that Dalton was there in the building to see her, she almost told Tom to cancel the security guard. Why pay all that money for something that wasn’t even going to keep Dalton from wandering in anytime he wanted?
“What do you want?” she asked when he stepped into her office.
“We need to talk.”
“Is that why you hung up on me last night?”
“I hung up on you because you were being unreasonable.” Dalton looked over his shoulder at Clay. “I don’t suppose we could have some privacy?” he asked Sierra.
She gave him a look that made it clear that Clay was not leaving the room. Dalton sat in the chair across from her and leaned forward, putting his elbows on her desk.
“Why did Jack Goods back out?” he asked.
“I have no idea. They won’t take our calls or return them. I assume that you offered them something better and they took it.”
He pulled his eyebrows together. “They didn’t take my deal.”
“They didn’t? Then why would they back out?”
“There’s no way they could survive. They have to take someone’s bailout. Unless they decided to fold and go for bankruptcy.”
Sierra shook her head. “It was very important to them that their employees kept their jobs. Bankruptcy would mean shutting everything down, and all those people would be without work.”
“Then there must only be one solution.”
Nothing came to her, and it annoyed her that it seemed so obvious to Dalton. “What?”
“There’s a third party.”
“Two companies fighting over them wasn’t enough? Who else could possibly be involved?”
He pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen. “I’ll find out. I have an idea, though.”
“Who?”
He tapped his fingertips together, then rested his chin on them. “Your call last night really shook me up. I mean, I can’t believe you think I would do something like that, first of all, but that’s not the only reason.”
“Okay…” She leaned back in her chair and prepared to listen. He seemed different today. Was he loosened up or more uptight? She didn’t know him well enough to tell. But his posture changed. Instead of sitting straight and confident, he leaned forward the whole time he talked to her. His gaze was more intense and purposeful.
She had to keep her mind focused as she listened to him talk. If she allowed herself to let her mind wander, it only went to two places. One, was to all the things that had happened to her, which brought fear and anxiety. But the other was Dalton’s kiss. And thinking of that brought a rush of warmth, then embarrassment. Of all things to be thinking of, that was the last thing she should be focused on.
“I should tell you something, but I’d rather not do it in front of anyone else.” Dalton glanced over at Clay again, who raised an eyebrow at him in return.
“Why are you always trying to get me away from my bodyguard? Last time it didn’t work out so good.”
“This time it’s me. It’s not easy for me to say what I’m about to tell you, and I’d rather not spill my secrets to strangers.”
She sighed. “Clay, do you mind waiting outside?”
He got up and left. Sierra raised her palms to Dalton. “Okay. Let’s hear it.”
“You’re not the only one getting threats or
attacks.”
Her mouth popped open in shock. “You’ve been threatened and attacked, too?”
“It happens from time to time. It’s not the first time in my life, and I doubt it’ll be the last. When you deal in big business where there’s a lot of money involved, sometimes people get pissed. Sometimes they want to stop you.”
“What is it this time?”
“After what you told me last night, I’d say it’s the same person who’s after you.”
“What have they done?”
“Well.” He let out a long breath. “I’ve been mugged and threatened, had my car keyed, gotten a brick through my window as well.”
“Was there a note?”
He nodded. “At first, they were telling me to cancel the Jack Goods deal. I have to be honest, I thought you were behind it. I thought you wanted it that badly.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t play dirty.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you? Maybe not that dirty. After they took your deal, I thought it was over. But then the car thing happened.”
“This is all sounding very familiar.”
“I thought so,” he said. “I got a brick through my window the same night you did. It had a note that said, ‘This is what you get.’”
Sierra let out a gasp and covered her mouth.
“Yours said the same thing, then?” he asked.
She nodded.
“What I don’t get is, if they wanted Jack Goods, and neither of us have it, why hasn’t it stopped?” he asked. “What else do they want?”
“That’s what worries and confuses me. They’re not even making any demands, just threats.”
He looked down at his phone. “I didn’t think much of it all when it started. Like I said, this sort of thing has happened before. That’s why I carry a gun and why I train in martial arts. I don’t want to pay someone to follow me around to keep me safe. I’ll protect myself. But when it started happening to you… That changes things. You haven’t done the unethical things I’ve done in business.”
“How do you know?”