“I didn’t find anything that he’s done here lately but he has a sealed record from his teens. I’m thinking someone like him didn’t stop being an asshole all the years in between, so I’ll keep digging.”
“You know what to do.”
“Already on it Max.” Of course you are. I may not be able to use the information we uncover from the sealed indictment for any legal purposes, but at
least I’d know what I’m dealing with.
Whatever it is, I’m sure not to like it. I just need to know how dangerous this fuck is before making my next move.
If he’s just your garden variety pervert, I’ll leave it to the cops. But if I find that he’s more than that, I’ll take him out myself.
Either way it didn’t sit well with me to let someone else handle the situation, but Tony was right. I had to be careful here.
Too many people had seen what happened at the club, and with my reputation it wouldn’t be hard to guess who was responsible if something happened to him now.
“What about the other thing, are we on the right track there?”
“I haven’t found the connection yet, but I’ll keep digging as I’m sure you will as well. He bonded out an hour ago by the way.”
“I expected that. I’ll keep on it. I’m not going to let this one go. I just hope for her sake that I’m wrong. Why would an intelligent person like her fuck up her whole life by doing some shit like this?”
“I didn’t think you would and you’ve known for a while that she was on your shit. It’s not the first time she slipped up, it just so happens to be the first time you’ve cared.”
He was right about that. It wasn’t the first time Arlene had warned off someone she thought was getting too close to me, but in the past I brushed that shit off. Now that Annabelle was involved things were a whole lot different.
“He picked the right time of the evening to pull that shit. Any later and he’d be picking up his teeth in the alley.” I folded my fists as he watched me in the rearview.
“I’m barely restraining myself from going after him now, so I can only imagine what your crazy ass must be feeling.”
“Don’t worry, he’ll get what’s coming to him sooner or later. I want the one who put him up to it first though. I’m thinking I should put someone on Anna just in case. I didn’t like that look he gave her earlier when he was being dragged away.”
“You think he might come after her?”
“I don’t know what the fuck to think. Everyone knows that bullshit doesn’t fly in my place. Why would he just show up out of the blue and ask to sit in her section only to do that filthy shit?”
“Yeah, that’s the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Not to worry. If he’s that dumb they’re bound to have slipped up somewhere. If she really is the one behind it we’ll find out the truth before long.”
“If she’s the one behind this, I’ll bury her ass next to him.” I’ve had women pull some stunts in the past to get my attention, but this was beyond evil if what I’m thinking is true.
For one female to set up another to be assaulted like that shows a whole other level of depravity. I don’t need people like that working for me. No fucking way.
“You have any plans on how you want to deal with this going forward? You’re not just going to confront her are you? You know you’re not good at that shit. Plus this one’s a female.”
“I give a fuck what she is. But no, I don’t plan on confronting her just yet.” He was pulling up to my door just then and the doorman came over to open the door.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” I said goodnight to the doorman and got my phone from my pocket as I headed to the private elevator.
“You in bed?”
“Geez, yes, I am, what do you want?” I couldn’t help smiling at her attitude. I hope she never changes.
“You sure you’re okay after what happened?”
I hadn’t even remembered to ask earlier when I was with her. Just goes to show how muddle headed she makes me.
“I said I was, didn’t I?”
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t want to get the cops involved.”
“Because they’re not going to do shit. He’d get a slap on the wrist maybe. Meanwhile, I’ll have to miss school and maybe a day’s work for nothing.”
Was she that much in need that she couldn’t lose a day’s pay? Just what kind of trouble was she in anyway?
I knew better than to bring that shit up over the phone. I was still leery of her pulling a runner if I came on too strong too soon.
“What about the fact that he might be a repeat offender? That he might do that to someone else? Wouldn’t you feel guilty?”
“I might’ve in another life, but these days I can’t afford that kind of guilt. Now if there’s nothing else, I have an early class in the morning.”
She hung up in my ear again. No phone etiquette whatsoever. I smiled as I walked through my penthouse feeling lighter.
She didn’t have to answer the phone and even though my number doesn’t show up, I was sure she knew it was me calling. Who the fuck else would be calling her this late at night?
Well fuck, I’m not going to get much sleep if I go to bed with those thoughts in my head. Jealousy is a warped bitch, because now I was pissed at the idea that someone else might be calling her.
I hadn’t forgotten that crack she’d made earlier. She was right. It never entered my mind that there might be someone in her life. I have no idea why that might be.
It was as if I’d already made up my mind to claim her. When something’s yours it doesn’t matter who else wants it, the shit’s off limits.
I could well imagine she had a slew of admirers, but deep down I didn’t believe that she was the type to let me kiss her if she was involved with someone else.
The thought brought me some peace and I was able to settle down some. I was still a bit uneasy because I was here in my luxury penthouse while she was in that dump.
There was a story there for sure and starting tomorrow I’m going to get to the bottom of it. Hopefully she won’t hand me my ass when she finds out that I went digging into her past.
Wishful thinking I know, but I’m not going to let that stop me from doing what I have to. It’s like dealing with mom. Sometimes I just have to do shit for her own good no matter how much hell she gives me.
Chapter 15
“Is this asshole trying to get his ass fired?” I watched on the screen as the manager put his hand on her shoulder as they walked in together.
“I’m guessing he’s asking her if she’s okay after last night.” Tony’s voice was calm as he got up to look over my shoulder.
“Does he have to put his hands on her to do that shit?”
“Don’t look now, but you’re sounding more like the kid from the Bronx than the college grad businessman. Where are you going?”
I ignored him as I headed out the door. It was the evening of the following day, the day after I’d followed her home and kissed her.
I’d spent the whole night worrying about her and whether or not she was safe in that place or if someone had found her and a million other fucked up things.
The shit had ran me out of my bed at the ass crack of dawn and had me pacing like a caged animal. I’d used what little information I had to search for her, but so far I had nothing.
There were more people with her name than I’d expected to find and if she was on social media, she must be one of the ones who had their shit set to private.
I left it to my guys to bypass that shit and was waiting for the results now. I just needed to know where she came from and I’d take if from there.
I was antsy as a teenage girl on her prom date. I was both excited and wary about what I would find. If she was in some kind of trouble there was no question that I would help her.
But I wasn’t looking forward to uncovering any entanglements. Although I’d convinced myself that she wasn’t the type to let me touch her if
she was involved, I won’t shake this uneasy feeling until I know for sure.
I’d shown up here earlier than usual because I couldn’t just sit at home waiting. I missed her, wanted to see her. Thoughts of her had damn near ran me out of my penthouse.
I was the one doing the chasing this time, which was already a new look for me. And since I was new to this shit I wasn’t quite sure of my moves.
I took out my phone a hundred times to call her, but remembered that she said she had class. I’d tried busying myself but nothing seemed to work.
I couldn’t get the feel of her in my arms, or the taste of her lips out of my head. Not even an hour in my personal gym had done much to help me there, and in the end I was sick of my own company.
None of the things I usually do in the city to pass time held much interest, so I decided to just show up here a few hours early, which put the early afternoon staff in a tizzy since they hardly ever get to see me.
Tony was no help. From the time he reached my place this morning he’s been going on about some shit or the other that had nothing to do with anything.
And if he plays that fucking song one more time I’m going to wring his damn neck and drop him in the Hudson. Asshole!
He and I had been trying to find a link between Arlene and Ray Morrison since we got here with no luck. Though we did learn a little more about the asshole.
When it grew near time for her to show up I’d grown restless and he hadn’t missed it. “Isn’t it about time for you to play voyeur?”
Asshole turned on the security monitors and zoomed in on the door. It was just in time for us to see her and the manager, Richard, coming through the door together.
Now I’m going to go break his fucking arm for being stupid and then have a few words with my girl about letting other men put hands on her.
I didn’t miss Tony’s disrespectful snicker as I headed out the door of the office. But his reminder to stay cool helped me to remember where I was and I throttled it back a notch.
Luckily for the manager he hadn’t followed her downstairs where she went to put her bag and coat away, but instead was headed for the office on the other side of the floor.
I caught up with him right before he made the
door. He was looking way too fucking pleased with himself and there was no need for me to guess why. He must’ve heard my footsteps behind him because he looked back over his shoulder.
“You, here, now.” He was right to look scared at my tone. I was pissed enough to really break his arm off and beat him with it.
“Sir, is something the matter?”
“I think I already told you about putting your hands on my staff. If you do it again you’re fired.”
If not for Tony’s warning I would’ve done worst to the smiling asshole. He wasn’t smiling any longer though. He looked scared out of his fucking mind.
I walked away and left him to think about what the fuck he’d done wrong. I thought about going after her, but changed my mind, even though I was dying to see her, touch her again.
I did take my sweet time getting back to the office in the off chance that I ran into her. What the fuck was she doing down there so long?
Tony was laughing his ass off when I got back to the office and I knocked his legs off my desk. I couldn’t beat the manager asshole to a bloody pulp
but there was nothing stopping me from throwing a few at this smug bastard’s ass.
“What the hell did you say to that kid? He looked like he was shitting bricks when you walked away.”
“Good, he needs to keep his fucking hands to himself.”
“Yeah, but uh, I think you just showed your hand. I thought you didn’t want anyone knowing about your interest in her?”
“Who the fuck said that?”
“Excuse me for living bro.” He held up his hands and grinned.
“Oh shit!”
“What is it?” His eyes had gone back to the screen while I went to the fridge for water for both of us.
“Uh, nothing I don’t think. I’ve just never seen it here before is all.”
What the hell was he talking about now? I went to look for myself. Miss. Thing was wearing black slacks instead of the usual short skirt.
“She’s too fucking much isn’t she? What you wanna bet she didn’t ask anyone if she could change the damn uniform. They better not say shit
to her after last night.”
“Didn’t you make some chick cry a few months ago for wearing a pin or some shit on her lapel because it wasn’t part of the uniform?”
“Your point?”
“It’s blatant favoritism is all.” I know he was just trying to get a rise out of me, but I also knew that that’s exactly what everyone else was going to think as well. Like I give a fuck.
“My place my rules.” That made me sound like an ass, but I didn’t care. I was already upset because I knew some asshole was going to make an issue out of it.
I just didn’t expect the person who showed up to be the one. Or maybe I should’ve. Two minutes after she hit the floor Arlene was at my door.
“Was there something I could help you with?”
“I need to speak with you.”
“I’ll see you in the manager’s office in a few.”
It was obvious that she wasn’t pleased with the fact that I still wouldn’t let her in my private office even though I’d had Anna in here.
She walked away in a huff and Tony and I exchanged a look before he left and went to take up his post at the bar, leaving me alone.
I took my time going to meet her in the office because I already knew what this was about. As expected, as soon as I walked in the door, she launched into an attack on Anna for being out of uniform as she put it.
“I fail to see how this has anything to do with you. You have nothing to do with the restaurant, I hired you to take care of the dancers remember.”
“That maybe, but once we start letting one person break the rules it’s only a matter of time before…”
“We, aren’t letting anyone do anything. I allowed her to wear slacks because some asshole walked in off the street and put his hands on her. I’d think as a female you’d understand.”
I watched her to see if she’d react and had I not been expecting it I would’ve missed the way she swallowed nervously and tugged at the fingers of one hand with the other. So unlike her usual self assuredness.
“Now if that’s all you had to say to me.” I turned and left before I did something I’d regret. I was more convinced now that she’d set her up, but without proof in my hand there was nothing I could do for now.
I signaled Tony to follow me and closed the door behind us when he walked in. “Have you heard back from anyone yet?”
“Yeah, I was waiting for you, they just got in touch a few minutes ago.”
“What did they find?”
“You’re not going to like it Max, but I need you to keep a cool head you hear me.”
He moved to my computer and pulled up something in my inbox. I read in silence for a few minutes while he stood over me like a damn sentinel.
“That unconscionable bitch.” He pushed me back down in my chair when I started to get up.
“Sit your ass down. What are you going to do? Put hands on her?”
“For starters, yeah. I’d like to break her fucking neck but I have more sense than that. I want her
out of my place right fucking now.” I didn’t expect to become this pissed off. Not to the point where I actually saw red.
“And what reason are you going to give for that? Until we know more now is not the time to act. If she’d stoop this low who knows what the fuck else she has up her sleeve?” He kept a restraining hand on my chest, keeping me seated in the chair.
“If you tip your hand now what happens when you’re not here? Or heaven forbid she finds out where your girl lives and go after her there? Use your head brother, we’re here, we’ll protect her.”
I took a few dee
p breaths to calm the fiery rage down a peg. What he said made sense, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to take action. I’ve never felt this kind of panic before. And though realistically I knew there was nothing Arlene could do to her while I was here, I still wanted her as far away from her as possible.
“I didn’t see Anna on the floor, where is she?”
‘They put her in the VIP section.”
“Hmm, is he trying to curry favor with me or trying to read me which one?”
“I’m guessing after you dug your foot in his ass he’s playing it safe.” I switched screens and pulled up the VIP room. There she is. She’d work less and make more in there.
That shit was guaranteed to put a few noses out of joint. It usually took a year at the very least on the floor before you were allowed to work that section.
Now that I could see with my own eyes that she was safe I turned my attention back to the report and read it again. It didn’t go over any better the second time.
“Why did you stop me? I could bury her with this alone.”
“That’s for the law, but you know she could wiggle out of that shit a thousand ways. We have to wait.”
“Wait for what? For them to have another go at her?” I’ll never let that shit happen. I imagined her walking that dark street alone at night and broke out in another cold sweat.
If she was anyone else I knew it would’ve been easy to get my way, but I already know she’s going to give me shit if I ask her to move in with me no strings attached until we got this thing sorted.
I could just find her another apartment in a better part of town but that wouldn’t work either, and I would still worry so what’s the point? “If only I knew what the fuck they’re up to.”
Chapter 16
Ray Morrison, after farther investigation, was indeed a sexual predator. It hadn’t been hard getting his sealed indictment opened. Just a few greased palms.
Though his past indiscretion involved no more than inappropriate touching of a minor when he was little more than a minor himself, it showed a pattern of behavior that was sure to have become worst if left unchecked.
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