by Molly Harper, Stephanie Haefner, Liora Blake, Gabra Zackman, Andrea Laurence, Colette Auclair
Oliver took her in his arms and held her tight. “We’ll figure this out. I promise. We’ll fix this.”
“No!” She pushed him away, tears falling. “There is no fixing this. It’s done. Over. The shop will not recover. So just go. Get out of here. We don’t need you anymore.”
By the time she’d finished, she could hardly speak. He knew he’d probably get a right hook to the chin, but he went for it anyway. He stepped to her and wrapped his arms around her again. She melted against him, her legs seeming to go weak. They just stood there, silent, as she sobbed.
I promise, Mia, I will punish the people who did this to you.
CHAPTER Twenty-Four
Mia pulled away from Oliver’s embrace, though if she was being honest with herself, she really didn’t want to. He was warm and strong, and when he told her they’d fix it together, she wanted to believe him. But there was no fixing this. Whoever did this had done it on purpose and was continuing to attack with the sole mission of destroying the shop. And it was definitely working.
The list of suspects was pretty damn short, too. Her father. Her father. And . . . her father.
Penny poked her head into Mia’s office. “Logan’s here, but Bryn can’t deal with him right now.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to him.”
Penny hurried out and Mia snagged a tissue from her desk, dabbing her eyes. “You better go.”
“I’d like to stay and help if I can.”
“No. I need to do this myself.”
He left without any arguments, thank God. She had enough to deal with.
“What the hell is going on out there?” Logan asked as he stepped into Mia’s office.
“Sit. Now.” She demanded. “What took you so long to get here? We called you hours ago.”
“Um. I just woke up.”
“You slept until three in the afternoon?”
He looked like a toddler being scolded. “Yes.”
Mia shook her head. “Whatever. Do you really have no clue why there is a mob scene in the store?”
“Uh, no.”
Mia swung her computer screen to him, a lovely photo of Logan on all fours with some guy’s penis in his mouth. The caption across the post on Friendspace read, “Looks Like the Newest Classy ’n’ Sassy Lingerie Model Likes It Down and Dirty.”
Logan’s eyes bulged.
“Does any of this look familiar to you?”
“Oh. Um. I think I know that one guy.”
“Nice. You screwed over our shop for sex with guys you think you know.”
His gaze fell to his lap. “I don’t really remember last night.”
“How could you forget this?” she yelled and poked the flat screen, a little too hard, since it almost fell over.
“Well, I was at the club last night and met this guy.” He pointed to the one. “We had a couple drinks and danced a little, then he invited me back to his place. Typical night out.”
“Wait. So you’re gay?”
“Yeah. Does it matter?”
“Well, no.” The point in hiring hot models was to get the women to fantasize about them and buy their dildo replicas. A gay man could flirt with women just as well as a straight man. But that didn’t really matter anymore since the shop was about to disintegrate. “Continue.”
“I remember getting to his place, and I kinda remember some other people being there, but it gets fuzzy after that. I woke up in my bed an hour ago. I had to take a cab back to the club to get my moped. That’s why it took me so long to get here.”
“So you really don’t remember someone taking pictures?” Mia’s already pounding head thumped even harder. She’d hoped Logan could give them answers.
He shook his head. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could give you more.”
“Okay. You can go. If you remember anything else, call us.”
Logan left and Mia rested back in her chair, thumbs rubbing her temples. The noise from the shop seemed to have lessened.
“Hey,” Bryn said poking her head in. “What’d he say?”
“Nothing. He doesn’t remember a thing. Sounds like he was roofied or something.”
“Okay, well, we’re heading out. We took care of the last few customers and closed up. It’s three hours early, but I’m done. Being closed for a few hours can’t damage our reputation any more than it already is.”
Mia nodded. “How many refunds did we give?”
“I think about twenty-five.”
They hadn’t wanted to give money back at all. The shop had a firm no-refunds policy on all lingerie and adult toys. But when a mob of angry women was in front of the counter, it was hard not to throw some money at them.
“I guess in the grand scheme of things, that’s not so bad.” Bryn, always the optimist.
“For now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
“Oh, and by the way, what should we do with the new dildo shipment?”
Fuck. Mia had forgotten all about it. “I don’t know. We’ll deal with it later.”
“Okay. I’m leaving, before I fall asleep right here.” She turned to look out into the shop, then turned back. “Oliver’s still here, you know.”
“Oh, well . . . tell him to leave.”
“I did. He won’t.” She managed a tiny smile. “He’s waiting for you.”
Bryn gave a little wave and headed for the back door. Penny came to the office.
“I finally got the Web site shut down. I tried keeping up with the posts on our social media pages, but whoever’s doing this is taking perverse pleasure in it. The only option is to delete the profiles completely. Do you want me to do that?”
Mia’s head flopped backward. She took a deep breath then blew it out. “I don’t know.” She returned to Penny’s gaze. “I guess just let it go for now. Thanks for all you’ve done.”
She nodded. “I’m leaving, too. You comin’?”
“I don’t know. I need to try and do something.”
“Mia, there’s nothing else you can do tonight.”
“I have to try.”
“Okay. Maybe Oliver can help.”
Now Penny was pushing Oliver and her together. “I think I just need to be alone.”
Penny left and Mia walked to the front counter, a pile of Logans laying there. Some in boxes, some not. Mia didn’t even want to think about where all these rubber penises had been. She grabbed the wastebasket, and using a paper towel to cover her hand, swiped them all into it.
“What did Logan say?”
She really didn’t want to get into this with Oliver. She just wanted him to leave. “Um, why don’t you go? We can handle it from now on.”
“I want to help. And besides, I have to do the accounting work and add these returns into the system. You can probably write them off as defective merchandise.”
“Thanks, but after today, we just can’t afford to pay you. It’s best if you go.”
“Then I won’t take a paycheck.” He walked past her toward his office and continued over his shoulder. “So you have no excuse for kicking me out.”
Mia was far too exhausted to fight him. She turned off the lights in the shop and went back to her office, plopping into her chair.
She wiggled her mouse and checked the social media pages again. More pictures and more obscene comments. This was a nightmare. Mia let her head fall to the desk, her forehead hitting it with a bang. Surprisingly, the pain hardly compared to the raging headache she already had. The tears came, not for her pain, but for her disaster of a life.
She tucked her arms under her forehead and continued to sob. Until she felt a hand on her back.
Mia sprung upright. “Oh my God. I forgot you were here.”
She grabbed a tissue and once again tried to mop up her face. Was there even a point in trying anymore?
“We’ll figure this out. It will all be fine.”
“No. You’re wrong. I’ve entered hopelessness, as you can tell by my disgusting face.”
“Can I see the photos
again?”
“Sure. Enjoy.” She stood. “I’m going to grab a drink from the break room. Want one?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
When Mia came back with two glasses of wine, Oliver had enlarged and printed some of the photos. Great. Just what she needed. Close-ups.
“Look at this,” he said, showing her one of the shots. “I wonder if there is a way to identify these guys. Maybe find out who set this all up.”
“That’s impossible. You can’t really see their faces, except for Logan’s.” And if her father was behind this, he no doubt hired people who could never be traced to him.
“Is there anything in these photos that can help us?”
“I don’t know.” She brought her glass to her lips. “I’m so sick of looking at these things.”
“Hey, look at this.” Oliver showed her another photo of Logan tied to the bedpost.
“Yeah, and? I guess gay people like bondage just like straight people do.”
“No, look at what’s binding his hands. It looks like a tie.”
Mia looked and nodded. “Yeah, probably. So?”
“That tie looks familiar. I know I’ve seen it before. It looks a little like bricks. A yellow brick road.”
Like a lightbulb, a flash of electricity sparked in Mia’s brain. She trotted out of the room without a word, returning two seconds later with a Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch mouse pad. “I found it under Grant’s desk after he left.”
“Yes! He wore that tie the day I signed my contract.”
“So Grant is gay?” Mia asked. “And you think he’s behind the whole thing?”
“My gaydar went off the second I met him. But yeah, possibly. You said he was pretty pissed when he quit.”
“Enough to sabotage the business? No.” Mia was certain her father was behind this. He was the only one with enough motivation, and the balls, to do it. But if her father had gotten ahold of Grant, he was pretty good at convincing people to do just about anything. A determined Antonio Montanari plus a disgruntled Classy ’n’ Sassy employee made for a very lethal combination. “But I bet Grant can lead us to who I suspect is controlling the strings.”
“And who’s that?”
“My father.” Mia grabbed her purse. “I’m going to confront Grant. Now.”
“Not without me.”
Mia thought to protest, but she really did need him. This plan might need some muscle. “Okay.”
They headed out of her office toward the parking lot, but she stopped suddenly and turned. Oliver almost ran right into her. “Thank you. For not giving up when I told you to.”
“I won’t give up on you, or your shop.”
CHAPTER Twenty-Five
Mia sat in the passenger side of Oliver’s Audi. He’d insisted on driving and she didn’t fight him.
“I never would have noticed that tie,” she said as they drove.
“Something told me to look at those photos again.”
“I can’t believe Grant could be behind this. I know he wasn’t happy, but to destroy us? Even if my father had bribed him?”
“We’ll get the answers we need. I’ll make sure of that.”
They drove a few miles in silence, until Mia told him to make a left, then a right. She’d only been to Grant’s house once, when she’d driven him home after his car wouldn’t start a few months back.
“There, the green house on the right.”
Oliver pulled in front and they walked up the driveway past a brand-new sports car. The license plate holder read Montanari Motors. Looks like they found what Grant had been bribed with.
Mia knocked on the door and after a minute it opened, but the second Grant met Mia’s gaze, he tried to push it shut. Oliver was too fast for him and pressed his weight to the door, forcing it open.
“What the hell?” Grant said. “Get out of here.”
“No. Not until you tell me everything you know.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t be an asshole,” Oliver stepped in. “You know exactly what she’s talking about. And we’re not leaving until you give her what she needs.”
“Then you’re gonna be here forever, ’cause I have no clue.”
Mia shoved the photo in his face of Logan bound with Grant’s yellow tie. “You never saw this before?”
“Nope. Now can you please leave?”
“What about this one?” She produced another photo. “Is that you?”
“Just the thought of that grosses me out.” He tried to usher them toward the door, but Oliver pushed past toward a framed poster on the wall.
“Bit of a Wizard of Oz fan?”
“Yeah, so?” Grant rocked on his feet, shifting weight from one to the other, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Ever see one of those ties that looks like a yellow brick road?”
“No, but it sounds cool. Will you please leave now?”
Oliver brushed past him, looking around the apartment.
“Excuse me? Where are you going?” Grant demanded and followed.
“Mia, in here.”
She reached the bedroom, a Wizard of Oz shrine complete with bedding, lamps, even a yellow brick wall border and carpet. Oliver pushed the sliding door of the closet and Grant pulled at his arm, like his scrawny body stood any chance of yanking him away.
Rummaging through until he found a tie rack, Oliver pulled out a long strip of bright yellow silk. “So, you’ve never seen a yellow brick road tie before?”
“Uh. That’s not mine.”
Oliver exited the room to the hall and turned the doorknob of another door. Grant and Mia followed him out.
“Get out of here now. Before I call the police.”
“Yeah, do that,” Mia said. “I bet they’ll be real interested to see what we’ve found. I believe drugging someone is against the law.”
Oliver walked into a bathroom, turned, and reached for another door.
“Don’t go in there,” Grant yelled and immediately covered his mouth with his hand.
Oliver pushed the door and flipped the light switch. One wall was completely covered with whips and gags, all kinds of BDSM toys hanging from hooks. In a corner was a video camera on a tripod. And in the center, a big four-poster bed, just like the one in the photo.
Mia wanted to jump and squeal and throw her arms around Oliver. But her joy was interrupted by Grant pushing past her.
“Grab him!” Oliver yelled.
Mia ran after Grant, down the hall and into the living room. He reached the front door and got it open, but before he could slip out, she leapt at him, full force, crushing him against the door and slamming it shut.
Oliver grabbed Grant’s arm and turned to Mia. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. That was pure adrenaline there.”
Oliver pulled Grant to the couch and threw him down. “Talk.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted like a toddler. “You can’t make me.”
“Oh, yes I can,” Mia said. Her adrenaline only fueled her anger. “Tell us everything, every last order my father gave you. Or that shiny yellow tie will be tied around you, but not your wrists.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Stop the dumb act,” Oliver insisted. “We know you were in the photos and they were obviously taken here.”
“Fine, yes, it was me. Can’t a guy have a little fun? What I do in my personal life has nothing to do with you.”
“It sure as hell does when you’re screwing one of my models and the photos end up on the Internet. How much did my father pay you to play the dumb card?”
“What does any of this have to do with Mr. Montanari?”
“He bribed you. I saw the car in the driveway. Don’t tell me you bought that.”
“It’s part of my salary. He hired me last week as an accountant. When I answered the ad in the paper I didn’t even know it was for your dad.”
“Yeah. Whatever. He never puts ads in the p
aper for employees. He found you and gave you a car, a job, and in return, do a little favor for him on the side.”
“I work for your father, but I swear, only as an accountant.”
“Liar!” Mia yelled and lunged at him, but Oliver caught her.
“Your father knows nothing about my private life and he better not. If he finds out, he’ll fire me. You can’t let him see those.”
“Nice try, playing the wounded party here. I’m sure he’s seen them. They’re everywhere.”
“Fuck,” Grant mumbled.
Mia just shook her head. “You are so good at playing dumb. But I’ll tell you one thing, you better stop posting those photos.”
“Again, I didn’t do it. It must be the other guy.”
“Why? That random guy has no reason to hate me, but you do.” She never would have thought the teasing she, Bryn, and Penny had done would lead to this, and she bet Grant would do just about anything to land a job where he didn’t have to put up with such things. Performing favors for her father was one way to secure one. Antonio Montonari liked having lackeys in his back pocket. “And now you’re the one with the connection to my father.”
Oliver put his hand to the small of Mia’s back. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. We keep going in the same circle.”
“I’ll get us somewhere. Let me kick him in the groin.”
“It’s justified, but let’s not.” Oliver turned back to Grant. “Who’s the other guy?”
“Just someone I met at the club. We fool around a lot.”
“What’s his name?”
Grant rolled his eyes. “Chris.”
“Chris what?”
“I don’t know.”
Mia’s patience had vanished again. “You don’t take the time to ask last names before you sleep with someone?”
“No. And you have no right to judge. You required job applicants to have sex with you.”
Mia lunged again.
Oliver once again grabbed Mia and turned his glare on Grant. “Cut the shit, man, or next time I won’t stop her.”
“Listen, I met up with Chris at the club. He introduced me to this hot guy and asked if we could go back to my place for a little fun. I sure as hell wasn’t saying no to that.”