Chapter Twelve #2
“I’m trying to be gentle here, because I know you have been through a lot. You aren’t responding to that, so I am going to be blunt,” he says. “Those two men were wanted in connection to the disappearance of Nadia Jenkins.”
“What?” I ask. “Dia… She…”
“Was a dancer at the club. I know. We sent undercover agent in over and over again because we thought for sure Rob was guilty, but it never panned out,” he says.
“George Hamilton was the last client she saw before she went missing. Two other men joined him. After she went home that night, she was never seen alive. Her body was recovered last week, she had been held for six months before eventually dying.”
“Wait,” Remy says. “Six months?”
“Oh…. Fuck,” I say. “Oh, no…”
“The two men he brought in with him are named Jose Miranda and Julio Martinez. They are connected to a ring that traffics girls, and George… Well, he is thought to run everything. He picks the girls, and those two men carry out his orders,” he continues.
“I kept seeing someone in my apartment building over the last six months. I never saw their face, but if I was in the elevator after dark, he was there,” I say. “George… He has been coming to see me since I started there.”
“But he never could get close enough,” Remy says.
“Exactly,” Detective Yotes says. “Rob was moved to a different location for his safety. Many of the girls also were moved as a precaution, but you were their target. Those men who got their brains beat in had your picture, a copy of the key to your apartment, and your daily schedule. They saw you on that Friday night, yes?”
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“Rob said they expressed to you that they’d come back the next day,” he says.
“If it weren’t for Remington… doing what Remington does…
They would have taken you. They tried many times, I think, because there were some text exchanges on their phones talking about Remington always being around and getting in the way. ”
“So, if they are dead…”
“It does not mean you are safe,” he says. “It just means that I now have no idea who is running the ring or who will come after you.”
“Fuck,” Cam says. “Her face is all over the goddamn media.”
“Yeah. Your client is either guilty of being involved or just a massive asshole,” the detective says.
“Detective Yotes…”
“Just Ross,” he says.
“Ross, Matthew came to see me a lot,” I say.
“For how long?” he asks.
“Years,” I say. “Twice a month on Saturdays.”
“So, not the same nights as George?”
“No,” I say. “What the fuck do I do? I won’t endanger them. My family didn’t do anything, they didn’t do anything and I won’t be the reason they get hurt. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve never…”
“Stop. Slow down and breathe,” Ross says.
“Will you people stop telling me to fucking breathe?!” I yell at him as tears roll down my face. Remy comes around my desk and hugs me. I instantly fall apart and he scoops me up to sit in my chair with me. “I’m so scared.”
“I know, baby. I’ve got you,” he murmurs into my hair as he holds me tightly.
“What are we supposed to do to keep her safe?” Cam asks.
“First, when she is ready, you go into that meeting. You say the exact same thing you told the press, and you take no shit,” Ross says.
“You fake it if you have to, but show that none of this is affecting you all. Continue business as usual, but you never leave her alone. I will be around as much as I possibly can.”
“They are supposed to go across the country for a meeting soon. Can they still do to that?” Cam asks.
“Yes,” he says. “Company jet?”
“Yeah,” Remy says.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I sit up and wipe my face.
“Not a problem,” Ross says.
“Ready to do this?” Remy asks me.
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“I think she should speak, especially if Matthew will be there,” Ross says. “And really lay it on thick with them.”
“I agree,” Cam says. “You okay with that?”
“Yeah,” I say. I stand and we all walk out. This time, we take the stairs down one floor and go to the conference room that we are using today. When we walk in, everyone stops talking and stares at me.
“Good morning, everyone,” I say. A few murmur a response, but everyone is quiet for the most part.
I don’t sit because I will explode. Cam and Remy stay standing with me, but Tris and the detective stand off to the side.
“I’m going to get right into it, I guess…
I know you all are here because of the video.
I am going to be more blunt with you all than we were with the media because you deserve an explanation; I owe them nothing.
Tris, can you take notes of their questions along the way so I can make sure I answer them? ”
“I sure can,” she smiles.
“Okay. I worked in that club while in college,” I say.
“I was always a dancer, but it was a form of coping after being having been raped in high school. I was young and dumb, so I didn’t think that I would ever get wrapped up in something bad.
It was just dancing after all… Well, that quickly escalated into me being forced to do things I never wanted to do.
I will spare you the details, but I knew the consequences would be severe if I didn’t do as I was told.
I was too ashamed to tell my family for a while, so I just did what I was told and kept the peace as best I could…
I was able to maintain my normal life because I guess I had proven that I would be obedient.
I was, for a while. I eventually worked up the courage to tell Cameron and Remington.
They knew I still worked there and were patient with me as I processed the horrific trauma I endured as a teenager.
When I finally spoke up about what I was being made to do, they helped me escape…
For transparency, it was only recently that I managed to get away.
Yesterday, an individual here decided that getting a hold of pictures and videos to show only a fraction of the situation would be worthy of trying to blackmail us into paying ten million dollars to not have it released.
We ultimately refused, and they released it…
This led to the arrest of Rob Lasson, my boss at the club and the one making us do things with clients who paid well…
This individual came to the club, knowing exactly who I was.
It appears they had planned to try blackmailing me one day.
“I realize this doesn’t paint me in a good light to some, but I have never, and would never involve, this company in that.
I kept them very far apart, and I have never blackmailed anyone into anything.
Simply put, this person did help all of those girls escape by exposing what was going on, but also failed to accomplish anything.
They shared pictures and videos of an encounter that I was forced into…
I do not think the clients knew we were forced, but we were, nonetheless.
“This individual will not be named, and we will not be seeking to terminate the contract. We do not expect any backlash from this, so business will not be affected… Does anyone have any questions?”
“I do,” Leann Porter, a board member, asks. “Will the board members know the name of the client?”
“Yes,” Cam says.
“Why not just say it now, then?” she asks.
“I have no problem saying his name, but unlike him, I have no desire to tear someone down. Bluntly, I know he is full of shit, but if he felt he had no other choice, who am I to correct him?”
“By a show of hands,” Remy says. “Who thinks the name should be released to allow them a chance to defend themselves?”
They all raise their hand, and Matthew looks nervous. “Matthew Hernandez,” I say.
“Ten million, dude?” Alan Jacobs asks. Matthew says nothing as he stares at me.
“Matthew, you are free to speak. This is not one sided,” I say.
“I didn’t know you were being forced,” he says after a long pause. “If I had known, I would have come to Cameron and Remington.”
“Oh?” Tris laughs. “You would have gone to her highly protective older brother and even more protective boyfriend and told them what? You went into the club to fuck her, but you think she might be being forced into it?”
“Well… No… When you put it that way,” he says, making me smile.
“Why did you try to get them to pay you?” Leann asks.
“Truthfully… Because we are suffering,” he says. “We are one bad month away from filing for bankruptcy.”
“I’ll make you a deal,” Cam says. “If the board objects, we can talk about it, but we will buy 75% percent of your stocks and let you continue to run it.”
“We need an in-depth audit first,” Remington adds. “Get us that by the end of the week, and so long as the decline isn’t from theft, we can fix the situation and let you run it.”
“Let me run the audit and I’ll decide by the time I get done,” he says. “I… shit… I need to talk to my wife first…”
“Oh shit,” Tris laughs.
“Okay,” Cam chuckles.
“Does anyone have any questions?” Remy asks.
“We would like to vote on removing Lorelei as COO,” Leann says.
Yeah, I knew that was coming, but I don’t expect Cameron’s response. “Okay. Vote,” he says.
“All in favor?” Remington asks casually. I am shocked when all ten board members raise their hand.
“Well, fuck you guys too,” I mutter to myself.
“Lorelei,” Cameron says with a smirk. “The board has voted to remove you as COO and we will be taking their suggestion.”
“Okay,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Tris?” he says.
“Yes.” she smiles.
“We are formally offering you the position of COO. Do you accept?”
“I do,” she says.
“Wonderful,” Remington says, taking a folder from her. “Lorelei?”
“Yes?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Sign, please,” he says, handing me a pen. I take it and step closer to see that it is paperwork to make me a third owner.
“Go on,” Cam says, nudging me. I shake my head at him but turn and sign the paper. He and Remy sign before handing it to Tris to sign.
“Lorelei is officially a third owner of Saltz-Belmont. We will be sure to get her information changed for everyone,” Remington says.
“I’m confused, but okay,” I say.
“They had been planning on doing this for a few months,” Leann says with a smile. “We support you entirely.”
“I appreciate that,” I say with a smile. Ross smiles at me and it seems as though he might have known too. “Well, unless anyone has any questions, you all are free to go.”
“Matthew, hang back for me,” Ross says.
Once everyone is gone, Matthew looks terrified . “Who are you?” he asks.
“I am Detective Ross Yotes. I work with organized crime and the human trafficking division,” he says.
“I swear to God, I didn’t know,” Matthew says. “I didn’t.”
“Did anyone there ever stick out to you?”
“Like other clients?” he asks. “Not really. I never interacted with anyone but Lorelei and one other girl.”
“If you think of anything, it would be in your best interest to tell me,” Ross says. “Understand?”
“Yes,” Matthew says with a rapid nod. He gets up and rushes out, and I shake my head.
“It’s crazy,” I say. “He was so confident yesterday.”
“Mhmm. It happens like that,” Ross chuckles.
“Aw. How are we going to get lunch today with the media?” I ask.
“I’ll run out and get it,” Tris says. “I can go by that sushi place.”
“Oh, I love sushi,” I smile.
“You’ll eat anything that doesn’t eat you first,” Tris says, making Cam and Remy chuckle.
“So how about this?” Cam says. “We can prep for the all-staff meeting and lead that. Tris, you can go grab lunch, since that might take a little more time than usual to pick up.”
“Works for me,” I say. “Ross. Lunch?”
“I’m okay,” he smiles.
“That’s not what I asked you,” I say. “Offended by raw meat?”
“It’s…”
“Ross. Answer the damn question,” I scold.
“I’ll eat anything,” he says with a smirk playing at his lips.
“Put it on my card, Tris,” Cam says.
“Cam,” I sigh.
“Suck it up,” he says. “My card, Tris.”
“Okay,” she laughs. “Love you, guys. I’m going to go do that.”
“Love you too,” Cam says as he kisses her. Remy hugs her before I walk around to do the same.
“Thank you for always supporting me,” I say as I hug her tightly. “I love you so much, Tris.”
“I love you, Lori. Best bitches forever,” she says with a bright smile. “Bye, Ross.”
“Bye, Tris,” Ross smiles.