Vanessa
T here’s a spark in his eye. The same one he had when he found out about Dean.
He presses a few buttons on his phone before pressing it against his ear.
I frown wondering what the hell he’s doing and why I’m still here.
I really should go back to work. I’m about to leave when his next words completely stop me in my tracks.
“Hey, Liz. Yeah, I’m here. It’s a dump but I want it. Consider your investment doubled. I’ll have all the documents signed and payment wired over by tomorrow. I’ll explain then.” He pauses then grins, “Let’s just say I now have an avid interest in this investment.”
He smirks when he spots the look of outrage on my face.
“Thanks, cous.”
With that he winks at me, sliding his phone back in his pocket.
“Now it’s my business.”
No, he didn’t. He did not just buy this damn place in front of me just so he can–
“Please tell me you didn’t just buy my place of work.”
“Okay, I won’t say it.” He shrugs as he hands me back the tray I dropped, “Now tell your new boss what I need to know.”
I sigh, begrudgingly taking the tray from him. I know there’s no way I can get out of this now.
If I attempt to leave, he will just follow.
If I quit, I can say goodbye to my ugly, disgusting apartment and have to resort to begging my grandpa for help.
Like it or not, this is my best option. I just have to keep it short and sweet.
“My grandpa cut me off after…” I trail off hoping he doesn’t make me explain. I actually have no idea how to explain it in a way that doesn’t give away too much. “Anyway, long story short, not everyone’s born with billions in a trust fund so I work here now.”
“.” His annoyed tone as he says my name is like gravel. The deep tone in his voice has always been my undoing but it’s the way he says my name that gives me chills, “What are you not telling me?”
I shake my head and raise my eyebrow at him. There’s no way in hell I’m telling him anymore than I already have. This man does need anymore ammunition against me. He already hates me enough as it is.
Though that kiss certainly didn’t feel like hate.
“–” He starts to say but then his phone buzzes and the door that leads out to the alley where the employee parking lot is opens. We both look over to see a tall man I don’t recognize walk in. He’s dressed in a dark suit with cropped hair and his eyes sweep the hallway before he tips his head at Stephen.
“Sir, you can’t come in through there. This area is only for employees.” I call out automatically. We’ve had quite a few incidents lately when we’re packed like we are tonight where customers had snuck in through the back after parking in our lot.
Stephen, who had been reading something on his phone, looks up at me with amusement before his hand finds its way to my back.
“Ben is with me.”
My eyebrow raises in confusion but before I can ask for clarification, the man-Ben goes to stand next to the door leading into Don’s office.
Looking at him now, I realize he must be Stephen’s new personal bodyguard.
“What happened to Tito Evan?”
Stephen’s jaw locks as his grip curls around the fabric of my black tank, his grip tight enough that I can tell he’s upset with my question. He doesn’t answer right away as he almost forcefully nudges me toward the office.
“He’s strictly assigned to Dad now.”
I frown then remember that Ava and Ryder told me about the health scare Uncle Lucas had. The guilt rises in me quickly. I grab his elbow, an apology ready on my tongue but he shakes his head, shoving the door open.
As soon as he opens the door, I almost gag when I see Don rubbing his chin as he stares at the row of monitors on the wall to the right of his desk. He definitely doesn’t notice we just walked in because he just zoomed in on Tara’s ass as she bends down to grab a crate of glassware for the bar.
Stephen clears his throat, taking a step away from me as his hands go into his pockets. I really shouldn’t but I feel the loss of his touch immediately. My thoughts immediately drift to the night we first met before I force myself to focus on whatever the hell Stephen is up to.
I watch him and Ben exchange looks, seemingly having a silent conversation between them.
“Don.”
My boss, the ever loving idiot, takes his sweet ass time, even tilting his head to get a better view or something. He has a shit eating grin when he turns back to us. He frowns when he notices I walked in with Stephen then in confusion when Ben had followed us in, a folder in his hand.
Ben throws the folder on the table. Don looks up at Stephen in question a second before his eyes sweep the contents of it. Whatever he sees has his eyes widening and he stands in outrage.
He looks about ready to explode but Stephen beats him to it.
“Let me make myself abundantly clear.” Stephen takes a half step towards Don, “You’re fired.”
“You can’t fucking fire me! This is my bar. My sweat, blood and tears went into the place.”
Don kicks his chair and sends it slamming against the wall so hard, it leaves a dent.
“May I remind you of the contract you signed? You sold all your rights to this establishment and we are not obligated to retain you as manager based on the stipulations in our contract.”
“I know my rights!” Don yells out, his fists curling at his sides. “You have to have cause to fire me which you do not have!”
“Reason one.” Stephen holds a finger out, “Your short temper. You have had several partnerships go into dissolution and that cost you the chance to go beyond this one location. In fact, as it’s clearly stated there in the folder is the very reason you had to sell this business.”
“This is my business and I am entitled to –”
“Reason two.” Stephen cuts him off, “You have not one, not two but thirteen different sexual harassment cases this year alone. So much so that you're riddled in debt from paying off your victims.”
“Those sluts lied, they–” Don sputters, his face and neck turning beet red in anger. He looks around in disbelief and I just know he’s going to do something that will cause Stephen’s fleet of bodyguards to come storming in here.
I sigh and attempt to intervene before it gets worse.
“I think everyone needs to calm down. We can talk about….”
Don makes a move towards the filing cabinet where I know for a fact he has a gun stashed.
Oh shit.
Stephen and Ben seem to sense something is wrong as both men take a step closer to Don.
Ben’s hand immediately goes to his back like he’s about to pull a weapon. That’s when I take a step towards Don that Stephen doesn’t appear to miss either.
In a flurry of movement, Stephen grabs Don by the collar and slams him against the wall before he can even pull a weapon out.
“Let me be fucking clear. Those women were victims.” Stephen shoves an elbow under Don’s neck, “I don’t give a fuck who you think I am but speaking ill of women is a sure fire way to piss me off. Trust me when I say I am the last person you want to piss off.”
“Who the fuck do you think you are acting all self righteous, when you’re nothing but an asshole in a suit?”
Don shoves back, making Stephen stagger a bit. Don’s eyes meet mine and they flash with anger. It seems he just now remembered I was in the room. The look on his face triggers a memory and when he makes a move toward me, I stumble back in fear. My back hits the wall and though I feel everyone’s eyes on me, I can’t seem to look away from Don’s.
How did I just now realize he has green eyes like ? —
I feel him before I see him. Brown eyes full of warmth and concern replace the angry embers. Stephen wraps a hand behind my neck, while the other finds its way to my waist. His eyes scan my face and when his hands tighten around me, I realize I’m shaking.
It’s also then I realize that Ben had intervened. He has Don on the floor with his hands behind his back.
My eyes find their way back to Don who keeps glaring at me, “Are you as stupid as you look, Lopez? What are you doing? Bitch, call the damn cops and get security in here!”
Don struggles but it’s clear he’s got nothing on Stephen’s bodyguard who has somehow managed to zip tie both Don’s hands and ankles even through all that struggle.
Snippets of memories, I’ve forced myself not to think about resurface in my brain. Green eyes with flashes of red, black and purple.
“What the fuck?”
My eyes shut as I will my body to stop trembling. My hands go to cover my ears to block out the incessant curses Don is now hurling my way.
“Shut-shut up, Don! Do you not know who the hell you’re talking to?”
“You bi?—”
Don’s taunts go silent as his words cut out. I will my eyes to open and spot him knocked out on the floor. Ben has his phone out and I can hear snippets of him calling the police.
But I still can’t stop shaking. My arms go numb and cold from the force of it. I’ve worked so hard to suppress these memories that when they’ve now gone front and center in my thoughts, I’m left utterly exhausted.
I feel Stephen’s hold tighten around me before everything goes black.