Chapter 16 #2
“They see the biker first, then the bar owner, they don’t see the man.
” She cocked her head to the side and studied them.
“Do you know that Luc has an MBA, and I know you don’t know this, but last time he was tested, he had an IQ of 155.
” She nodded when they whistled. “So, I’m not saying I fear for Brenda’s life, because if anything happens after you tell her she is no longer allowed to work on my project for Hell’s Coffin Halloween Bash, it will all be on her.
If she does something, Lucius will find a way to serve his revenge cold.
But depending on the severity of what she might pull, then it might not be served cold, it might be served red hot.
But know this, it will be done legally, so she can never come back to blame him for anything.
” She pointed to the laptop as she stood, reached over, closed it, and put it back in her bag.
She pulled out a flash drive. “This has everything you saw on it. If you have to show her, then do so, but I would suggest you keep it in a safe place, even if you don’t show her. ”
She waited as he stared at her. “I’m not telling you what to do, but I will give you seventy-two hours to kick Brenda off my team before I do it. I won’t be as diplomatic as you.” She turned to head to the door, but paused with her hand on the knob to turn back to them.
“Oh, and ask her to see what she’s drawn for her characters.
From what I’ve been told, she’s only drawn those compromising positions with my brother.
If he sees them, or gets his hands on them, I know he will seek his revenge for those alone.
Thank you for letting me speak with you.
” She opened the door and walked out leaving two stunned men behind her.
“What are you going to do?” Brad asked.
“Call Brenda Smith into my office. I don’t need any freeloaders in my class.
Thankfully, this has nothing to do with any college program, so I run the class as I see fit.
If she throws a hissy fit after I kick her off Starr’s team, then I’ll just kick her out of the class.
” He rubbed the back of his neck, and looked at his brother.
“You’ve seen how lazy she’s been in class, and won’t get her hands dirty. ”
“Yeah, now that we’re talking about this, I have to tell you that she’s hit on me several times.” At his brother’s look, he nodded. “Sexually propositioning me and one time she even said that if we hooked up, then I could put in a good word with you, and she won’t be kicked out of class.”
Gary smirked, and shook his head as he rose to make a fresh pot of coffee. Once that was done, he looked at his brother with a shit eating grin. “Does she realize that you bat for the other team?”
“Nope,” Brad laughed. “If there was one person I could name that I would be interested in, it would be Lucius King. However, I like my teeth right where they are, and I know he’s heterosexual. I would never hit on him.”
“You just lust from afar?”
“Of course.” They shared a laugh, each got a cup of coffee, and Gary picked up the phone to make the dreaded call.
*****
“Ms. Smith, I called you in today, because I’m wanting to see the drawings you’ve come up for your part on Starr’s team.” Gary watched as she covered her shock swiftly, and hardened his facial features when she started to speak.
“First, it’s not Starr’s team. We are working together.”
“No, you were told numerous times that if you volunteered to work with Starr, then it was her team. She is in charge, and there were certain people you were not to work on.” He opened the file in front of him, and picked up the first page.
“It’s documented right here, and if I’m not mistaken, this is your signature at the bottom.
” He saw her huff, but he shook his head at her.
“We are adults here, Ms. Smith, if you can’t abide by a legal contract, then I have no recourse to kick you off Starr’s team. ”
“On what grounds?”
“Show me your sketches on the people you’re supposed to make over.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t bring my sketch book with me.”
“Okay, let me ask you if this is what you’ve been drawing.” He woke the laptop, turned it, and watched her expression closely as the pictures of her sketch book with her in compromising positions with Lucius King filled the screen.
“Where did you get those?”
“Why do you have them?” he countered. “It is my understanding that he is dating someone already, and has been for months. I have evidence of you asking inappropriate questions about him, and his business. I’ve also heard testimony of you threatening certain members of the Hell’s Coffin motorcycle club of what’s going to happen when you start dating Mr. King.
That’s not going to happen.” He didn’t wait for her to speak.
“Starr King came to me earlier today and gave me this evidence. It was given to her by her brother. He in turn received it from the members of his motorcycle club who went to him with their concerns about your intrusive questions. Starr asked that I remove you from her team. I am doing that now. As of this minute, you are no longer a member of Starr King’s team to do the makeup for Hell’s Coffin Halloween Bash.
The others will take up your slack. Since I’ve already talked with Ms. Warner and Mr. Rider, it seems like they have already been doing that.
” He studied her, and didn’t hold his punches.
“As for the assignment for the class for the Halloween project, you are on your own. I have it on good authority, which has been proven, that since joining Ms. King’s team, you have been nothing but a bully, an entitled witch, and a stalker.
” When she started to say something, he shook his head.
“I’m not done. Now, Ms. King told me that it was her brother that asked her to kick you off the team.
I can’t speak for him, but I would strongly advise you not to show up at his establishment, nor stalk or harass him or any members of his club or his employees. ”
“It’s a public place.”
“It is, but the owner has every right to ban you from that establishment. He doesn’t have to give any reason other than because he can. So, as of today, you will no longer be working with Ms. King, Ms. Warner, nor Mr. Rider.”
“Nor,” Brad spoke for the first time then.
“Nor will you be working with my design team on getting the new addition at Hell’s Coffin, the bar, up and running.
” They studied her for several seconds before Brad dropped his own bombshell.
“Oh, and in case you didn’t know, I told my brother here about you offering sexual favors to me in order for me to put in a good word with Gary.
I don’t know how obtuse you are, but there is one gigantic reason I didn’t take you up on it. ”
“Why?” Brenda asked in confusion. “I’m beautiful, I’m slim, I have money.”
“Oh, where do I start.”
“State the obvious, Brad, we don’t want a lawsuit when we tell her the other truths.”
“Okay, I can do that.” He looked her directly in the eye and said, “I’m gay.”
“You guys are fucking assholes,” Brenda screamed as she jumped to her feet.
When she tried to grab the laptop, Gary took it away from her.
“I’ll sue you! You don’t know who you’re messing with!
I’ll get you both fired!” She actually kicked the front of the desk and stormed toward the door.
Both Gary and Brad smirked when they saw her limping.
The door rattled when it was slammed behind her.
“Damn,” they both whispered as Gary picked up his phone and sent a text to Starr saying that the deed was done, and to be careful, because Brenda was out for blood.