Page 23 of Submission

She has nicks and cuts all over her arms and legs, and as I stride toward her, I make a mental note to get rid of anything made of glass around this woman. I don’t want any more injuries marring her beautiful, deeply melanated skin.

I shrug off my favorite Tom Ford blazer and wrap Megan’s form in it as she glowers at me. I know she wants to be the one to settle this, but I cover the jacket around her tightly, my voice full of malice. “You had your chance. Now, it’s mine.”

I see a small figure try to dart out but Parker steps in the path of the female server.

“Now, who would like to explain what is happening here?” I ask pleasantly as Megan continues to breathe fire.

There are several familiar faces in this booth. I thought college was a place of civility and higher learning, but clearly, it’s also a place where elitism and bullying continue to thrive.

Besides the boy, I definitely recognize the young woman standing next to him. The same girl whose family tried to steal Megan’s exhibition spot. She clearly has it out for Megan, but this nonsense stops tonight.

Her eyes gleam as they run over me in open appreciation. “And who are you to question us about what we’re doing,old man?”

“I’m the owner of this club,” I study her. “Care to explain what happened here?”

A look of understanding shadows her face, and I can see the malicious intent enter her eyes as she steps toward me.

“Your manager or girlfriend or whatever tried to assault me! She made an overt pass at my boyfriend, and when he rejected her, she attacked me. When my friends came to the rescue, she stumbled and fell through the table. I want her fired.”

Megan is still under the crook of my arm and I can feel her breathing slowing as she calms herself down.

“It doesn’t look like you were attacked,” I comment. “However, it does look like my manager was assaulted.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but–“ The young woman flips her hair over her shoulder. “Do you know who I am? My father is the CEO of the Parillo Investment Group. I’m Ashley Parillo.”

Her smile is more meaningful this time when she runs her eyes over me in a deliberate attempt to let me know she’s checking me out.

How amusing.

“Why would somebody like me,” Ashley continues haughtily, “lie about something like that?”

Megan starts to interrupt her, but I give her a quick squeeze. She’s had enough of this girl’s vitriol for a lifetime.

“Besides,” Ashley points towards the server, trembling in front of Parker. “She saw the whole thing. Didn’t you?”

I look at the girl who looks terrified, and I wonder if she’s going to make the right decision.

“I – I saw it,” she stammers. Her eyes focused on the ground. Whatever she’s about to say is going to be a complete lie. That’s clear as day. “Megan gave me a note to give to her boyfriend, and then she came up and tried to attack her.”

I’m not completely unaware of the hostility amongst the staff when it comes to Megan and her new promotion. Gage mentioned a thing or two to me about it.

The only reason I haven’t interfered with things so far is because this is a learning opportunity for her. Megan is talented, smart, and strong but some people have to learn from their mistakes a few more times than others. And she needs to learn the lesson of “threshold,” also known as how much shit a person is going to take from another person regardless of who they are or who they know. However, I did not anticipate the amount of malicious intent aimed at her at schoolandat my place of business. Sometimes women can really be cruel to their own.

“I see,” I respond to their server coolly. I can't even remember her name right now. “Parker, why don’t you-“

“Hunter,” Megan’s voice is sharp and I meet her gaze, seeing the discreet shake of her head.

She wants to handle this one herself, and I don’t blame her. It’s obvious the server is lying through her teeth, and Megan is her supervisor. This is between them.

“Fine.” I’m curious to see how she’ll handle things. “Take her downstairs and keep her in my office until Megan and I are finished up here,” I tell Parker.

“What?” The server’s eyes widen. “But I didn’t do anything!”

“Let’s go, Diana,” Parker says, his voice unforgiving.

“But it’s her fault!” she cries.

“I won’t ask again,” Parkers adds, and this time she complies.

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