Page 55 of Rake

My biggest fear is that he’ll come for Benjamin. But I still have my nuclear option to deploy after the election.

I manage to be at work by 9 a.m. and wonder if Finn’s still sleeping blissfully in his father’s fancy hotel.

Carney’s lawyers had tried to push out the election to next month but the NLRB said no, and I convinced them to send their representatives to run the process next week. Told them Carney had agreed to it. After my display at the gala, he couldn’t deny it without showing his hand to the Senator and Mr. Harvey. Could I find other ways to make his arrogance his downfall?

Before I leave for the day, I call up Jamilah. It’s close to seven and she’ll be heading in for her shift.

“Oh, honey,” she says. “I got fired this afternoon. Carney called me in early to do it.”

“What?” My voice shakes with barely contained anger. “He can’t do that! On what grounds?”

“Stealing,” she laughs. “It’s bullshit, but he’d get away with it. He told me he wouldn’t press charges if I left quietly. If I didn’t have to worry about my daughter…but I’ll find another bartending job. I just want to know who our rat is. Someone tipped him off that I was in charge of organizing.”

“I’m so sorry.” The unfairness of it is crushing.

“You looked amazing last night, though. And one of the servers in the gala space told me you ripped off James’ sack in front of the Senator and some guy from the Globe? It’s all anyone can talk about.”

I laugh despite myself. “Yeah. I’ll pay for it, but I’m so sick of that evil son of a bitch winning.”

“He won’t this time, Sasha. People are upset about what happened to me. They know it could happen to any of them. We’re…” She pauses and corrects herself. “They’re not asking for anything other than fair pay for the work they do. And if Carney isn’t checked now, he’ll continue to suppress wages and the problem will snowball as his empire grows. It’s worth the fight.”

I have to believe that.

“Finn was all over you last night. He’s always flirting with someone, but I’ve never seen him so focused on one woman before. Did something happen? You don’t have to tell me…”

Oh God.

“He’s a monster. He’s just as bad as his father, only more underhanded.”

There’s a pause on the other line.

“Honey. You slept with him, didn’t you?”

I head into our conference room and shut the door. Not too many people around, but I don’t need anyone to hear this.

“Christ, am I that easy to read?” I hiss.

“Was he good in bed?” Her tone is curious, and I’m grateful for the lack of judgment.

“Yes,” I squeak out. “Very good. I’m so pissed at myself, Jamilah. I can’t believe I fell for his charm.”

“He’s off the charts hot, Sasha. Any one of us would hate-fuck him, myself included. Just don’t let your heart get broken. Fucking someone like that is one thing. Falling in love is completely different.”

“That’s not going to be a problem. I don’t think he’s capable of falling in love.”

“But you are.”

I don’t tell her about how he had P.J. Hennelly kidnap me and take me to his apartment, though. I can’t put that into words. It’s too humiliating. But I feel better about sleeping with him now.

“It’s not going to be an issue,” I say instead.

We chat for a few more minutes about the election.

“I’ve got to go, but one last question?”

“Anything,” I say.

“Does he have a big dick?”

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