Page 39 of Lucifer's Revenge
“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 ofhismotorcycle 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.
Chapter 17
Brenda Smith slammed her purse in the chair beside her, climbed up on the empty one, and glared at the female bartender. “A shot of whiskey, I don’t fucking care what type.”
The woman behind the bar didn’t say anything as she poured it, and set it before the angry woman. She watched as she threw it back, and smirked when she thought flames would emerge when the woman opened her mouth in shock.
“Another one.”
It was poured and drunk, then the woman who ordered it sighed heavily. “Thank you, that hit the spot.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“I don’t know what to say. I just received some news that pissed me off. I needed the drinks to try to calm myself.”
“Talk to me,” the bartender reached out and laid her hand over Brenda’s. “Look around, there aren’t a lot of people here. I’m Sally, by the way.”
“Hello, I’m Brenda.” She ordered a soda and studied Sally. When the glass was set before her, she sighed heavily. “I know I’m being stupid, but it pissed me off.”
