“What about the security at the club?” Aries asks.
“The man was wearing all black, including a ski mask,” Temper replies. Just like the man who threw a brick at Cara’s car. “But I know it’s him.”
It’s been quiet for a while now, but it looks like that’s all coming to an end.
It’s war.
Chapter Nineteen
Natalie
I’m sitting in my office a few days after Marko threw a brick at Cara’s window, eating lunch and minding my own business, when our receptionist, Melinda, comes up to my desk. “Someone sent you flowers.”
“Really?” I ask, lighting up. I put down my sushi and turn to face a big, fresh bouquet of white chrysanthemums, smiling widely. “Thank you.”
I take them from her and smell them, then read the note.
Just because.
Love, Atlas.
“You’re a lucky girl, I can’t remember the last time my husband got me flowers,” she says with an eye roll. “By the way, did you hear what happened? Apparently Joan went on a date with Cole and he...got a little aggressive.”
I still and put the flowers down on my desk. “No, I didn’t. What happened?”
She lowers her tone. “He was kind of pressuring her into sex, but she said no and left. Luckily there were people around and she ran up to a woman and pretended to know her. Thank god the woman played along and made sure she got away safely.”
“She told you this?” I ask.
Melinda shakes her head. “Nope. A friend of a friend told me. I don’t think she has told anyone here, especially if you haven’t heard about it from her.”
Just like I never told anyone.
If I did tell, though, maybe Cole would have been fired, or at least scared enough to not try it again.
Fuck.
Should I speak up now?
Melinda leaves me to my flowers and thoughts, and I decide I should speak to Joan, and then to Jaxon. Cole shouldn’t be getting away with this, with making women feel uncomfortable and trying to pressure them into sleeping with him because he thinks he can.
Before I can go see Joan, Cole comes to my office to ask me to look into Marko’s rap sheet and talk to the police about what evidence they have on him. Not only do I have to grit my teeth because of the project, but because of having to work with someone like Cole.
I don’t see Joan until later in the day. She’s one of the receptionists here, younger than me, and has always been nothing but welcoming and kind.
“Hey,” I say to her. “Could I have a word with you in my office?”
“Sure,” she replies, following behind me. I close the door after us. “Is everything okay?”
“Have a seat.” She sits opposite me. “I went out to have drinks with Cole on his birthday, and he was a total asshole. I heard that something similar might have happened to you?”
She ducks her head. “I don’t want to make it into a big deal. I just don’t want to be alone with him ever again.”
“I did the same thing—I talked it down in my head and didn’t speak up. But if I had, then maybe he wouldn’t have tried anything with you. I think we need to speak to Jaxon,” I suggest.
“Okay. I wish things went differently. Our date was normal, fun even. But when we went outside he pulled me around to the side of the building to kiss me. I kissed him back, but when he tried putting his hand up my skirt, I slapped him away and told him I wanted to leave. When he grabbed my breast, I started to walk away, but he grabbed my hand and tried to drag me to his car. I fought him off and ran to a woman, and I’m lucky that she protected me. I don’t know what would have happened if he got me into that car,” she says, wrapping her arms around herself. “He was always so charming, and I thought he was a nice guy before this. I don’t get it. And now it’s so awkward having to see him every day. He even asked me out again.”
“I’m going to speak to Jaxon,” I tell her, hating seeing her so upset. “You don’t have to be there, but he might want to speak to you after.”