Teary green eyes blink up at me. “Three months. It’s all I could afford living on my own.”
“I see.”
“I used to live in another apartment with three roommates, but two of the girls found their booty calls on hookup sites masquerading as dating sites and brought those guys back to the apartment––a different guy every time.”
These women were bringing strangers and potential creeps back to your apartment to fuck? Well, that’s not worrisome.
It takes everything in me to keep a stoic face.
“The third girl consumed marijuana from the moment she rolled out of bed. After a while, it became too much. When marijuana head asked us to vote in favor of allowing her boyfriend to move in, and the other girls were too eager to raise their hands in support, I bowed out. I’ve met her boyfriend, and the creepy way the guy eyes you from the side gives off sex offender vibes.”
You made the right decision to get the hell out of there.“So, you landed here?”
Blush colors her cheeks. “Yes.” Her eyes widen. “Wait— How did you find me?”
“It’s a long story. The short version is the Brazilian owner––”
“I didn’t know the restaurant was owned by a Brazilian. Étienne always came off like he was the supreme power.”
“More like the supreme bullshitter.”
She laughs a little.
It’s not the radiant laugh from the Hamptons, but since she’s no longer crying, I’ll take it.
“The Brazilian owner has given me power of attorney. Before coming over to your place, I stopped by the restaurant and I had the pleasure of firing Étienne’s ass.”
Her head jerks back. “What?”
“I’ve revoked his supreme power.” I check my watch. “He’s either still being interrogated by the police or he’s sitting pretty in a prison cell.”
Her jaw drops
“Like I said, it’s a long story.”
Her shoulders slump. “I shut you out at the restaurant after you so kindly offered to pay for that woman’s suit… I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Emotions were running high that day. And on that note, I don’t have to pay for that woman’s suit.”
“She was pretty adamant about having someone pay.”
“Yes, but that someone won’t be me.”
“Oh, my God, she’s going to sue me?”
I shake my head. “Tripp Teigen—the asshole who groped you—was caught on camera in the act.”
“A patron recorded him?”
“A woman he burned.”
“She remained silent while my toxic boss crucified me in front of the patrons. Why didn’t she come forward?”
“The police had to show up before she decided to do the right thing. She had vengeful plans for that video clip. It not only captures Tripp groping you, but it also shows him smirking at the other suits at the table. They were all in on it.”
“Entitled assholes.”
“Tripp Teigen is the stepson to Illinois’s Governor, and stepdaddy is always quick to bail him out of the dodgiest of situations. I don’t see how he’s going to get his wife’s brat of a son off the hook this time.”
