Ryder raised an inky eyebrow.“Care to elaborate?”
“He was drunk,” Tristan said before she could.“So drunk I had to take him up to his room and get him into bed.He’d been making inappropriate comments and passes at Cassie all day, but it was worse after he left the bar last night.We should ask the hotel for footage from earlier that night.”
Ryder’s gaze swung to her.“What happened?”
“He kept texting me while I was driving his friend back to another hotel.Asking me to come see him in his room when I got back.Saying he wanted to apologize in person, get to know me better.He threw in some flattery and innuendos, and when I didn’t answer, told me he was waiting with champagne.”She shrugged.“Things like that.”
Ryder nodded, jaw bunching.“Send me screenshots of that chain for our records.How did you respond?”
“I ignored him.Never answered.”
“And that was the end of it?”
She opened her mouth to answer but Tristan broke in.“When Cassie got back, he was waiting and came out of his room in his underwear.So I shut him down.”
“Shut him down how?”Ryder asked, anger in his gaze that she was positive wasn’t directed at Tristan.
“I told him enough and pushed him back into his room.He argued.I insisted.He threatened to file an official report with you but finally did as he was told, and Cassie and I both went to our own rooms for the night.Neither of us came out until morning.The key logs and any security footage of the hallway will prove it.”
Ryder nodded.“He didn’t file a complaint with us, but I’ll be removing him from our client list, effective immediately.And Cassie, I’m more sorry than I can say that you had to deal with that level of inappropriate behavior from a client.I thought this job would be a break for you.I wouldn’t have assigned you to his detail if I’d thought he would behave in that manner.”
“I know you wouldn’t have.”It was a huge reason why she loved her job here so much.The people and the management were amazing and truly cared about their employees.
“But that explains why he didn’t seem surprised to see your look-alike show up at his room,” Ryder continued.“If someone else set this whole thing up, he might have believed it was you if he was drunk enough.”
“He was,” Tristan said darkly.
Ryder nodded and looked at her.“You okay?”
What if it wasn’t Schumacher?What if it was whoever had set up the drug plant, and maybe the shooting too?She felt ill suddenly.Someone had gone to this length to smear her reputation, sabotage her career, or maybe CPS’s reputation.All three?
“No, actually.I don’t think I am.”This was too much.The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
“I’d be surprised if you were.”He gave her a sympathetic smile.“Take a few more days off.I’ll talk to Schumacher personally about this and then work with Ivy.We’re going to get you answers.In the meantime, go home and try to...”
“Relax and take care of myself?”She stifled the urge to laugh.
“Yeah.”He looked at Tristan.“Take her home.Make sure she’s looked after.”
“Will do.”Tristan stood and put a hand on her back when she rose, and she didn’t argue.
She really needed a friend right now.
