I pointed at the computer screen, too angry to form words at first. “We have a problem.”
Julian rounded the desk first and leaned over my shoulder. “I’m guessing you didn’t set up a hidden camera to record our weekend?” The hard tone bit out every word.
Dante scowled hard enough to make even me reconsider my safety. “This is not going to happen.”
If only those words could be heard around the world. I clicked through the images, showing them the depth someone had gone to make sure that all four of us were visible in many of the images. “They want the world to know all our secrets.”
“Not. Going. To. Happen.” Dante drilled his index finger into the desk with every word. “I’ll make some calls. I need a name.”
I activated my search program and ran the images through. Seconds ticked past, each one drawing the air from the room.
“Harper cannot see this.” Dante’s gaze landed on me. “She’ll be devastated.”
“I know.” It was the only response available to me. The search finished, and a name appeared on the screen. I grabbed Dante’s phone from his hand. “Let me call them first.”
“No.” His jaw jutted out.
I glanced at Julian. “Help me out, here.” I pocketed Dante’s phone and took out mine. “If you call, you’re going to scare the living hell out of whoever answers the phone. They’re more likely to hang up and call the police than talk to you.”
“Maybe I should pay them a visit. In person.” His gaze darted to the screen, where a home address flashed.
“Don’t you dare.” Julian slapped Dante’s back. It did nothing to sway him, but the contact did loosen his jaw.
I dialed the number and held the phone to my ear. “Keep your mouth shut.”
“You don’t give me orders.” His eyes went flat and cold.
“You don’t scare me, Dante. Go look out the window or something. I brought you in here to help mitigate the damage, not make it worse.”
Dante continued to stare, but he pushed away from the desk in silent agreement.
The phone rang. And rang.
Just before it clicked over to voicemail, a male voice answered. “Hello?”
“Good morning, Bradley.” I purred the words in a sweet symphony. “It seems you’ve been a naughty boy.”
A sharp laugh drifted through the phone. “Who the fuck is this? You know what, never mind. I’m hanging up. Pervert.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t do that. You see, I’m currently staring at some pictures of yours. Pictures of a young lady with three older men. Do you know what I’m talking about? The ones you’re attempting to leak to theBusiness Weeklymagazine, along with several others.”
Silence.
Oh how I loved that panicked moment when the shit hit the fan.
A loud gulp sounded. “How…how do you know about that? They haven’t gone live yet.”
“And they won’t if I have any say about it.” I rocked back in my chair, making sure every sound came across as smooth and completely unbothered. “You see, I’m in the business of making things like this disappear. How that happens is entirely up to you. But I should let you know that I have a considerable budget when it comes to keeping things quiet. Much more interestingthan the meager few hundreds you’ll be offered from any magazine.”
“How much more?” The breathless question told me all I needed to know.
For once we were up against a money-grubbing photographer and not a cutthroat who genuinely wanted to ruin us.
“Why don’t you give me a number? We’ll start there and work our way to something that satisfies both of us. I will need every photo pulled, of course. I want any hardcopies destroyed. All digital files deleted. I’m sure you know the drill.” I rocked forward and back, the slow squeak in the chair punctuating my words.
Bradley remained quiet several seconds.
I let him think. Let him stew in the possibilities.
